Fans of gripping legal and crime dramas may be surprised to learn that The Lincoln Lawyer—Netflix’s hit legal thriller—shares more than just genre similarities with Bosch, the acclaimed detective series. In fact, the two shows are deeply intertwined, with their origins rooted in the works of the same author: Michael Connelly.

Shared Literary Universe

Both The Lincoln Lawyer and Bosch are adaptations of bestselling novels by Michael Connelly, a former crime reporter turned acclaimed crime fiction author. Connelly created Mickey Haller, the smooth-talking defense attorney who operates out of his Lincoln Town Car, and Harry Bosch, the relentless LAPD detective known for his dogged pursuit of justice.

What many viewers may not realize is that in the original books, Mickey Haller and Harry Bosch are half-brothers. They share the same father, a famous criminal defense attorney. This familial connection adds emotional depth and complexity to their stories in the novels, even though the two characters often operate on opposite sides of the legal system.

Crossovers in the Books

In Connelly’s books, the lives of Haller and Bosch frequently intersect. Notably:

In The Reversal, Bosch and Haller team up when Haller is recruited to work as a special prosecutor and Bosch leads the investigation.
In The Crossing, Bosch crosses over from LAPD homicide to work with Haller on a controversial defense case.

These interactions are rich with tension, as Bosch is fundamentally a cop who believes in putting criminals away, while Haller often defends people Bosch would consider guilty.

Why the Shows Don’t Crossover—Yet

Despite the clear literary connection, the Lincoln Lawyer and Bosch TV series exist in separate streaming worlds: The Lincoln Lawyer is on Netflix, while Bosch originated on Amazon Prime Video (and now continues as Bosch: Legacy on Freevee). This has made direct crossovers between the shows unlikely—at least for now.

However, fans of the books often speculate about a potential crossover, especially since both series have done well critically and commercially. With the growing popularity of shared universes in TV and film, some hope that streaming platforms might eventually find a way to bridge the gap.

Behind the Scenes Connection

There’s also a creative connection behind the camera. Michael Connelly serves as an executive producer on both The Lincoln Lawyer and Bosch, ensuring that the tone and authenticity of his characters remain intact across both adaptations.

In short, The Lincoln Lawyer and Bosch are two sides of the same coin—stories from the same gritty Los Angeles underworld, seen through the eyes of half-brothers on opposite sides of the law. Whether you’re a fan of courtroom drama or hard-boiled detective stories, knowing their shared universe adds a fascinating layer of depth.