THE FIFTH WITNESS

THE FIFTH WITNESS by Michael Connelly

From the book jacket:

Mickey Haller has fallen on tough times.  Criminal defense in Los Angeles has virtually dried up, and with paying clients few and far between, he has had to expand his business into foreclosure defense.  But just when Mickey thinks criminal court is in his rearview mirror, one of his new clients is accused of killing the banker she blames for trying to take away her home.

For Mickey, it's back to what he does best - at the center of a case that has attracted massive media attention.  He puts his team into high gear to exonerate Lisa Trammel, despite what seems to be a mountain of evidence against her, a take-no-prisoners prosecutor, and his own suspicions that his client is guilty.

Soon, Haller's digging reveals that the murdered banker was involved in dirty dealings of his own, pointing to a conspiracy with millions of dollars at stake.  When two professional thugs put Mickey in the hospital, he knows he's on the right trail.  Despite the danger, Haller rallies to mount the best defense of his career in a trial with as many switchbacks as there are seats on the jury.

I love a good mystery and a good courtroom drama - and this book is both.  This book takes you inside the workings of a defense team and then details the courtroom procedures.  Mickey Haller has his hands full with this case and you don't know who is telling the truth.  Although I had a feeling about the defendant in this case, the ending was a shocker.

Mr. Connelly has written another winner.