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After catching up on Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer, these ten book series are perfect for anyone who wants more entertaining crime stories that navigate the complexities of the policing and judicial system. The Lincoln Lawyer is one of Netflix’s most popular original TV shows, and there’s a good reason why.
Mickey Haller and his associates take on interesting cases that force them to navigate the gray areas of the law. The Lincoln Lawyer’s main characters are dynamic and quirky in the best way. There’s always a great murder mystery woven into each season. Plus, it offers a strong exploration of social justice and its relationship to the legal system.
After reaching the end of The Lincoln Lawyer season 4, you might find yourself clamouring for more. The good news is The Lincoln Lawyer season 5 is already in the works. The bad news is that we have to wait. However, these ten book series will make the wait a little bit easier.
10
Jack McEvoy Series by Michael Connelly
Michael Connelly’s Bosch books might be the first thought when it comes to books for people who love The Lincoln Lawyer. While Harry Bosch and Mickey Halley are the better-known Michael Connelly main characters, Jack McEvoy is an underrated but just as compelling character.
Jack McEvoy is a crime journalist who finds himself too wrapped up in the cases he’s investigating. Harry, Mickey, and Jack have a similar tendency to bend the rules and get into trouble. His book series is a great choice for fans of The Lincoln Lawyer because it shares a similar tone and style. The focus isn’t on the noir detective work in either series.
Additionally, Jack McEvoy is an exciting choice to read because there’s still a small chance that Jack McEvoy could appear in Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer, while Bosch can’t.
9
Avery Keene Series by Stacey Abrams
A great series for fans of The Lincoln Lawyer is the Avery Keene books, written by lawyer and political leader Stacey Abrams. The stories follow a smart and ambitious law clerk named Avery Keene who finds herself wrapped up in legal conspiracies that expose flaws in the legal system.
Avery Keene is just as likable a main character as Mickey Haller, and the books are fast-paced and gritty. Both series are equally realistic in their legal information, as both Michael Connelly and Stacey Abrams have experience in the legal field. Connelly was a legal journalist, and Abrams has a law degree and works in lawmaking.
Additionally, the series is interesting because it explores another side of the legal system than The Lincoln Lawyer. Criminal law and law clerks exist in the same field, but they have very different responsibilities.
8
Ben Kincaid Series by William Bernhardt
The Ben Kinkaid series by William Bernhardt started back in 1995, and the main character has changed a lot over time. However, the character primarily functions as a criminal defense attorney, sometimes branching into other areas of law, such as litigation, corporate law, and even lawmaking.
Throughout the series, Ben Kinkaid must juggle his desire for justice with his job defending potentially guilty individuals. He isn’t sure how to navigate morality while also following his clients’ best interests. This is also a struggle Mickey Haller faces throughout The Lincoln Lawyer.
What’s more, both the TV show and the book series feel grounded in reality, even when they embellish certain parts of the law. William Bernhardt was a lawyer before becoming a novelist, so he brings that sense of authenticity like Michael Connelly.
7
Alex Cross Series by James Patterson
The Lincoln Lawyer is known for exploring social issues and highlighting problems in the police and legal systems through the perspective of Mickey Haller, a Hispanic man who works in the system. For folks who enjoy this side of the Netflix show, James Patterson’s Alex Cross series is a must-read.
The series follows a Black American man named Alex Cross who works as a criminal psychologist and police officer. He frequently investigates serial killers and high-profile cases. Like The Lincoln Lawyer, these books aren’t afraid to look at social justice issues and flaws in the police system.
What’s more, readers who end up enjoying the Cross books can check out the Prime Video series, which is extremely entertaining.
6
Eve Duncan Series by Iris Johansen
The Eve Duncan series focuses on medical forensics rather than the law, which might seem out of place. The mystery books follow a forensic sculptor who helps distraught families find their lost children. Despite their drastically different careers, Mickey and Eve share similar motivations and personalities.
