The Suspect: A Thriller

Author John Lescroart does it again with his latest legal thriller/mystery "The Suspect". The multi-talented Lescroart has given readers another literary treasure to feast on; certainly fans of his (And he has legions of them) will find this latest offering simply brilliant! The plot is strong but it is the characters that once again give his stories that something special. The courtroom scenes are what you would expect from the author but this story takes you to places that are unexpected. The suspense will hook you and you will not be able to put this book down until you finally read that last page. The American Authors Association (AAA) has made this book their top award winning choice for their 2007 book awards. I personally recommend this book for book lovers of mystery thrillers or for those who just want to read a great book.

I think that it's an axiom that when you find a person dead the first suspect you look for is the spouse. And when the dead lady has just filed for divorce, there is a big life insurance policy involved, the husband has no real alibi for the weekend he spent up at the lake following their big argument -- straight to jail with him. But of course such situations are a staple of the legal thriller. And John Lescroaft is a master at the genre. Here we find a mix of characters we know from his previous books and a new central character, Gina Roake an attorney with the firm run by our old friend Dismas Hardy. We, of course, know our leading character is innocent, but in Lescroart fashion there are numerous other potential candidates who must be eliminated one by one. It's one of his usual tightly crafted stories. And then there is the ending. If you haven't read Lescroart before you are in for a real treat.

The dedication that precedes the opening of John Lescroart's latest novel begins with the words "(B)ack to basics." Indeed, from its no-frills, no-nonsense title to its surprise coda, THE SUSPECT is just that. Those who feel that Lescroart may have strayed off the path a bit with 2006's THE HUNT CLUB will find much here for which to rejoice. This is a work that is beautifully written and carefully plotted, with solid characterizations --- a joy in every way. THE SUSPECT marks the return of Gina Roake, a partner in Dismas Hardy's high-power San Francisco law firm. Roake receives a client referral from Jedd Conley, an old friend who is a rising star in state and local politics. Conley has a friend, an outdoors writer named Stuart Gorman, whose wife, Caryn Dryden, has been found dead. A successful and wealthy orthopedic surgeon, Dryden had asked Gorman for a divorce, a request that made him furious. San Francisco homicide inspector Devin Juhle has been doing the math and figures that an angry husband plus a rich wife --- with a life insurance policy worth millions --- adds up to murder. Gorman has an alibi, but it's not exactly rock solid. And a witness, who is somewhat but not totally reliable, places him at the scene. Dryden's death may be an accident, a suicide or a murder; Juhle is betting on the latter. Roake is convinced of her client's innocence, even though Gorman is not acting particularly grief-stricken over his loss. However, Roake has a more significant problem with Gorman: he hasn't been telling her the truth, lying by omission. As any trial attorney will tell you, the toughest adversary to beat is your own client. Still, there are other suspects. They include Dryden's business partner, who had quite a bit to gain from her death; Dryden's sister, who is poised to jump her brother-in-law's bones before Dryden even makes it to the cooling board; Gorman and Dryden's daughter, a real piece of work who didn't get along with mom all that well to begin with; and a mystery man who might have been Dryden's lover. And this doesn't even cover all of the suspects. The most fun part about this book is trying to eliminate them one by one, even as the reader gets the feeling that the best suspect is Gorman, perhaps one of the most interesting creations of Lescroart's universe; though not particularly likable, Gorman is not a bad guy. Roake is a bit of an underdog here, given the fact that this is her first murder trial, and believably she is by turns tentative and surefooted. Her greatest assets, however, are ultimately displayed outside of the courtroom, as she lays a trap that hopefully will reveal the true cause of Dryden's death. THE SUSPECT is Lescroart at his best, skillfully blending an interesting and intricate plot with solid characterization and even an in-joke or two (one of the minor characters shares his name with an enigmatic but influential real-world musician). This is a must-read for fans of the author or anyone with even a pa

