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Presumed Innocent
April 2022: Detective
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Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow - 3+ stars
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Funny that I didn't catch that this author was ever or was still in the running. He must have beat out his last match. I read two of his books when I was either in high school or college. It will be interesting to see how the challenge plays out, but also nice to be reminded o books from a super long time ago.
Amy wrote: "Funny that I didn't catch that this author was ever or was still in the running. He must have beat out his last match. I read two of his books when I was either in high school or college. It will b..."Yes, he is still in the running - Bracket D, up against Delinsky. For a detective or legal type book (which is not really my thing) this is a good one. It was recommended by a friend of mine. It's my second by Turow. I read Ordinary Heroes a couple years ago and also enjoyed it.
Barbara Delinsky - I actually need a D book. Maybe she is my gal. Another one I haven't read since college or just past - lol. She was an "airport author" right next up to Danielle Steele and Sidney Sheldon.
Amy wrote: "Barbara Delinsky - I actually need a D book. Maybe she is my gal. Another one I haven't read since college or just past - lol. She was an "airport author" right next up to Danielle Steele and Sidne..."I have never read Barbara Delinsky. I looked at what she writes and it does not sound like an author for me.
Definitely not a high brow choice. More of an airport one. Or like you were visiting someone and needed a book. But even for us readers we take even the airport seriously, and never leave home without six book choices - lol.
Thanks for the info, Amy. I agree - always travel with books! It's one of the reasons I love my e-reader, though I still read physical books, too.
I agree that the defense attorney was a highlight. The courtroom scenes with the Medical Examiner were particularly good. The bribery case added quite a bit to the story too I thought. Speaking of Barbara Delinsky, I looked at some of her books today. I chose one that is set on an island similar to where my husband grew up. So far she reminds me of Nora Roberts.
I loved the defense attorney - his scenes were my favorite part of the book. I agree about the bribery case but I did not think I needed to hear about (view spoiler)As you probably know, I am not a big fan of romance novels, so that's why I am avoiding Delinsky, but if I can find one that sounds like it has more to it, I might try one.
Protagonist (and narrator) Rusty Sabich is the Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Kindle County. When his fingerprints are found at the scene of a crime, he finds himself accused of murder. The bulk of the story is a courtroom drama about Sabich’s trial. There are several additional simultaneous plotlines involving a political campaign, Rusty’s family life, and a past case involving bribery.
The courtroom scenes are the heart of the novel, and the author definitely has a knack for keeping the curiosity level high. One of the highlights of the book is the characterization of defense attorney Alejandro Stern – he is such a great character, and I enjoyed his scenes more than any of the main players. The relationship between Rusty and his seven-year-old son is also beautifully portrayed. It occasionally feels a bit long, with subplots going into way too much graphic detail for my taste, especially descriptions of violent crimes unrelated to the murder.
Published in 1987, it is a little dated and the female victim is a standard stereotype. It is set in a time prior to widespread admissibility of DNA evidence. I was a little disappointed in the resolution (I found it rather far-fetched), but the last half is definitely a page-turner.