Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly
Further evidence that Lescroart ( Hard Evidence ) can hold his own among legal-thriller writers comes with this taut novel about an abused San Francisco housewife who is arrested for shooting both her seven-year-old son and her physician husband, a control freak. Narrator Dismas Hardy, defense attorney and hero of four previous Lescroart novels, has plenty of suspects and issues to grapple with. First there's his icy, recalcitrant client, Jennifer Witt, who refuses to go with a battered-wife defense; Jennifer's aloof psychiatrist, who may or may not be her lover; some financial shenanigans concerning the victim's business that provide plenty of motive for high-stakes murder. Then there's the problem of Dismas's grandstanding boss, whose flamboyant, hit-or-miss style leaves Dismas constantly scrambling for higher legal ground. Finally, there's Dismas's wife, who resents the time her husband spends on the case but who insists on striking up a friendship with the accused without telling her husband. The story gets off to a slow start, and sometimes Lescroart belabors the obvious. He also comes close to telegraphing the solution to the mystery, and much of his writing about the characters' personal lives is hamfisted. Despite these flaws, however, an intricate story and satisfying courtroom scenes carry the day. Fans of the genre should find the second half of the book, which covers the trial, especially engaging. 60,000 first printing; major ad/promo; paperback rights to Dell; audio rights to Bantam Doubleday Dell; large print rights to Thorndike; Literary Guild and Dou ble day Book Club featured alternates. (Sept.)
Library Journal
Jennifer's fairytale life as the wife of Dr. Larry Witt seems perfect. When Larry and their seven-year-old son are murdered while Jennifer is out jogging, the newspapers have a field day weeping with the photogenic young widow. After she is arrested for the crime, a full-fledged tabloid feeding frenzy erupts. Into this fray steps Dismas Hardy, a fortysomething former district attorney's office hotshot and an ex-bartender who is 43 days into his new job with a prestigious law firm. Dismas, new to the role of defense lawyer, is uncomfortable with his growing belief in Jennifer's innocence, especially since she is reluctant to take her one chance at a "Not Guilty" verdict: acknowledging Larry's years of abuse. A very readable novel with engaging characters and a riveting plot that fans of Scott Turow and John Grisham will love; recommended for most libraries.-Dan Bogey, Clearfield Cty. P.L. Federation, Curwensville, Pa.
From the Publisher
"A brilliant courtroom drama."
-The Washington Post Book World
"I double-dare you to begin reading John T. Lescroart's new suspense trial novel and put it down....This one is on the money."
-Larry King, USA Today
"Compelling...The power of the book lies in Lescroart's impeccable accumulation of detail."
-The San Francisco Chronicle
"Unusual in his ability to combine courthouse scenes with action sequences, judicial puzzles and dimensional people, Mr. Lescroart produces a full house of well-drawn characters. The many subplots, social issues and legal maneuvers of The 13th Juror, come together in a fast-paced text that sustains interest to the very end."
-The Wall Street Journal
OCT/NOV 08 - AudioFile
Lescroart's latest novel is a thrilling court drama that pits the accused Jennifer Witt, who is being tried for three murders, against a jury that believes she is guilty. Narrator David Colacci gives a rousing performance that draws listeners into the story with its emotional honesty and believable characters. Colacci taps into his feminine side for his role as Witt, relating her struggles, secrets, and emotions with a rawness that is at once empathetic and realistic. As Investigator/Defense Attorney Dismas Hardy, Colacci is firm and unwavering, reading with a solid voice that brings an air of the classic deep-throated detective and creates a noir atmosphere. L.B. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine
