Nothing But the Truth

I have read several of John Lescroart's books, and each one is remarkably enjoyable. Unfortunately, I have not read them in sequential order, so that I find myself a bit surprised as to how Dismas Hardy's life has "progressed." Nevertheless, this series is so well-written, with enough referrals to previous incidents and cases, that each can stand on its own. NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH is an immensely engrossing story. I found that the time line--four days to solve a murder that had occurred four weeks previously and had gone cold--in order to save his wife, Frannie, from suffering more indignities and consequences for protecting a friends's secret, was exciting and compelling. From the first chapter, I wanted to finish the book FAST! I love when a book hooks me like this, and that is what all of Lescroart's books do...grab you and keep you going and going until you reach the suprising, satisfying conclusion.By the way, listening to one of his wonderful books on tape, HARD EVIDENCE, I learned his name is pronounced la-sqwaa--soft "a." Something fun to know!

I had forgotten how much I enjoyed this author until I ran out of books on a recent vacation in Bermuda and bought this one, even at the inflated island prices. Dismas Hardy is a central character that you can admire, identify with and root for as he contends with (1) a wife who's sense of values is refreshing in these times which have caused her to be jailed for contempt(2) an ambitious prosecutor and a venal DA (3) a cllient who appears to hold at least one of the keys to his wife's jail cell (4) a judge who holds the other key and (5) his old friend, homicide detective Abe Glitzky as he tries to solve the problem of the murder of his client's wife. This author has mastered the art of making conversation come alive on the printed page and you keep turning the pages well into the night. I was happy to be on vacation so that I could enjoy it in large doses. I recommend it without qualification.

I'm a writer and read different genres to see what's going on. Without a doubt, John Lescroart and Steve Martini are two of the better authors out there, regardless of genere. However, their styles are totally different, both alive and vibrant. I personally think this may be Lescroart's best work to date. The way he brings Franny forward gives an added dimension to his lead character, Dismis Hardy. Also, Lescroart writes with authority about the San Francisco legal scene, which I love, and he must upset more than a few poltical/legal beagles in San Francisco.

As a long-time Dismas Hardy and Abe Glitzky fan, this series just gets better and better. I just read the whole book during a snow day when I had better things to do, and I just couldn't put it down. The characters are familiar, and they've grown over the years, and Lescroart is so good at making it clear why real people can't live happily ever after... Dismas has come a long way, and his character continues to have depth and be interesting to observe. But best of all - this is a great thriller, a real page turner. Lots of twists and turns, and interesting political and social issues are represented all over the place. He has a nice touch writing about kids, about marriage, about relationships - okay, some of the stuff here is a little far-fetched but it's a mystery novel, that's why we read them. For new readers, start at the beginning of this series and work your way to the present - it will be worth it!

Defense attorney Dismas Hardy receives a call from the school telling him that his wife failed to pick up their children as planned. A bit concerned, he gets the kids and takes them home, but there is no sign of his spouse Frannie. After a few more hours pass, Dismas becomes worried until he finally learns that Frannie is residing in jail on two counts of contempt.Apparently, her good friend Ron Beaumont is afraid to become involved in the legal system although someone murdered his wife Bree and the police have no viable suspects. Frannie knows Ron's secrets, but refuses to answer questions involving them. When she acts nasty towards the judge, she becomes a prisoner. Dismas wonders if his beloved spouse has been romantically involved with another man, especially when she pleads with him to find out who killed Bree. However, deciding to trust his wife, Dismas begins to investigate what happened. He quickly learns that Bree had many political enemies because of her hard stand on environmental issues. As Dismas digs deeper, he realizes that someone will kill again to keep a certain plan on schedule.New York Times bestselling author John Lescroart has written another fabulous police and legal thriller. The male protagonist appears more vulnerable than usual, which makes him more likeable than in previous appearances. In NOTHING, BUT THE TRUTH, Dismas, soul is stripped to the bone marrow, but he still will do what it takes to keep his family safe. The who-done-it is one of the better ones in quite awhile, as Mr. Lescroart knows how to create a plot that will give immense pleasure to fans of police and legal thrillers.Harriet Klausner