Michael Connelly created a fascinating character in his mystery series, The Lincoln Lawyer. Mickey Haller is a defense attorney who works out of his cars, Lincolns, of course, that boast license plates that declare “Dismissd,” “NtGuilty,” and “ImInnocent.” Mickey is half brother to Connelly’s iconic Harry Bosch, an LAPD detective. The streaming series Bosch, starring Titus Welliver, ran for seven seasons on Amazon Prime and has morphed into Bosch: Legacy. Disillusioned with L.A. politics, Bosch retired from the force and works as a P.I. His daughter, Maddie (Madison Lintz), gave up law school to become a police officer. Bosch: Legacy is as engrossing as Bosch and has already been renewed for a second season.

Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as Mickey Haller, Jazz Raycole as Izzy (Photo Credit: Lara Solanki/Netflix © 2022)

Mickey Haller now gets his own series on Netflix with Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as the talented, troubled, and determined Lincoln lawyer who will stop at nothing to help his clients. There was never a major motion picture featuring Bosch, so Welliver was able to put his own stamp on the character. Garcia-Rulfo has a bigger challenge since Matthew McConaughey played Haller in the 2011 film and received rave reviews for his performance. 

Garcia-Rulfo, a Mexican actor, will be unknown to many viewers, something that works in his favor. (Also, it’s been 11 years since McConaughey’s film.) Garcia-Rulfo’s accent is explained early on when he tells one of his clients that after his parents’ divorce, he went to live with his mother in Mexico. But what really works in Garcia-Rulfo’s favor is that he nails the role, making Haller an even more interesting character than he was in the earlier film.

Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as Mickey Haller, Becki Newton as Lorna, Neve Campbell as Maggie McPherson (Photo credit: Lara Solanki/Netflix © 2022)

The series plot is based on Connelly’s mystery, The Brass Verdict, police slang for street justice, when a guilty person gets off and is then gunned down. Brass refers to the bullet’s brass casings. 

When the series opens, Haller is on the beach, his surfboard beside him. After a horrific accident, Haller got hooked on pain pills and didn’t practice law for more than a year. Now sober, he hasn’t been back in the water. Heading back to his car, he gets a call from his second ex-wife, Lorna (Becky Newton). Judge Mary Holder summons Haller to her office. Jerry Vincent, another defense attorney, was shot and killed that morning. Even though Haller had only a passing acquaintance with Vincent, Judge Holder tells him that the dead lawyer’s entire practice has been left in Haller’s hands. While many of those cases involve are low level crimes, one is high profile. Tech billionaire Trevor Elliott (Christopher Gorham) is charged with killing his wife and her lover. Elliott tells Haller he’s about to close a major deal that will take his company to the next level, but only if he does not land in prison.

Angus Sampson as Cisco, Becki Newton as Lorna (Photo credit: Lara Solanki/Netflix © 2022)

Vincent did have an office and Lorna soon sets up shop. Haller continues to prefer his Lincoln and, after he gets one of his new clients, Izzy (Jazz Raycole), off on a technicality, she pays him back by becoming his driver. They soon form a bond, since both are in recovery. Haller’s former investigator, Cisco (Angus Sampson), is back on board, with a surprise: he and Lorna are getting married. Haller, who married Lorna on the rebound after his first wife, Maggie McPherson (Neve Campbell), divorced him, gives his blessing. Haller is still in love with Maggie, an assistant district attorney, and they amicably co-parent their daughter, Hayley (Krista Warner). Haller still loves Maggie, whom he calls “McFierce,” for the ferocity she exhibits on the job, but being on opposite sides of the law continues to doom the relationship.

Vincent told his former assistant that he had a “magic bullet” in the Trevor Elliott case. Was that knowledge what got him killed? And if Mickey uncovers that piece of evidence, will he be targeted, too?

The Lincoln Lawyer combines the best of both worlds – a thrilling crime drama with absorbing courtroom scenes. Add in a great lead performance with a strong supporting cast and this series is poised to go the distance.

The Lincoln Lawyer is now streaming on Netflix.

Top photo: Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as Mickey Haller. Credit: Lara Solanki/Netflix © 2022