The Mystery of [SPOILER] Death in The Lincoln Lawyer: Who Is the Killer?

The Lincoln Lawyer season 2 brings us many surprises, but what shocked viewers the most is the death of one of the most important characters in the series.

If you’ve not watched The Lincoln Lawyer season 2 part 2 yet, this is your cue to stop reading if you wish to avoid spoilers. But don’t forget to come back here once you’re done binging!

The Netflix series, adapted from Michael Connelly’s novels of the same name, revolves around Mickey Haller, a defense lawyer in Los Angeles who operates from his Lincoln car instead of a conventional office.

Along with the main murder case that is the main theme of each season, the Netflix version also depicts some of Mickey’s minor and recurring cases and clients. One such client is Glory Days, a sex worker.

Contrary to her earlier plan to take a break in Hawaii after The Lincoln Lawyer season 2 part 1, Glory Days is found dead in Los Angeles in the final episode.

The Lincoln Lawyer season 2 finale does not reveal the identity or motive of Glory Days’ killer. Mickey’s client, Julian Lacosse is the prime suspect of the murder, but he denies being the killer.  

1. Did Julian Lacosse kill Glory Day?

The Lincoln Lawyer season 2 finale features a heartbreaking twist with Glory Days’ murder, and the involvement of Mickey’s new client, Julian Lacosse. However, there is no proof of Lacosse being the real killer in the finale. He is only the prime suspect.

Following the end of Lisa Trammell’s trial in The Lincoln Lawyer, Mickey is hired by Julian Lacosse, who is facing charges for killing his friend, Giselle Dallinger. But Lacosse denies any involvement in the crime. Another interesting aspect of Lacosse’s case is that he claims Giselle referred him to Mickey, but Mickey has no memory of knowing a Giselle Dallinger.

When Mickey identifies the victim, he discovers that the person Lacosse allegedly killed is not “Giselle Dallinger”, but Gloria Dayton (aka Glory Days), one of his regular clients.

Glory was last seen at the start of The Lincoln Lawyer season 2. Mickey faces a dilemma as he has to mourn the loss of his friend and at the same time defend Lacosse, the suspect of the murder.

The identity and motive of Glory’s killer is kept under wraps. I expect the series to explore the murder in season 3. But in the end of season 2, there is only suspect we know of: Julian Lacosse.

2. What happens to Glory Day in the books?

In both the Netflix adaptation and the original novels of The Lincoln Lawyer, Gloria Dayton deceives Mickey by claiming that she will pursue a different career and take a vacation in Hawaii. 

However, in the novel The Gods of Guilt, it is revealed that she stayed in L.A. and continued working as a sex worker. This is how she meets Lacosse, who is a pimp in the novels. After a violent encounter with a client, she argues with Lacosse and is found dead the next day. Mickey agrees to defend Lacosse because he is convinced that he did not kill Gloria Dayton.

However, as Lisa Trammel’s trial in The Lincoln Lawyer season 2 shows, it is hard to be certain about a client’s innocence or guilt.

As Mickey investigates Glory’s life before her death and Lacosse’s case, he discovers that there is more to the murder than it seems, which will likely be the focus of The Lincoln Lawyer season 3.

3. How Gloria Dayton’s Murder Sets Up Season 3

Gloria Dayton’s murder is not only a shocking twist in The Lincoln Lawyer season 2, but also a crucial setup for the next season. Before the second part of season 2 was released, it was uncertain which book the third season would follow, as there were several possible options. 

However, the twist featuring Gloria’s murder confirms that the next season will be partly based on the fifth novel in the series, The Gods of Guilt. This is the most important clue about The Lincoln Lawyer season 3 so far, making the final scene of season 2 very significant.

The clue about The Lincoln Lawyer season 3’s plot also suggests that the next season could be a significant change for the series. In the first two seasons of The Lincoln Lawyer, Mickey represents clients he barely knows, charged with crimes he has no connection to, making the cases just his job.

However, Lacosse’s case will be very different, since Mickey was acquainted with Gloria, the victim of the crime. This will surely add an emotional dimension to the legal aspect of The Lincoln Lawyer that has not been explored before, making season 3 potentially the Netflix adaptation’s most crucial season yet.

4. About The Lincoln Lawyer

The Lincoln Lawyer is an American legal drama television series created for television by David E. Kelley and developed by Ted Humphrey, based on the books of Michael Connelly.

It stars Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as Mickey Haller, a defense attorney in Los Angeles who works out of a chauffeur-driven Lincoln Navigator rather than an office. Neve Campbell, Becki Newton, Jazz Raycole, Angus Sampson, and Christopher Gorham also star.

The first season is based on Connelly’s 2008 novel The Brass Verdict, a sequel to his novel The Lincoln Lawyer. It premiered on Netflix on May 13, 2022.