Damage by John Lescroart
reviewed by Russ Ilg

John Lescrroat has been one of my all time favorite authors for as long as can remember and his legal thrillers have been one of the most anticipate books of the year for me. He has become one of the greatest writers of this style I have had the pleasure of reading and is one of the prime examples I can say that reading a book is by far the greatest way to lose yourself into something so compelling that you can forget everything else and really just enjoy the ride.
Damage was one book I was really waiting for as I had heard that it was going to be by far his greatest work to date and I had a hard time believing that he could get an better then he already was. I mean how do you improve on the best?
John has a style that brings magic to the pages the people in the book are so real that you feel them breath, talk, hurt you are right there in the story standing in the corner, sitting in a chair always just far enough away that you feel as if you are really there watching as the story unfolds but are not seen by anyone else. The way he writes is done with such style and care that every person is someone you have known your whole life and what unfolds is part of who you are to. There are very few writers that can accomplish this feat that draws you into the story in a way that is so smooth you do not even realize it till you are holding the book and turning the pages so fast that there is no other thing in the world that exist.
So how could it get better then this well he did do it. He has taking his writing to a whole new level.
When you read 4-5 books a week you have come to know what to expect in the authors you read and are just grateful to know that you are in for one of the best times in your life when you sit down to get lost in another chapter of the author you like.
Damaged is a novel that could be ripped from the headlines of any paper in the county where it has been so often seen where people with enormus power and money have a huge advantage over the the average person when it comes to what happens in the court and legal system, This power has the ability to make justice seem in a way that is not as equal as we would all hope it was. The minute I starting reading this new novel I knew it was going to be very special and had a grip on me that I have not felt from Mr. Lescroart before. It is a non stop out of control train loaded with explosive on a unstoppable runaway ride across the pages. The book explodes in your hands as each moment you feel that you know what is going on is completed shattered by a cock screw twist that just throws you into the wall and I found that I was holding my breath as each new event unfolded.
Just when I was starting to get ready for the next new twist I found I was close to the end of the book I could not believe that it had flown by so fast and as the expected end drew near I was on the edge of my seat waiting for the final out come of this action pack thriller that left nothing safe or scared. Then it happened where he was able to come up with this still has me in awe. I was blown right through the roof of the house as if that train had made a direct hit right into me. I had to catch my breath and calm down and the say did that really just happen. I went back and re-read it 3 times on that last part to make sure that I got every detail right. The novel could have ended a hundred different ways, but John showed what really makes him so great and the upside down, out of nowhere ending, the ending you could not even imagine just blew me apart. There are only one or two other books in the past 5 years that have even come close to such a tremendous conclusion.
I tried very hard to stay away from any thing that would give the story itself away . I feel it is such a huge book that it should be experienced from the beginning to the end by the person reading it, because it will be one of the very best experience you the thriller lover will ever have. This is the book of the year, the one that should be on the top of every ones list. Make sure that you are there the day it comes out or even better you should pre-order it so it is delivered right to you door as soon as it comes out.
The son of the owners of one of the biggest papers in San Francisco and with more money then they can us had been convict of a heinous crime of murder and rape. After an appeal on what really had nothing to do with his guilt an appeal was won and a new trial awarded the guilt man. During his years in prison and right after he was convicted his parents used all there money and influence to ruin as many people as they could that were involved in the trial that put there son away. Fast forward just after a new DA is elected a former defense attorney with no clue as to what he is doing or how he really got there is elected with the parents support. Now with a new man at the helm and as they believe in there pocket they believe they will be able to get the son released on bail that under any other conditions would not even be considered. Trying to work his way into the new job Wes Farrell is torn on what to do and decides to let the DA that tried the case handle the matter instead of using his office to squash the bail. Well it blows up and the bail is awarded and the son released, which starts a nightmare of violence, murder and mayhem that can not even begin to express the speed and shear terror that then propels you on the greatest ride of adrenaline lashed fear for everyone remotely connect to the case. this novel has so many twist and disturbing turns, but it is written with such a style and flow that it is as real as anything you have ever read. John has brought you to the edge of how depraved man can be. He has done it in such a way that is so believe able that you are thinking of all the case's you have read about that have taken on similar forms and outcomes. Damage will change the way you see John Lescroart forever, it has taken him the the highest level of the thriller world that you will be longing for more. You need to read this book if for no other reason then to see what you have missed over the years and what the future holds for one of the greatest writers of our day.
Damage is a sure to be instant bestseller and distant to be on the Times list and in line for the best awards of the year. It has been one of the greatest surprise I have had in reading in so long I have forgotten just how great it is to find that book that can take every emotion you have and throw them into a blender and turn it on high, because you are never going to be the same again. 10 stars out of 5 !!!!!!!
John Lescroart has raised the bar on writing so high it is going to be almost impossible for the rest of the industry to stay up there with him. Thank you Mr. Lescroart for one of the greatest thrills I have ever had and believe me that is very hard to do.



