Michael Connelly Delivers with The Fifth Witness

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Recently, I was sent an advanced reading copy of Michael Connelly’s upcoming suspense novel, The Fifth Witness (April 5, 2011, Little, Brown & Company) and I’m thrilled to report that defense attorney Mickey Haller (introduced in one of my all-time favorites, The Lincoln Lawyer) is at his charming, cunning, and conflicted best in this new story.

Like so many others, Mickey’s had a rough time in a tough economy, so he’s back out scrambling for business from the back seat of the Lincoln Towncar once more serving as his office. He’s gotten into the foreclosure game, helping clients delay the loss of their homes for as long as possible. When one such client, the vocal, high-maintenance Lisa Trammel is accused of murdering a banker she blames for her misfortunes, Mickey is dragged into a high-profile case he’s not quite sure he believes in. But as he’s always telling the new first-year female associate he’s hired, criminal defense attorneys can’t afford to grow a conscience. Their role is to offer every client the strong defense they’re guaranteed by the Constitution.

When his investigation turns up evidence that the victim was involved in a financial scheme of his own, Mickey begins, reluctantly, to believe he might have a real rarity – a client who is actually innocent. And after a savagely beating at the hands of thugs-for-hire, Haller is determined to do whatever it takes to see his client walk—no matter what tricks and tactics he must employ or whether his actions will finally destroy his last chance of rekindling the relationship with “Maggie McFierce,” his prosecutor ex-wife.

With its unforgettable and complex protagonist, its myriad twist and turns, and an ending you’ll never see coming, The Fifth Witness easily claims a place among the very best of the talented Michael Connelly’s creations. Whether you’re brand new to the Mickey Haller character or you’ve enjoyed The Lincoln Lawyer series from the start, The Fifth Witness has everything it takes to keep you turning pages far into the night.

I highly recommend ordering a copy today, or look for it in stores beginning April 5th.

- Colleen Thompson

Colleen's Take on 2008

I enjoyed Joni's recap of the year so much that I thought I'd share, from my point of view, the highs and lows of my 2008 writing life. One more year and we'll officially have a tradition.

The Good
Compared to 2007, where I was slapped down by a debilitating viral infection that rained down all kinds of nasty repercussions, '08 was a year that brought both physical healing and much-improved focus. It brought, too, a bit of badly-needed equanimity as I settled into a relationship (one that began in 2007) with a terrific new agent, saw the publication of my fourteenth novel, Triple Exposure, and agreed to write two more romantic suspense novels for Dorchester Publishing.

I count among my year's blessings my first final in the Daphne Du Maurier Awards (for Head On, a 2007 release), a number of lovely reviews and reader letters, and a small flurry of foreign sales and publications. In addition, I've kept busy speaking to writers' groups and penning writing-related articles. A teacher by trade and personality, I derive a great deal of satisfaction from these and other mentoring activities.

I'm continually grateful as well for the many close friendships I've developed as a result of writing. Whether I need a pal to yahoo with me over some good news or someone to talk me off the ledge when I'm having a crisis of confidence (as does every writer I know), I have a number of good friends I can count on, as they can count on me.

And last but not least, I wanted to mentioned how thrilled I am to live in a country, culture, place, and time where creativity is celebrated. From television and movies to novels, nonfiction, plays, poetry, music, dance, the visual arts and beyond, our world is alive with artistic vision. Not always the Capital-A Art and not limited to dusty classics, but the living, breathing, growing, changing little-a arts that add so much color and texture to our lives.

The Bad

During the first half of 2008, I was still feeling a lot of fallout from the Virus from Hell. I didn't get out nearly as much as I would have liked, and I completely fell out of the exercise habit. Though I managed to get quite a bit of work accomplished, I feel sluggish and slackerish, like a flabby, middle-aged woman treading water as the Michael Phelpses of this world go streaking past. I'm hoping that a brisk daily walk will signal to my subconscious that it's time to really get much more productive and quit goofing off, and I'll regain the energetic confidence and tolerance for "informed risk-taking" needed to keep boxing octopi!


The Ugly
Compared to so many others, my family and I emerged unscathed from Hurricane Ike, but it certainly blew me off course for awhile. Already hard on the heels of a tight deadline, the power outage and general upheaval forced me to ask for my very first deadline extension. Though the book was turned in only two weeks late, I've felt way behind (see the old postcard from Bob Weeks' collection) ever since.

Like many others in this economy, I look toward 2009 with a bit of trepidation but thankfully, a good deal of hope that I'll be able to see beyond the stress and to the opportunity.

So how about you, brave BtO readers? What in your opinion was the best and worst of this past year?