Like Mickey Haller, Eve is driven to her career by family and loss. For Mickey, law was his father’s career, and he died when Mickey was young. For Eve, her seven-year-old daughter Bonnie was kidnapped and murdered. They can also see things others miss, allowing them to solve cases that seem unsolvable.
The two book series also have tonal and pacing similarities. Michael Connelly and Iris Johansen write in a way that balances slower emotional moments with propulsive storylines. They’re masters at crafting dramatic climaxes. Plus, their characters drive the story.
5
The Firm Duology by John Grisham
John Grisham is one of the most popular and awarded crime authors of all time. He gained the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction and the Library of Congress Creative Achievement Award for Fiction. As such, he needed a place on this list. Luckily, his The Firm duology is perfect for fans of The Lincoln Lawyer.
Written three decades apart, The Firm and its sequel, The Exchange, follow a lawyer named Mitch McDeere whose morality is tested. In the first one, he learns his Memphis law firm is involved with the Mafia. In the second one, he’s caught up in a global conspiracy.
This storytelling aligns with Michael Connelly’s tendency to tie lawyers, police officers, and government officials to the Cartel or other forms of organized crime. It happens in nearly every series, including The Lincoln Lawyer.
4
Presumed Innocent Series by Scott Turow
For fans of The Lincoln Lawyer who enjoy the show’s focus on wrongfully accused individuals, Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow is a series to read. The series starts with Rusty Sabich, a prosecutor who becomes the prime suspect in a murder case. The story then continues to follow Rusty as he gets into more sticky legal situations.
Beyond thematic similarities, both The Lincoln Lawyer and the Presumed Innocent series build tension well and feature compelling courtroom scenes in criminal trials. The books ask the question: How can someone convince a bunch of strangers that an individual isn’t guilty?
They also navigate legal and judicial ethics, a topic that is an ongoing discussion in The Lincoln Lawyer. Ultimately, the Presumed Innocent series might have only three books, but it’s well worth reading. Additionally, Apple TV’s adaptation of Presumed Innocent is amazing.
3
Maya Jones Series by Freya Atwood
Freya Atwood’s Maya Jones legal thrillers are a perfect choice for The Lincoln Lawyer. The titular main character is a defense attorney, the books include strong murder mysteries, and the stories feature dramatic courtroom scenes.
Even when Maya does her job of representing someone potentially guilty, she’s determined to find the truth, which is also a Mickey Haller trait. Another similarity between Mickey and Maya is that they become too involved in their legal cases to the point that their lives are frequently threatened by the criminals involved.
The other great part of the Maya Jones series is that it has the same quality as The Lincoln Lawyer books and TV show: it’s impossible to put down. Maya Jones’ cases and storylines are absolutely engrossing.
2
Cass Leary Series by Robin James
The Cass Leary books by Robin James are legal thrillers that are perfect for The Lincoln Lawyer fans. The books have a brisk pace with dialogue-heavy scenes and shocking plot twists. The personal and professional become entangled as well in both The Lincoln Lawyer and the Cass Leary series.
When it comes to the main characters of all these book series, Cass Leary also feels the most similar to Mickey Haller. She has a vibrant personality. They’re both defense attorneys who can solve even the most difficult cases. They navigate the gray area of the law where they have a strong moral code but also represent guilty clients, and they frequently get into trouble.
Plus, the Cass Leary books dive into the legal process leading up to and during the trial. It isn’t condensed down to the big moments of criminal law.
1
The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly
Anyone who loves Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer also needs to pick up the book series by Michael Connelly. As someone who started with the first season of the TV show and then picked up Michael Connelly’s The Lincoln Lawyer books, I can attest that they are worth reading.
They follow the same basic structure: Mickey gets a legal case, his team investigates, they go to court, there’s a big twist in the courtroom, someone from the case dies, and the ending sets up the next book. However, fans of the show will find some pleasant surprises in the books.
Additionally, Connelly has a really enjoyable writing style that feels simultaneously accessible and complex. While I’m not a good litmus test on this, it seems like anyone unfamiliar with the law would be able to understand what’s going on. At the same time, the storyline weaves together details until the real picture of the case becomes clear.
