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wildweasel105's review against another edition
4.0
Lescroart is in top form in this thrilling mystery. Abe Glitsky comes out of retirement to help both Dismas Hardy and the DA investigate jail house corruption...but how to do this without triggering any more murders? Lots of turns in this extremely satisfying novel!
anncecile's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.25
lcoverosey's review against another edition
3.0
I listened to this in the car so it took a long time. Has some twists.
whaney's review against another edition
4.0
Really liked this one. I had my eye on one person as the guilty party and for once had it right, but still wasn't completely sure till the end. I like how they kept Abe involved as I wasn't sure what they were going to do after he retired. This one was more about Abe than Dimas Hardy.
kathyemmons's review against another edition
4.0
One of Lescroart's best! Hardy and Glitsky are two of my favorite characters in fiction.
weaselweader's review against another edition
4.0
“Transmogrifying anchovies. Dave Barry would say that’s a good name for a rock band.”
The back cover marketing blurb gives a great overview of the basis for the plot, “A young wife and mother named Katie Chase has been missing for days, her husband Hal – a guard in the San Francisco County Jail – the prime suspect. When the police begin talking murder, attorney Dismas Hardy calls on his friend Abe Glitsky, a former homicide detective, to investigate.”
That the police would chase the most obvious suspect, the husband, and adopt the strategy of “follow the money” (a 7-figure insurance payout not to mention adultery with a drop-dead gorgeous multi-millionaire jet setter) is hardly new plot material but Lescroart does a very workmanlike job of using the mundane as a basis for a solid police procedural that leads into the realm of police corruption, multiple murder, black marketing to prisoners in the local jail, and a cover-up conspiracy. For those who follow the series, it should be noted that, this time around, the lawyer Dismas Hardy plays second chair to Abe Glitsky’s leading role as an erstwhile private investigator for defense counsel after his retirement from active duty as a homicide detective with the SFPD. Their relationships with their wives are also used to heartwarming effect to complement the basic story line.
If not particularly memorable (as is the case with most novels of this genre), it is certainly enjoyable fast-paced reading and very easy to recommend to those who like a good thriller.
P.S. NOTE TO JOHN LESCROART: "Too many syllables. I don’t think there’s ever been an eight-syllable band name.” CREDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL has eight syllables and CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY has nine! Just sayin’!
Paul Weiss
The back cover marketing blurb gives a great overview of the basis for the plot, “A young wife and mother named Katie Chase has been missing for days, her husband Hal – a guard in the San Francisco County Jail – the prime suspect. When the police begin talking murder, attorney Dismas Hardy calls on his friend Abe Glitsky, a former homicide detective, to investigate.”
That the police would chase the most obvious suspect, the husband, and adopt the strategy of “follow the money” (a 7-figure insurance payout not to mention adultery with a drop-dead gorgeous multi-millionaire jet setter) is hardly new plot material but Lescroart does a very workmanlike job of using the mundane as a basis for a solid police procedural that leads into the realm of police corruption, multiple murder, black marketing to prisoners in the local jail, and a cover-up conspiracy. For those who follow the series, it should be noted that, this time around, the lawyer Dismas Hardy plays second chair to Abe Glitsky’s leading role as an erstwhile private investigator for defense counsel after his retirement from active duty as a homicide detective with the SFPD. Their relationships with their wives are also used to heartwarming effect to complement the basic story line.
If not particularly memorable (as is the case with most novels of this genre), it is certainly enjoyable fast-paced reading and very easy to recommend to those who like a good thriller.
P.S. NOTE TO JOHN LESCROART: "Too many syllables. I don’t think there’s ever been an eight-syllable band name.” CREDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL has eight syllables and CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY has nine! Just sayin’!
Paul Weiss
books_and_tea_with_me's review against another edition
2.0
I hadn't read a book in this series for awhile and it has reminded me how much I enjoy this group of characters
martyfried's review against another edition
4.0
Another typical book from this series. By typical, I mean it has the constant wisecracks and goofy humor from Dismas Hardy, the very dry wisecracks and humor from his friend Abe Glitsky, and a crime where an innocent person has the deck stacked against him in a case that seems hopeless and unfair.
This one was a little different, in that the prosecuting side was not totally convinced of the suspect's guilt, and even came to believe the other guy did it. But the other guy seemed to always have an alibi.
I suspected who the guilty party was for the main case, but was never sure, of course. But that didn't detract from my enjoyment, and I always enjoy the books of this series.
The audiobooks are done well, if you are interested.
This one was a little different, in that the prosecuting side was not totally convinced of the suspect's guilt, and even came to believe the other guy did it. But the other guy seemed to always have an alibi.
I suspected who the guilty party was for the main case, but was never sure, of course. But that didn't detract from my enjoyment, and I always enjoy the books of this series.
The audiobooks are done well, if you are interested.
jenann1737's review against another edition
5.0
One of my favorite authors. His Dismas Hardy series never disappoints.