Presumed Innocent
Decide its fate
The record
Time
An eveningA season432 pages, about 9 hours: the length of 1.4 typical books on the shelf.
Getting in
Walk right inSteep climbTwo readers report that the stretch before the trial drags.
What it gives
Plot and actionIdeas to live byIn 13 reviews from critics and book blogs, 7 credit the plot and 3 credit the ideas or a change in how they live.
One of a kind
Others do thisNothing else doesThe Los Angeles Review of Books credits it with blazing a trail for writer-lawyers such as John Grisham.
The case for it
on Rusty Sabich
“bring Rusty alive on the page as a fully realized character worthy of our interest.”
Michael Bourne · Los Angeles Review of Books, 2013 on Sandy Stern
“His composure and skill in the courtroom would make anyone want him on their side.”
a book blog on the legal detail
“the novel has an unusual degree of authenticity”
Barry Coburn · The Diane Rehm Show, 2012 on the judge and Molto
“a scalpel slicing open the festering grudges between the judge and Tommy Molto.”
a Substack review
The case against
on the first third
“the first third of the book until that actually happened dragged.”
a book blog on Rusty’s obsession
“his really weird obsession with a tacky, unethical colleague.”
a book blog on the character voices
“some of the strong voices are stereotypical”
RateItAll on the profanity
“Good except for excessive profanity.”
RateItAll