Gina Roake isn't your typical, cynical criminal defense attorney who operates on the premise a client probably did it and the practice of not directly asking. She actually believes her client is innocent and needs to hear it from him. It is both her strength and her weakness as she pursues the truth--again, something not necessarily the object of the prosecution and, certainly, most often, not in the interest of the defense. And Lescroart gives us multiple suspects, including Gina's client, to choose from--or, more accurately, an intricate, intelligent plot that leaves the reader guessing until the end. Masterfully done. But what I noticed in this, my fifth Lescroart book, is the smooth, almost graceful prose that makes the book such a pleasure to read. Close your eyes after reading his description of an evening on a Sierra lake and you hear the splash of a trout jumping. Read of a walk along the San Francisco Bay and you feel the breeze and see the rusted red bolts of the Golden Gate. (For those outside of the SF area, if you come to San Francisco "be sure to wear a flower in your hair" but, also, bring along Lescroart as your "insiders" guide to the City.) As in all Lescroart books, the law and medicine are precise. But in "Suspects" there is a crossexamination by Gina Roake of the San Francisco coroner that could be a model in advanced trial practice for experienced trial attorneys. It is brilliant! In fact, I take it back. You cannot teach crossexamination done so well. You either have it or you don't and John Lescroart is a natural. Reviewers need to stop comparing Lescroart to Grisham or Tarow or others--most of whom have written much less that he in the legal thriller genre. Lescroart is uniquely, after 18 or so books--the last of which, "The Hunt Club," sold over 4 million copies and is still on the New York Times best seller list with this book--John Lescroart and "The Suspect" is his latest and best book. John M. Poswall/attorney/author

With each succeeding novel, now 18 in all, John Lescroart (pronounced "less-kwah" so you can tell your friends about this book) garners a host of new fans. He is an author one cannot ignore as his plots are scrupulously drawn, his characters likable, and he choreographs the escalation of suspense masterfully. Gina Roake, a 47-year-old partner in Dismas Hardy's law firm and a secondary character in previous Lescroart tales, is given center stage in this story of truth and justice. Still reeling from the death of her beloved fiancé, an icon in San Francisco's law world, she has gone camping by a Sierra Nevada alpine lake to be alone and, hopefully, heal. Across the lake outdoor writer Stuart Gorman has a very different reason for seeking tranquility - his wife, Dr. Caryn Dryden, had just announced that she wanted a divorce. This was a shocking, infuriating kick in the head to Stuart as he had long ago realized that their marriage was not all he wished it but had determined to remain faithful - they had made promises to each other and he, for one, intended to keep them. Nonetheless, he was furious when Caryn as much as said he no longer mattered to her and he took off for their cabin at Echo Lake. Once there, he vented his anger by polishing off half a quart of vodka then going a few rounds with the cabin - plates ricocheted off walls, chairs were broken and framed family photos smashed. Unable to find any peace, he decided to drive back to the city for a final showdown with Caryn. It was not a showdown but it was final as he found Caryn dead, her nude body by their hot tub. Knowing that he had nothing to do with his wife's death, Stuart was frank when interrogated by Sergeant Devin Juhle, admitting that they were not getting along and that she had asked for a divorce. Further, her death will make him a millionaire three times over. To Juhle, if a wife is murdered, the spouse did it. Thus, he has not doubt that Stuart is guilty - all he has to do is prove it. Upon the advice of his good friend, California Assemblyman Jedd Conley, Stuart hires Gina as his attorney. She jumps at the chance even though she has never defended a murder case. However, as she comes to know Stuart there are a few unpleasant surprises in store for her - he has twice been arrested for domestic violence, he spent a few days alone at the family cabin with Caryn's attractive sister, Debra, a young girl living across the street from Stuart swears she saw him come home at the time Caryn was killed. As the investigation proceeds it appears that a recent invention of Caryn's awaiting FDA approval may have had something to do with her death. But, who would and perhaps more importantly who could have killed her? Lescroart treats readers to some of his trademark crackling courtroom scenes, and a surprising, satisfying finish,. In addition, he leaves us to ponder whether or not we are really believed innocent until we're proven guilty. Do