Betrayal

This book was a departure from the usual formula for this series, in that much of the book was background leading up to a case that Dismas Hardy inherited. A lot of it took place in Iraq, and lacked the usual humor and banter between the main characters, but it was interesting in that it gave a good sense of what it was like over there, and how money and human life were both wasted by our involvement. The formula of building up a hopeless case was still there, though; but in this case, even the defendant didn't know if he was guilty, so it made it even harder to figure out what happened. But that never stopped the team of Hardy and Glitsky before, so why would it stop them now.

I’ve only read one John Lescroart novel before – The Hunt Club. But I enjoyed it, so I decided to try his latest – Betrayal. As it turn out, Wyatt Hunt makes a cameo appearance in the new book.

The book opens with a Prologue set in 2006. Dismas Hardy is a San Francisco lawyer who agrees to clean up the open cases of a lawyer who has disappeared. The only interesting case deals with the National Guardsman Evan Scholler and the ex-SEAL, contractor Ron Nolan, and an apparent dispute over the beautiful teacher Tara Wheatley.

The book paints a pretty bleak picture of contractors in Iraq. But it tells a pretty good story of court maneuverings, spun around interesting characters. All told, very enjoyable.

My complete review is on my blog, show more Nate's Library, specifically at: http://nates-library.blogspot.com/2008/04/john-lescroart-betrayal.html show less

Those wanting more of Dismas Hardy will be a little disappointed here because his part of the story is small. Dismas is asked by a local judge to take over the case load of a missing, presumed dead, attorney. Included in the cases is the appeal of Second Lieutenant Evan Scholler for two murders. Evan's is a pitiful case of wrong doing, but Evan is a pretty pitful main character prone to feeling sorry for himself whenever he does what he knows is wrong. Still, the story moves along at a brisk pace and Dismas and his police buddy Abe Glitsky are the real thing.

An interesting change, without changing too much: Lescroat concentrates on the stories of the people who will eventually be defended by Dismas Hardy. In other words, it centers around new characters without leaving the familiar characters out completely.

The comments on the war in Iraq struck me as biased, as can be expected from a San Franciscan.

I keep listening to Lescroart, trying to find another book in the series as good as The Motive. The back story for the book was just so-so, but I liked the Glitsky/Hardy part. There was too much of the back story and not enough of the odd duo. Took me a few tries to get into it.

A new approach to the Dismas Hardy - Abe Glitzky series, more than one half of the book does not involve the two characters but instead establishes the story of a soldier in Iraq and back in the Bay area.

As with all of Lescroart's books, this proved a fast and entertaining read.

When Evan Scholler is sent to Iraq, his duties bring him in contact with Ron Nolan who undertakes mercenary work for a large american security contractor. Evan returns home to discover Ron has taken up with his ex girlfriend. An altercation ensues and Ron is found dead. Evan has no recollection of the event but is found guilty at trial. When Charlie Bowan, the solicitor handling the appeal goes missing Dismas Hardy inherits the case. When Charlies wife commits suicide, Dismas endeavours to solve the crime and have Evan released from jail.
Entertaining