The Fifth Witness

I really enjoy the Haller books. I think it speaks to Connelly's skills as an author that he can show the two sides of the legal system equally engaging, even though they despise each other. Connelly likes the prosecution more, I guess, considering how the Haller books tend to end. But they are nonetheless very entertaining.

I really enjoy the Haller books. I think it speaks to Connelly's skills as an author that he can show the two sides of the legal system equally engaging, even though they despise each other. Connelly likes the prosecution more, I guess, considering how the Haller books tend to end. But they are nonetheless very entertaining.

I've read all of Michael Connelly's 22 published novels. The Fifth Witness is a fairly good murder/legal drama whose primary failings are that it suffers from the pedantic slow pace that afflict all legal proceedings, particularly in the opening arguments, closing arguments, and the use of the expositional witnesses.

The ending is satisfactory, provided you can plow through the speed bumps to get there. One of the key problems for Connelly is that even after four novels his protagonist Mickey Haller is just not as compelling as Detective Harry Bosch.

I like everything I have read by Connelly. His characters are distinct and portrayed very well. His plots are intriguing. His specific writing is clear.