Helpful Score: 5
In fiction, genius lies in great characters. John Lescroart's characters are three dimensional. They laugh, they cry, they fail, they triumph; and they move the story along through complicated twists and turns of the plot. I read this book in one sitting.
Helpful Score: 3
Great courtroom drama mystery and a real page-turner! Couldn't get enough of it, so I ordered another J. Lescroart book. :)
Helpful Score: 1
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.
Helpful Score: 1
Book was very good, a little slow at first but then once I got into it it was much quicker readinbg.
Helpful Score: 1
Oh my goodness...this book is AWESOME. I just ordered 4 other of the Dismas Hardy series by this author. WOW
Helpful Score: 1
Courtroom drama at its best. This one looks like a slam dunk for the prosecution, even to the defense. The truth unwinds by increments and "who done it" is not an easy find/guess for anyone, including the reader.
Helpful Score: 1
I enjoy this author very much and this one does not disappoint. It kept me up late into the night and is tough to put down.
Melissa H. (CatsCradleCreations) reviewed The 13th Juror (Dismas Hardy, Bk 4) on + 19 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
An interesting turn of events within the Dismas Hardy novel. Dismas is representing a woman who he believes is guilty. But is she really? Suspenseful and worth reading multiple times.
Helpful Score: 1
This was a great book! The question under consideration is, did the beautiful Jennifer Witt kill her abusive husband and her little boy? We don't find the answer until the last day of the trial. But we do get a glimpse into the thought processes of abused wives, and we see the inner workings of the legal system. I never did quite figure out the importance of the title to the story, but it was a great story nevertheless.
A abused doctor's wife who insists she did not kill her husband and son is convicted of murder. Can her inexperienced lawyer get her a lighter charge in the penalty phase? Very good!
Keeps you guessing to the end. Good book.
Excellent read will keep you awalke very hard to put down!
Did she finally kill her abusive husband and by accident her son? The jury thought so and convicted her of Capital murder. Lescroart develops his characters so well that you struggle along with them as they try to decide. She really did kill her child. She couldn't kill her child. Will the 13th juror save her? The suspense grabs you from the very first page. Excellant, well-written book.
This is a very good legal thriller with compelling characters and a thought-provoking storyline. A very enjoyable page-turner!
legal thriller - kept me guessing "who did it"
From Publishers 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." Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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." Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
terrific book
This is a great book by a New York Times Bestselling Author. I have not read this mans books before but I will now. A young wife is arrested for her husbands murder, and she doesn't even try to defend herself. WHY.
Another Dismas Hardy novel by Lescroart - always a good read!
Good story, I really like the Dismas Hardy character, but this particular tale got too lengthy. And I found the accused murderess to be unsympathetic. That said, this is the first Dismas Hardy novel that I have not thoroughly enjoyed.
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.
What a book! Just finished reading it and absolutely loved it. 544 pages of who do you believe? Did she do it, did she not do it? Ups and downs for the evidence against Jennifer. Reasons to hate her and reasons to pity her. Not a fast read, but it keeps your attention up to the end.
I have read a lot of his books, and I really liked this one. I wasn't sure about the ending of this one until I got there. A good read.
From the back of the book
"The walls were champagne. The house was immaculate. A prosperous dotor lived there with his son and his beautiful wife. But the elegant walls hid a family's secret, a wife's shame. and one day shots rang out in the doctor's house. Suddenly Jennifer Witt was in jail, facing the death penallty."
"Jennifer insisted that she had not killed her abusive husband--and she could never have killed her own son. Dismas Hardy believed her. But Hardy was only part of the defense team, and the only lawyer who continued to believe her...even as her story was torn to pieces, even as her llies came out, even as she was found guilty of murder."
"Now there's only one thing Jennifer can do to save her life...and she refuses to do it. So Hardy must do it for her. And in a shocking case of violence, betrayal, and lies, his only weapon is the truth..."
"The walls were champagne. The house was immaculate. A prosperous dotor lived there with his son and his beautiful wife. But the elegant walls hid a family's secret, a wife's shame. and one day shots rang out in the doctor's house. Suddenly Jennifer Witt was in jail, facing the death penallty."
"Jennifer insisted that she had not killed her abusive husband--and she could never have killed her own son. Dismas Hardy believed her. But Hardy was only part of the defense team, and the only lawyer who continued to believe her...even as her story was torn to pieces, even as her llies came out, even as she was found guilty of murder."
"Now there's only one thing Jennifer can do to save her life...and she refuses to do it. So Hardy must do it for her. And in a shocking case of violence, betrayal, and lies, his only weapon is the truth..."
A brilliant courtroom drama.
Excellent book. It was why I started reading Lescroart's books.
Great book, wonderful characters.
This book follows the lawyer of a woman accused of shooting her husband and son. Did she do it?!
A wonderfuly, suspenseful story.
A great courtroom thriller/drama. A great read.
An abusive doctor is mudered in his home, and his wife is in jail for it. She insists she didnt do it and she could never have murdered her own son...even as her story was torn into pieces, even has her lies came out even as she was found guilty of murder...Theres only one thing that Jennifer can do to save her and she wont do it so hardy her lawyer must do and the truth must come out.
I really enjoyed this book...read every chance I had, even if for a few pages. Good surprise ending.
Readers familiar with Dismas Hardy and the familiar band of characters he travels with will not be disappointed with this story of an abused wife accused of the murder of her husband and only son, whom Hardy has agreed to defend. But even an absolute newcomer to the series will be blown away by the intricate plotting and a twist at the end worthy of Alfred Hitchcock at his best. I never saw it coming. I kept wondering how this story could end with so few pages left to read. Then WHAM! The entire mystery was resolved in a satisfactory way by a twist that never occurred to me, even though the answer was there all along! Great read for anyone who likes mysteries.
great book
Book #4 - Lescroart gets better and better.
Marlene W. (KansasSunflower) -
I really like this character. It's an excellent book.
Great story...twisting legal mystery. Good read.
I really enjoyed this book a lot!
ShereeR
ShereeR
Great story by Lescroart, as usual.
Great S.F. series, a little dated, but a major page turner
Couldn't put the book down. Read this one in 2 days. Thriller to the end.
Extremely riveting until the last page
Enjoyed!
The walls were champagne, the house was immaculate.A prosperous doctor lived there with his son and his beautiful wife. But the elegant walls hid a family secret, a wife's shame.And one day shots rang out in the Doctor's house. Suddenly, Jennifer Witt was in jail, facing the death penalty...
Great read
This book has a different cover. It has a half picture of steps and the shadow of a lady walking up them.
The book I have has different cover design.
