Lincoln Lawyer Book Changes: Biggest Differences From Brass Verdict

Netflix's The Lincoln Lawyer series features several changes from the book it's based on, The Brass Verdict—but they're mostly for the better.

Warning: Contains spoilers for The Lincoln Lawyer season 1.

Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer series has made several significant changes from the series of books on which it’s based. The Lincoln Lawyer was the second most-watched title on the platform during its debut week, generating more than 45 million viewer hours—second only to Ozark season 4. The pre-existence of a well-known book series and movie adaptation raises questions about the differences between Netflix’s new streaming series and the books, and the reasoning behind these changes.

The show is based primarily on the second novel in The Lincoln Lawyer series, The Brass Verdict. Written by Michael Connelly, it was released in 2008 and garnered several awards and nominations. The story’s main character, Mickey Haller, was originally created for The Lincoln Lawyer and was famously played by Matthew McConaughey in the 2011 film adaptation. While changes have been made to Netflix’s new adaption, the series’ release date may offer several clues about why many of these changes were made.

Although The Brass Verdict and The Lincoln Lawyer books have enjoyed enduring popularity, the 17-year time difference between the first appearance of Mickey Haller in 2005 and Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer in 2022 make certain story and character changes almost inevitable. While this isn’t the reason for all of the changes between Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer and The Brass Verdict novel, it does offer insight for a number of the adjustments as the story was updated for a modern audience.

Elliot Is A Video Game Designer

The character of Trevor Elliott is a video game designer in Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer. However, in The Brass Verdict, the character is named Walter Elliott and is a movie mogul. The change is a prime example of an update to make the story feel more current. This Lincoln Lawyer character change also gives a slightly different dimension to murder victim Lara Elliott, his wife, who in the streaming series is revealed to be the brains behind Elliott’s company. Trevor Elliott’s motive for killing Lara is driven by a dimension of her character: she had the ability to take away the reputation and power he depended on. In the book, Walter Elliott is motivated by jealousy and rage at his wife for cheating on him. Trevor Elliott becoming a video game designer was an update, but it also adds complexity to his relationship with his wife, as they were not only a couple but business partners, making Elliott’s motive more unexpected.

Harry Bosch Is Replaced From The Brass Verdict

Both Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer and the book series of the same name center on Mickey Haller, a lawyer who operates out of his car. The book series is a spin-off of the popular Bosch series, however, and Netflix’s Lincoln Lawyer is unrelated to Amazon’s Bosch, due to each service owning the rights to the separate properties. Because of this, the character of Haller’s half-brother Harry Bosch does not appear in Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer, despite the fact that Bosch features prominently in the book it is based on. Instead, The Lincoln Lawyer replaces Bosch with a new character created for the series—LAPD Detective Griggs, who handles the official aspects of the investigation. The unofficial side is taken on by Haller’s investigator Cisco, who exists in the books but plays an expanded role in Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer.

Izzy Letts Replaces Patrick Henson

In the book The Brass Verdict, Mickey’s driver is Patrick Henson, while that role is filled by Izzy Letts in Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer. Patrick is the one who is struggling with addiction after a surfing accident in the books, while The Lincoln Lawyer gives that storyline to Mickey. This difference from the Lincoln Lawyer book (and movie) gives Mickey an added dimension of vulnerability and confers more meaning to his relationship with Izzy, as they are both in recovery and offer support to one another throughout The Lincoln Lawyer season 1. Izzy is Mickey’s driver and committed the same crime as Patrick, but her mutual support with Mickey as they navigate recovery gives her a more important role. She also functions as Mickey’s sounding board as he explains the case and mechanisms of the legal system, and her character adds casual queer representation that honors Levin’s role in book one of the series.

Trevor Elliot Blames The Russians

In Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer, Elliott uses powerful Russians as a scapegoat in his murder trial. In the book, it was the mafia. This is another update to reflect the times, as the Russian reference makes more sense in 2022 in the current geopolitical landscape.

The Brass Verdict Is Given By Someone Else

Toward the ending of The Lincoln Lawyer, Trevor Elliott is acquitted of murder even though he’s guilty, but he’s killed shortly afterward for what he’s done. This is the definition of a brass verdict. In the show, the verdict is delivered by Carol DuBois, the lover of one of the two victims, Jan Rilz, who was also involved with Lara Elliott. His murder is public, shocking, and dramatic, taking place at a press conference at which Haller is present. However, in the book, Bosch delivers the news to Haller that Walter Elliott and his girlfriend, a likely accomplice, were killed outside of his home while coming home from dinner one night. Bosch later informs Haller that Rilz’s family was behind the brass verdict. The change was likely made to streamline the story and leave more screentime for subplots that will resurface in The Lincoln Lawyer season 2. Carol DuBois serves dual purposes as a brief suspect and the eventual dispenser of the brass verdict.

Mickey Haller Learned From His Father

In The Brass Verdict, Haller’s father dies when he is five, and he learns from books. However, Haller is older in Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer throughout his childhood flashbacks, in order to establish a bond between the two. In addition, Haller’s father’s former partner, Legal (Elliott Gould), is introduced as a mentor figure in the present day. Legal serves the function of providing additional legal insight to supplement Haller’s exposition.

Although Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer diverges from the book upon which it’s based, the explanations justify the changes. Updates to the storyline and characters are in line with differences between when The Brass Verdict was originally published and the 2022 release of Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer. Further, many of the changes enhance the relationships between the characters, making the series emotionally satisfying.