The best thing about this book, I think, was the clever gimmick of having the story narrated by a man accused of murder who, while giving you plenty of details about the event, manages to keep you guessing all the way through about whether or not he is innocent. Rusty Sabich, a leading prosecuting attorney, starts out investigating the murder of his former lover only to find himself in the role of alleged perpetrator. Rusty's tale abounds with red herrings and surprise twists. It also offers an in-depth look at police and court proceedings that's not always pretty, with surprising suggestions of incompetence and corruption. I know this is fiction and I don't possess enough actual knowledge of the legal system to judge its accuracy; I certainly hope I'm never in a position to find out.

It did take me some time to get into the story; at times the details seemed technical and plodding and I kept waiting for Rusty to just get accused already, knowing when I went in that that was where we were headed. I also think I've read a few too many legal thrillers at this point and am a bit jaded when it comes to the inevitable surprises along the way. Still, the book grew on me as I went along and is certainly deserving of at least four stars. Fans of legal thrillers will not be disappointed.