Scan barcode
A review by canada_matt
The Ophelia Cut by John Lescroart
5.0
Lescroart brings back his key character, Dismas Hardy, to ensure a massive hit, and does not disappoint. Pushing forward a few storylines throughout the opening third of the book, Lescroart paints a multi-faceted story that helps the reader reacquaint themselves with the players involved. When news about the murder of a political up-and-comer begins trickling down, a strong motive emerges for one character, though he declares his strong innocence. Is there more to the story than meets the eye? Lescroart dedicates the second half of the book to a thorough and stunningly powerful courtroom drama where Hardy must use all his skills as a criminal defence attorney to prove an alternate theory, even if there is little more than breadcrumbs to do so. Sitting on a precarious edge, Hardy is entrusted not only with getting the accused off for a crime he says he did not commit, but also to keep a deep secret that could bring a group down with ties to all aspects of the city’s political fabric. Using San Francisco as an ongoing backdrop, Lescroart tells an entertaining story, filled with character development, drama, and intrigue that keeps the reader hooked until the dust cover closes. In true Lescroart fashion, cliff-hangers abound and no slack jaw is safe from a stunning plummet into the ‘O’ position.
I have always admired Lescroart for his complex storyline, especially as it relates to a Hardy novel. It is too easy to make a cookie-cutter book with superficial characters and a plot to match. Lescroart prefers generating something with storylines that advances all characters in his literary quiver. His ability to create cameos of some characters to accentuate others keeps the reader closely tied to the entire collection, though it can create some confusion and the need to re-read past work as a homework assignment in order to better place the themes arcing from one book to the next. Not a plotline goes by without a great ‘ah ha’ moment and I am left trying to amass all the crumbs to bring the story together. No doubt, Lescroart prefers this more in-depth approach, which keeps the avid reader coming back for more, and begging publishers to announce the next instalment.
Kudos, as always, Mr. Lescroart for your ability to capture a thoroughly intriguing courtroom drama while adding new layers to characters. I am so eager to devour the next book, knowing I will not be disappointed.
I have always admired Lescroart for his complex storyline, especially as it relates to a Hardy novel. It is too easy to make a cookie-cutter book with superficial characters and a plot to match. Lescroart prefers generating something with storylines that advances all characters in his literary quiver. His ability to create cameos of some characters to accentuate others keeps the reader closely tied to the entire collection, though it can create some confusion and the need to re-read past work as a homework assignment in order to better place the themes arcing from one book to the next. Not a plotline goes by without a great ‘ah ha’ moment and I am left trying to amass all the crumbs to bring the story together. No doubt, Lescroart prefers this more in-depth approach, which keeps the avid reader coming back for more, and begging publishers to announce the next instalment.
Kudos, as always, Mr. Lescroart for your ability to capture a thoroughly intriguing courtroom drama while adding new layers to characters. I am so eager to devour the next book, knowing I will not be disappointed.