The Hearing

The beginning and ending kept me turning pages...the middle, not so much. Still a good legal thriller and the first Lescroart book I've read. i will give another of his books a try.

As mentioned after reading, Nothing But the Truth, John Lescroart's series with Dismas Hardy, wife Frannie, friend and Head Homicide Detective Abe Glitsky, and brother-in-law (Frannie's brother) Moses McGuire, are characters that the reader comes to know more intimately than in some legal thrillers. I knew I had the next novel in the series on my "to read" pile and couldn't resist spending more time with all the series characters. This novel definitely becomes one of my favorites of the series. The headliner relationship in this novel features the friendship of Dismas and Abe. We learn more about Abe's sons and a relationship that he has kept secret. As family dynamics are explored when a carefully protected secret is exposed to family show more and friends. The legal thriller aspect takes us back to the court room with Dismas trying to protect a young man's life - guilty or not guilty - he doesn't deserve the death penalty or does he? Is the D.A.'s office so interested in the next election that they'll prosecute for a wrongful conviction? Is Abe as Head Homicide Detective so guilty over his silence in keeping a special and personal relationship a secret that he has created the opportunity for a wrongful confession? Can Dismas defend a client in the court room each day with so many unanswered questions about the night of the murder?

Without a doubt, don't miss #7 in the series! This series can be read out of order or as single stand-alone titles but knowing the history between the major characters definitely adds to the reading pleasure and treasure chest of John Lescroart's writing. show less

I really enjoy reading books from this series. It's certainly not great fiction, but it's fun to read. Fairly easy to follow, characters that you either love or hate, and usually happy endings. Also, there's usually some good guy who's in big trouble, and is unlikely to get out of it.

There's a nice sprinkling of good humor throughout, and I like the interactions between the two main characters, Dismas Hardy and Abe Glitsky. I suspect John Lescroart likes to joke around, and he seems to have a good sense of humor.

This was the audiobook version, and as usual, the narrator did a good job.

A popular attorney is killed. It appears that the killer is in custody. But, then we find out that the attorney was the love child of series regular, Homicide Detective Art Gilsky. And the killer is the brother of a good friend of the other series regular, defense attorney Dismis Hardy. I like these characters a lot and have enjoyed all the other Hardy/Gilsky books. This one started off fairly slowly but about a third of the way in, I was totally hooked.

"The Hearing" hit me hard and I'm not sure why. The writing has sharp corners, which fit the story. I liked the book very much.

I really enjoy Lescroart's books. This is a series I've been reading out of order, so unfortunately I already know the fate of some of the characters. But, it doesn't really matter. The books still suck me in, and the third part of this book was really fast-paced and interesting. Lescroart managed to throw in a twist that even I didn't expect, and that's pretty hard to do!

fast pace. since I live in SF it always great to read a book about your own city. Ending is not really suprising, but the main characters are likeable. It is a series, but you can read them out of order.