10 Books Series To Read If You Love The Lincoln Lawyer

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Okay, I just finished binge-watching The Lincoln Lawyer on Netflix, and it really got me thinking about other great crime series. If you loved the show – and honestly, it’s easy to see why it’s so popular – you’re probably craving more stories that delve into the twists and turns of the legal system and police work. So, I’ve put together a list of ten book series that I think you’ll absolutely devour if you’re looking for that same kind of gripping, complex entertainment.

Mickey Haller and his team handle fascinating legal cases that often push the boundaries of the law. The characters in The Lincoln Lawyer are compelling and uniquely charming. Each season features a captivating murder mystery, and the show also thoughtfully examines issues of social justice and how they connect to the legal system.

Finished season 4 of The Lincoln Lawyer and want more? Don’t worry, season 5 is confirmed! While we wait for its release, here are ten books to keep you entertained in the meantime.

10. Jack McEvoy Series by Michael Connelly

If you enjoy The Lincoln Lawyer, you’ll likely love Michael Connelly’s Bosch series. While Harry Bosch and Mickey Haller are his most famous characters, Jack McEvoy is a fantastic, though often overlooked, alternative.

Jack McEvoy is a crime reporter who often becomes overly involved in his investigations. Like the characters Harry and Mickey, he tends to push boundaries and find himself in difficult situations. Readers who enjoy the style and feel of ‘The Lincoln Lawyer’ will likely appreciate this series, as it focuses more on the characters and story than traditional detective work.

Jack McEvoy is a compelling character to follow because there’s a possibility he could join the cast of Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer, unlike Harry Bosch, who won’t be appearing.

9. Avery Keene Series by Stacey Abrams

If you love The Lincoln Lawyer, you absolutely have to check out the Avery Keene series! They’re written by Stacey Abrams – she’s a lawyer and political leader, so she really knows her stuff. The books follow Avery, a really sharp and driven law clerk, as she gets pulled into these complicated legal cases that show just how messed up the system can be. I’m hooked!

Avery Keene is a compelling character, just like Mickey Haller, and both series are known for their quick pace and realistic, often harsh, depictions of the legal world. What makes both series so believable is the authors’ own legal backgrounds: Michael Connelly worked as a legal journalist, while Stacey Abrams is a lawyer and is involved in creating laws.

This series offers a fresh perspective on the legal world, differing from what’s shown in The Lincoln Lawyer. While both deal with the law, it focuses on criminal law and the work of law clerks, which are quite distinct from the roles typically portrayed.

8. Ben Kincaid Series by William Bernhardt

William Bernhardt’s Ben Kinkaid series began in 1995, and the main character has evolved significantly over the years. Kinkaid is mainly a criminal defense lawyer, but he occasionally takes on cases and work in other legal fields like lawsuits, business law, and creating laws.

Throughout the show, Ben Kinkaid constantly wrestles with doing what’s right and his duty to defend even those who might be guilty. He’s unsure how to balance his personal morals with what’s best for his clients, a challenge that Mickey Haller also grapples with in The Lincoln Lawyer.

Both the TV show and the book series feel realistic, even when they take some creative liberties with legal details. Like Michael Connelly, author William Bernhardt’s background as a lawyer gives the stories a genuine feel.

7. Alex Cross Series by James Patterson

The Netflix show The Lincoln Lawyer often tackles important social issues and exposes flaws within the police and legal systems, all seen through the eyes of its main character, Mickey Haller. If you appreciate that aspect of the show, you’ll definitely want to check out James Patterson’s Alex Cross series.

The series centers around Alex Cross, a Black American man who is both a criminal psychologist and a police officer. He often finds himself investigating serial killers and major crimes. Similar to The Lincoln Lawyer, these books don’t shy away from exploring issues of social justice and problems within the police force.

Plus, if you like the Cross novels, you can also watch the really fun Prime Video series based on them.

6. Eve Duncan Series by Iris Johansen

The Eve Duncan novels are more about the science of identifying bodies than traditional legal investigations, which is a unique approach. The series centers around a forensic sculptor who dedicates herself to finding missing children for grieving families. Though they have very different jobs, Eve and Mickey are driven by similar goals and have comparable personalities.

