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10 Crime Books That Deliver the Same Thrill As Netflix’s ‘The Lincoln Lawyer’

10 Crime Books That Deliver the Same Thrill As Netflix’s ‘The Lincoln Lawyer’

Mickey Haller (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) and his beloved Lincoln Navigator hit the streets of Los Angeles once again in The Lincoln Lawyer. Based on the books by Michael Connelly, the Netflix sensation continues to attract audiences with Mickey’s complicated career in law. As a defense attorney, Mickey’s got the smarts, intuition, and just the right amount of tenacity to sway the courtroom. However, his troubled past following a surfing accident and substance abuse puts his mind into doubt.

Although The Lincoln Lawyer is a legal thriller by genre, the show speaks more about what it’s like to fight against corrupt systems that question your place in the law. Just like the show and the book, other fiction authors have examined legal practice and revealed how working in law is rarely as straightforward as right or wrong. Without further ado, check out these books if you love The Lincoln Lawyer.

‘Her Cold Justice’ (2026)

Written by Robert Dugoni

A black and red silhoutte of a woman on the book cover for ‘Her Cold Justice’
Image via Thomas & Mercer/Robert Dugoni

Two people — a suspected drug smuggler and his girlfriend — are found dead in their own home. Set in a quiet South Seattle neighborhood, Her Cold Justice follows Michael Westbrook, who is arrested by the police for double homicide. However, investigator JP Harrison believes that his nephew had nothing to do with the murders.

That’s where defense attorney Keeran Duggan comes in. Duggan’s job is to prove Westbrook’s innocence, much like Haller in The Lincoln Lawyer. However, all the evidence points to him. Westbrook worked with one of the victims, drugs were discovered in his possession, and he ran from the authorities. Refusing to back down, Duggan digs into the evidence herself, ultimately discovering the plot holes in the case.

‘The Widow’ (2025)

Written by John Grisham

An indoor shot of a building corridor on the book cover of 'The Widow'
An indoor shot of a building corridor on the book cover of ‘The Widow’
Image via Doubleday/John Grisham

Somewhere in rural Virginia, The Widow introduces small-time lawyer Simon Latch. He makes enough to get by and pay the bills, but sadly, his career isn’t able to sustain his failing marriage. When Eleanor Barnett, a rich elderly widow, walks into his office in need of assistance for a new will, Simon doesn’t hesitate to take her as a client in the John Grisham book.

The Widow turns sideways when Eleanor is involved in a car accident. Thankfully, she made it out alive, but this isn’t good news for Simon. Just like Haller in The Lincoln Lawyer, Simon encounters incriminating evidence that pins him as the culprit. Instead of tending to his client’s will, he must find the real killer before he gets imprisoned.

‘Nash Falls’ (2025)

Written by David Baldacci

A white text of the title on the book cover of 'Nash Falls'
A white text of the title on the book cover of ‘Nash Falls’
Image via Grand Central Publishing/David Baldacci

Nash Falls follows the lead protagonist, Walter Nash, a hardworking employee at Sybaritic Investments. Although he spends most of his waking hours grinding at work, he is also a happy family man. However, following the passing of his estranged Vietnam veteran father’s funeral, Nash is approached by some very important people: the FBI.

The Lincoln Lawyer knows a thing or two about working with the FBI. Most of the time, the experience hasn’t been delightful for Haller. The same goes for Nash. The FBI urges Nash to look into a money laundering case in his own workplace. Of course, this doesn’t bode well with Victoria Steers, the international criminal mastermind behind the fraud.

‘Along Came a Spider’ (1993)

Written by James Patterson

A text of the book title on the book cover of 'Along Came A Spider'
A text of the book title on the book cover of ‘Along Came A Spider’
Image via Little, Brown and Company/James Patterson

Now adapted into a hit sensation, Cross, on Prime Video, Along Came a Spider follows one of the many cases tackled by homicide detective Alex Cross. This time, Cross has no time to waste. When two private school children are kidnapped by their children, Cross learns that they’re just the beginning of the “crime of the century.”

In this James Patterson book, Cross’s target is Gary Soneji, who’s successfully outsmarted the police, the FBI, and the Secret Service. The odds are stacked — something that The Lincoln Lawyer is used to throwing at Haller. But with Cross’ field experience, a Ph.D. in psychology, and gritty vigilance, Cross won’t stop until the children are saved and Sonjei is arrested.

‘The Winter Verdict’ (2026)

Written by Dan Buzzetta

A text of the book title on the book cover of 'The Winter Verdict'
A text of the book title on the book cover of ‘The Winter Verdict’
Image via Severn River Publishing/Dan Buzzetta

The past catches up to you in The Winter Verdict. Tom Berte has had enough of his career as a Department of Justice lawyer. Looking for a fresh start, Berte moves his entire family to Castle Ridge. Trouble follows suit when he is attacked out of nowhere. Instead of settling in his new home, Berte must figure out who’s responsible.

