A PLAGUE OF SECRETS by John Lescroart
Once a year author John Lescroart unleashes his magic and produces a legal thriller that will stay with you all summer long. His books are intriguing and triumphant as once again good conquers evil and the madness of society is again held at bay. This is what has happened in his previous books and it is what happens in his latest A PLAGUE OF SECRETS.
What holds Lescroart’s books together is the focus on Dismas Hardy, or a friend or co-worker of his, in the forefront of the story. Hardy is a renowned San Francisco attorney and he loves the city. He loves the ocean, the streets, the people and his family home. It is difficult to imagine this man living anywhere else.
Hardy’s best friend is Abe Glitsky, a homicide lieutenant. At the start of this story Glitsky’s small son is involved in an accident. Glitsky feels it was his fault and goes into depression while he awaits the outcome. Meanwhile there is a murder in San Francisco outside a popular coffee shop. The victim is the manager of the coffee shop and the person charged with the crime is the owner of the shop.
Glitsky’s depression keeps him from following the progress and actions of two of his detectives. Due to this some of the accused rights are neglected and the case is rushed to trial. Hardy represents Maya Townshend, the accused. The woman has problems in her past but Hardy does not believe she committed the murder.
The actual trial is the best part of the book. It is there we see the genius of Lescroart’s writing and of Hardy’s trial techniques. When the surprises arise the reader is surprised, and when something logical occurs that is how it should be.
Page by page, chapter by chapter and character by character Lescroart weaves his story. It unfolds at a pace that allows the reader to absorb each clue and fact. It all has a pattern which Lescroart follows from beginning to end.
If you enjoy legal thrillers, well they don’t get any better than this. Lescroart has been and continues to be one of my favorite authors. When his new book arrives each summer it is a time for rejoicing around my house.
For enjoyable but also informative reading get a copy of A PLAGUE OF SECRETS. It will give you hours of reading pleasure. Enter the world of Dismas Hardy and you will be as hooked as I am.
A PLAGUE OF SECRETS is published by Dutton. It contains 417 pages and sells for $26.95.