Both Mickey Haller and Eve are motivated by personal tragedy and family. Haller followed his father into law, but his father passed away when he was young. Eve’s young daughter was tragically taken from her. Both characters also have a remarkable ability to notice details others overlook, which helps them crack seemingly impossible cases.

As a fan, I’ve noticed something really cool about both Michael Connelly and Iris Johansen’s books. They both have a similar feel – they’re not afraid to slow down and really explore what their characters are going through, but then they quickly ramp up the action and keep you hooked. Seriously, they’re amazing at building tension and delivering those big, dramatic moments you’re waiting for. And what I love most is that the characters feel so real and their choices really drive the story forward.

5. The Firm Duology by John Grisham

John Grisham is a hugely successful and acclaimed crime writer, recognized with awards like the Harper Lee Prize and the Library of Congress Creative Achievement Award. His books, especially the two novels in The Firm series, are a great choice for readers who enjoy The Lincoln Lawyer.

Both The Firm and its sequel, The Exchange, center around Mitch McDeere, a lawyer who faces difficult ethical challenges. The first book reveals that his law firm in Memphis has ties to the Mafia, while the second plunges him into a worldwide conspiracy.

This plot element is typical of Michael Connelly’s writing, where he often connects characters like lawyers, police, and politicians to criminal organizations, including drug cartels. This pattern appears throughout his series, including his popular ‘Lincoln Lawyer’ books.

4. Presumed Innocent Series by Scott Turow

If you’re a fan of The Lincoln Lawyer and enjoy stories about people wrongly accused, Scott Turow’s Presumed Innocent is a great choice. The series begins with Rusty Sabich, a prosecutor, suddenly becoming the main suspect in a murder investigation. From there, the story follows Rusty as he navigates increasingly complicated legal troubles.

Both The Lincoln Lawyer and Presumed Innocent are gripping because they expertly build suspense and deliver exciting courtroom drama. They both explore a central question: how does a lawyer prove someone’s innocence to a jury of strangers?

The series also deals with complex legal and ethical issues, a theme frequently explored in The Lincoln Lawyer. Although the Presumed Innocent book series may only consist of three installments, it’s a highly recommended read. And the Apple TV adaptation is fantastic.

3. Maya Jones Series by Freya Atwood

Freya Atwood’s Maya Jones novels would be a great fit for fans of The Lincoln Lawyer. They center around a defense attorney and deliver compelling murder mysteries with plenty of high-stakes courtroom drama.

Like Mickey Haller, Maya is committed to uncovering the truth, even when defending someone who might be guilty. Both lawyers also tend to get deeply invested in their cases, often putting themselves in danger from the people they’re defending.

Another fantastic thing about the Maya Jones series is how captivating it is—just like The Lincoln Lawyer books and show, you won’t be able to stop reading. Maya Jones’s investigations and stories are completely gripping.

2. Cass Leary Series by Robin James

If you enjoy the legal thrillers of The Lincoln Lawyer, you’ll likely love Robin James’s Cass Leary books. They’re fast-paced, filled with realistic conversations, and packed with unexpected twists. Like The Lincoln Lawyer, the series blends the main character’s personal life with their work as a lawyer.

Cass Leary reminds me a lot of Mickey Haller, the main character in those books. Both are lively, skilled defense attorneys who take on challenging cases. They both operate in a complicated legal world, sticking to their own sense of right and wrong while defending people who may be guilty, which often leads to trouble.

I really appreciate how the Cass Leary books don’t just focus on the dramatic courtroom scenes. They actually take you through the whole legal journey, showing everything that happens before and during a trial. It’s not a simplified version of the law – you get the full, detailed process, which I find so interesting.

1. The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly

If you enjoy the Netflix series The Lincoln Lawyer, you’ll definitely want to read the original books by Michael Connelly. I started with the show and then read the books, and I highly recommend them.

As a big fan of the series, I’ve noticed the books generally follow a pretty familiar pattern: Mickey Haller takes on a case, his team digs into the details, it heads to court, there’s always a shocking reveal during the trial, and sadly, someone usually doesn’t make it out alive. But even knowing that, the books still manage to throw in some really nice surprises for those of us who love the show!

Connelly is a really engaging writer – his books are both easy to follow and cleverly detailed. Even readers who don’t know anything about the law should be able to understand the plot, while still appreciating how the story gradually builds to reveal the full truth of the case.

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2026-02-13 07:14