THE SECOND CHAIR by John Lescroart
The best thing about a new John Lescroart novel being released is you know you are in for a good read. The worst thing about finding a new John Lescroart novel is that once you have read it there won't be another new novel by this wonderful author for six months to a year. Those are double reasons to savor and treasure his new book THE SECOND CHAIR.
This is another story involving attorney Dismas Hardy, and it is actually a continuation of all those books that have gone before it. Still if you haven't read a single word that Lescroart has written in the past, you will still be able to enjoy this story. He does that good a job of catching you up. But if you have read all the previous books this one will be even better based on that background knowledge.
The focus in this book is on a double homicide that takes place in San Francisco where Hardy practices law. Amy Wu, one of his young associates, is contacted by the parents of
teenager Andrew Bartlett. He has been charged with the double murder. Amy begins working on the case but soon is over her head. That is when Hardy steps in as "the second chair" or back-up attorney.
As in all Hardy man books one murder begets another and soon the streets of San Francisco are virtually littered with bodies. This brings Hardy's friend Abe Glitsky into the plot, as he is an officer at the Police Department. The relationship between Dismas and Abe is a strong one but it also brings out their cantankerous sides. They are best friends who love to get the best of each other.
Lescroart knows his characters inside out and he writes with an assurance that comes with such knowledge. He also is a genius at keeping the plot moving in his stories with never a false note on any front. THE SECOND CHAIR highlights this from beginning to end.
If you are a fan of legal thrillers then don't miss this novel. Lescroart is better than Grisham, better than Turow, better than any other ten lawyers writing novels today. Discovering his books is the best literary fortune I could wish for you.
Pull up a chair and settle down with THE SECOND CHAIR. Don't let that title mislead you. Lescroart's talent takes a back seat to no one.
THE SECOND CHAIR is published by Dutton Books. It contains 390 pages and sells for $25.95.