The fight in The Winter Verdict is much like the ones in The Lincoln Lawyer. It’s never about fighting against a single suspect — it’s about going against a corrupt institution. Upon learning that the nearby Castle Ridge Ski Resort has claimed dozens of lives in an “accident,” Berte suspects it’s the inner workings of the conglomerate Phoenix Holdings Group.

‘The Children Act’ (2014)

Written by Ian McEwan

A drop of blood on the book cover of 'The Children Act'
A drop of blood on the book cover of ‘The Children Act’
Image via Vintage and Anchor Books/Ian McEwan

The Children Act is a story of two women: Fiona Maye as the respected High Court judge, and Fiona Maye as the secretly troubled adult. By trade, Maye presides over difficult family court cases with both precision and compassion. However, when she clocks out of work, Fiona struggles with her failing marriage of three decades and her inability to have children.

What makes The Lincoln Lawyer grounded is that Haller isn’t a perfect defense attorney. Struggling with trauma and sobriety, he still has to put on a brave face when tending to clients. The same goes for Maye. When she’s assigned to a case involving Adam, a seventeen-year-old boy who refuses life-saving medical treatment for religious reasons, Maye must persuade him that it’s for his own good.

‘The Good Lawyer’ (2012)

Written by Thomas Benigno

An image of the courtroom on the book cover of 'The Good Lawyer'
An image of the courtroom on the book cover of ‘The Good Lawyer’
Image via Landview Books/Thomas Benigno

1982 New York City is a different kind of breeding ground for crime in The Good Lawyer. Inspired by a true story, Nick Mannino, an aspiring young attorney, is determined to prove that he’s nothing like his estranged father. Raised in a mob-dominated Bronx family, Nick breaks the chains of organized crime to work as a Legal Aid defense lawyer.

When news of the mysterious Spider-Man rapist haunts the city, Nick takes on a controversial case involving a teacher’s aide accused of molesting students. Originally convinced of his client’s innocence — also a very Haller thing to do in The Lincoln Lawyer — Nick quickly realizes that the killer has always been close the entire time.

‘Special Circumstances’ (1998)

Written by Sheldon Siegel

A photo of the San Francisco bridge on the book cover of 'Special Circumstances'
A photo of the San Francisco bridge on the book cover of ‘Special Circumstances’
Image via Bantam Books/Sheldon Siegel

It’s never too late to start anew in Special Circumstances. After being forced out of his partnership at a prestigious San Francisco law firm, Mike Daley finds himself starting over with a small office on the wrong side of town. A former priest, public defender, and husband, Daley struggles to rebuild his legal career.

As The Lincoln Lawyer would know, it’s not easy reclaiming your reputation as a lawyer, let alone getting clients. Things get more difficult for Daley when his best friend and former colleague is accused of murdering two lawyers at their old firm. The worst part is that Daley has to defend him.

‘Rules of Prey’ (1989)

Written by John Sandford

An image of an alley on the book cover of 'Rules of Prey'
An image of an alley on the book cover of ‘Rules of Prey’
Image via G. P. Putnam’s Sons/John Sandford

A series of brutal murders in Rules of Prey has the Twin Cities trapped in fear. The killer follows a set of self-made rules: never target someone he knows, never leave a motive, never establish a pattern, and never keep a weapon after it has been used. The person behind the crimes is none other than young attorney Louis Vuilloin.

On the outside, Louis is quiet and studious. However, all that is a facade that hides his true violent nature. Although this sounds extraordinary, as The Lincoln Lawyer has shown, not all lawyers fight for a good cause. Rules of Prey takes that idea to extreme lengths.

‘Killing Floor’ (1997)

Written by Lee Child

An image of a man standing on the side of the road on the book cover of 'Killing Floor'
An image of a man standing on the side of the road on the book cover of ‘Killing Floor’
Image via G.P. Putnam’s Sons/Lee Child

The origin story of the Prime Video sensation Reacher, Killing Floor introduces readers to Army veteran Jack Reacher as he wanders the United States, only to be pulled into criminal cases. Set in the quiet town of Margrave, Reacher is falsely accused of a murder he didn’t commit. Desperate to prove his innocence, he investigates the case himself.

Both Haller and Reacher are similar in that they act out of genuine goodness and are both framed. The two have their shortcomings, but they’re exceptional at their professions. Plus, they know what it’s like to be led to the wrong suspects, while the real culprit hides in the shadows.


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The Lincoln Lawyer


Release Date

May 13, 2022

Network

Netflix


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    Manuel Garcia-Rulfo

    Mickey Haller

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