John Lescroart Follow

Reading the latest instalment of John Lescroart’s outstanding Dismas Hardy series (number 19!) is like settling into a big comfy chair to visit with a beloved old friend, albeit one who seems to have an endless supply of terrific yarns to spin. The premise is simple enough: jaded ex-DA turned defense attorney mails it on in the belief that if a suspect reaches the point of being charged, said suspect must be guilty, so why waste time trying to spring a guilty client—especially when the victim is a man who was recently released from a murder conviction on a technicality? This being a John Lescroart novel, however, ensures there’s anything but a straight line between points A and B. In fact, the numerous inventive twists and turns in this novel take us through quite a bit of the alphabet as the plot thickens and takes us in unexpected directions. One plausible suspect and theory after another are probed and discarded. Abe Glitsky, a character I adore, plays a central role in eventually ferreting out the truth, which is a delight. The relationship between Glitsky and Hardy is a decided highlight of every Dismas Hardy novel. I’m already looking forward to book twenty in this highly entertaining series.

I’ve been reading (and loving) John Lescroart’s books for so long now that it’s difficult to pick a favorite to review, because they’re all favorites. The Mercy Rule is a quintessential Dismas Hardy book that dips into societal issues of concern, and is propelled by deception, greed, and their close cousin, corruption. Hardy is a protagonist that is aging gracefully, both as a character within the stories and in print, as Lescroart continues to plumb the depths of this fascinating, eminently likable personality. There is a recurring cast of characters that are fascinating in their own right, so much so that dipping into a Dismas Hardy novel feels like pulling up a comfortable chair to visit with friends, albeit friends that live far more exciting and intriguing lives than most of us! The key to this longevity is, I think, the fact that these novels are character-driven stories. They are also thrillers of the first order, with intriguing story lines and interesting plots that unravel in directions readers don’t see coming. The Mercy Rule is no exception. Pick it up. Or pick up any of John Lescroart’s novels—you can’t go wrong with any of them.