The 13th Juror

I've now read several of his books recently, and it seems they have a pattern where things progress/regress to a seemingly hopeless situation, then some miracle comes along at the end to solve the problem, often in a pretty surprising way. But perhaps that's common with a lot of mysteries.

This was one of those stories where I began to think she should just be abandoned - she was so self-destructive and uncooperative, even dumb, that at times I thought she didn't deserve so much help. But that was the point, I think. She was driven to this state from her childhood, and acted the way she did because she felt the same way about herself. Everything was her fault, the men were always right, and she deserved to be punished. And the worst part show more was that these feelings frustrated people to the point where they felt like knocking some sense into her head, which a few seemed to succumb to doing. Fortunately, I was unable to do this, as she was protected by being inside a book. show less

Former prosecutor Dismas Hardy has crossed over to the other side of the aisle, but his newest client is making him seriously reconsider that choice. Jennifer Witt stands accused of cold-bloodedly murdering her son and husband, but she steadfastly denies having committed the crime. And most frustrating, she refuses to assert her best defense - that he had been abusing her for years. Dismas, and the reader, vacillate between believing her and questioning her story which consists of more and more lies.

Lescroart tries his hand at a courtroom thriller, but the pacing is uneven, the investigation frustratingly fruitless, adn the drama in the courtroom not gripping enough to really make the reader care much about Jennifer's plight. show more Particularly her early escape and its unfortunate consequences should have worked up some sympathy, but failed. The unfolding of the evidence was also not done particularly well. At one point Lescroart sums up facts that he has not yet revealed - and that he then attempts to bring in as a sudden revelation - needless to say, that falls flat. Sadly the subject of battered women, on which the whole plot hangs, is simply not brought home.

There is too much focus on Dismas' family when we don't hear enough about his past and relationships to care. None of the characters ever turn human enough to care about much, and the jury and its decision and reasoning is and remains a complete mystery.

All in all a fairly tepid legal thriller with too little courtroom drama and too many characters with too large unexplained chips on their shoulders... show less

This is another Dismis Hardy story - the ex-policeman, kind of lawyer guy. It's long - in fact, I picked it up off the used bookshelf because it was fat and I needed a nice long read. This one fit the bill perfectly. Dismis is trying to decide what to do with his life. He's had good offers from real law firms but he can't bring himself to do it. So he rents space from the best, most odious defense lawyer in town. And while his landlord is tied up in court, Dismis gets the case that propels him through this book. Did Jennifer Witt kill her doctor husband and small son or not? A fine read.

The best short synopsis I read online: "The pressure is on for Dismas Hardy when an abused woman is accused of killing her husband and child in cold blood. Only Dismas believes she's innocent. However, faith alone won't be enough to save her unless Dismas takes one terrifying risk to keep her alive." - From Powell's City of Books.

The top line across the paperbook said, "The Stunning Bestseller." As one reaches for the title on the shelf, one wonders if it will truly be a "stunning" read as per marketing claims. My opinion is a "resounding YES - ABSOLUTELY! WoW!"

"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. show more 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." - as written by a reviewer (unknown) from The Wall Street Journal. So true, so true, so true!!! This is not my first read of a title by John Lescroart nor my first read about character Dismas Hardy and definitely will not be my last. I thought Dead Irish and other titles were great. This title was an absolutely incredible read. I could hardly put the book down each evening waiting for another night's opportunity to read before bedtime...only sleep and "the day job" made me wait for another night. This author makes a defense attorney truly "come alive" to spellbound the time you spend together between the pages. show less

I usually love courtroom dramas, but this one left me cold. The book definitely could have done with a strong editor. I listened to it as an audiobook, and even though I nodded off for twenty minutes or so a couple of times, I didn't feel the need to rewind -- and had no trouble picking up the thread. There were some interesting ideas and some good scenes -- but nowhere near enough to sustain eighteen hours.

Probably one of the best courtroom thrillers I have ever read and my introduction to Lescroart. He is definitely a master storyteller. The ending absolutely blew me away.

5304. The 13th Juror A Novel by John T. Lescroart (read 19 Aug 2015) I recently heard of this author and since I want to read good fiction involving lawyers decided to read something by him. This book is the fourth involving Dismas Hardy, but since it is supposed to be complete in its own right I did not feel I needed to read prior books involving the same characters. Early on I was disturbed that the book referred to prior events in the life of Dismas Hardy, the lawyer who is the main character, but after a while that did not bother. I was, as usual, bothered by actions of the lawyers and judge which did not comport with what I thought was legal reality--the author is not a lawyer and i thought that showed. Dismas (I did admire the show more name, no doubt the only person named Dismas in legal fiction. Dismas was, of course, the Good Thief crucified with Jesus). He is involved in the defense of a battered wife accused of killing her husband and 7-year-old son. There is lots of court action, and various unlikely suggestions as to evil being done, but the way the scenario is worked out I did not find satisfactory and I have decided that I need read nothing more by Lescroart. show less