Merged review:

Damage by John Lescroart
reviewed by Russ Ilg

John Lescrroat has been one of my all time favorite authors for as long as can remember and his legal thrillers have been one of the most anticipate books of the year for me. He has become one of the greatest writers of this style I have had the pleasure of reading and is one of the prime examples I can say that reading a book is by far the greatest way to lose yourself into something so compelling that you can forget everything else and really just enjoy the ride.
Damage was one book I was really waiting for as I had heard that it was going to be by far his greatest work to date and I had a hard time believing that he could get an better then he already was. I mean how do you improve on the best?
John has a style that brings magic to the pages the people in the book are so real that you feel them breath, talk, hurt you are right there in the story standing in the corner, sitting in a chair always just far enough away that you feel as if you are really there watching as the story unfolds but are not seen by anyone else. The way he writes is done with such style and care that every person is someone you have known your whole life and what unfolds is part of who you are to. There are very few writers that can accomplish this feat that draws you into the story in a way that is so smooth you do not even realize it till you are holding the book and turning the pages so fast that there is no other thing in the world that exist.
So how could it get better then this well he did do it. He has taking his writing to a whole new level.
When you read 4-5 books a week you have come to know what to expect in the authors you read and are just grateful to know that you are in for one of the best times in your life when you sit down to get lost in another chapter of the author you like.
Damaged is a novel that could be ripped from the headlines of any paper in the county where it has been so often seen where people with enormus power and money have a huge advantage over the the average person when it comes to what happens in the court and legal system, This power has the ability to make justice seem in a way that is not as equal as we would all hope it was. The minute I starting reading this new novel I knew it was going to be very special and had a grip on me that I have not felt from Mr. Lescroart before. It is a non stop out of control train loaded with explosive on a unstoppable runaway ride across the pages. The book explodes in your hands as each moment you feel that you know what is going on is completed shattered by a cock screw twist that just throws you into the wall and I found that I was holding my breath as each new event unfolded.
Just when I was starting to get ready for the next new twist I found I was close to the end of the book I could not believe that it had flown by so fast and as the expected end drew near I was on the edge of my seat waiting for the final out come of this action pack thriller that left nothing safe or scared. Then it happened where he was able to come up with this still has me in awe. I was blown right through the roof of the house as if that train had made a direct hit right into me. I had to catch my breath and calm down and the say did that really just happen. I went back and re-read it 3 times on that last part to make sure that I got every detail right. The novel could have ended a hundred different ways, but John showed what really makes him so great and the upside down, out of nowhere ending, the ending you could not even imagine just blew me apart. There are only one or two other books in the past 5 years that have even come close to such a tremendous conclusion.
I tried very hard to stay away from any thing that would give the story itself away . I feel it is such a huge book that it should be experienced from the beginning to the end by the person reading it, because it will be one of the very best experience you the thriller lover will ever have. This is the book of the year, the one that should be on the top of every ones list. Make sure that you are there the day it comes out or even better you should pre-order it so it is delivered right to you door as soon as it comes out.
The son of the owners of one of the biggest papers in San Francisco and with more money then they can us had been convict of a heinous crime of murder and rape. After an appeal on what really had nothing to do with his guilt an appeal was won and a new trial awarded the guilt man. During his years in prison and right after he was convicted his parents used all there money and influence to ruin as many people as they could that were involved in the trial that put there son away. Fast forward just after a new DA is elected a former defense attorney with no clue as to what he is doing or how he really got there is elected with the parents support. Now with a new man at the helm and as they believe in there pocket they believe they will be able to get the son released on bail that under any other conditions would not even be considered. Trying to work his way into the new job Wes Farrell is torn on what to do and decides to let the DA that tried the case handle the matter instead of using his office to squash the bail. Well it blows up and the bail is awarded and the son released, which starts a nightmare of violence, murder and mayhem that can not even begin to express the speed and shear terror that then propels you on the greatest ride of adrenaline lashed fear for everyone remotely connect to the case. this novel has so many twist and disturbing turns, but it is written with such a style and flow that it is as real as anything you have ever read. John has brought you to the edge of how depraved man can be. He has done it in such a way that is so believe able that you are thinking of all the case's you have read about that have taken on similar forms and outcomes. Damage will change the way you see John Lescroart forever, it has taken him the the highest level of the thriller world that you will be longing for more. You need to read this book if for no other reason then to see what you have missed over the years and what the future holds for one of the greatest writers of our day.
Damage is a sure to be instant bestseller and distant to be on the Times list and in line for the best awards of the year. It has been one of the greatest surprise I have had in reading in so long I have forgotten just how great it is to find that book that can take every emotion you have and throw them into a blender and turn it on high, because you are never going to be the same again. 10 stars out of 5 !!!!!!!
John Lescroart has raised the bar on writing so high it is going to be almost impossible for the rest of the industry to stay up there with him. Thank you Mr. Lescroart for one of the greatest thrills I have ever had and believe me that is very hard to do.