Wow, what a surprise! The first few pages were a little heavy on description and I thought I was headed for a "ripped from the headlines" (Laudrie/Petito murder/suicide) rehash. But no, this was an entirely fresh story that had me totally engrossed. Rusty Sabich is still a fascinating character, with new and poignant insights that come with age. The characters around him are well-developed and often surprising. The plot is briskly paced and I found myself (once again) staying up well into the wee hours to finish the book. Turow is back with a vengeance. You will not be disappointed!

There’s nobody like Turow for a taut, twisty legal thriller. This book will have you feeling some kind of way about the case of a dead girl, the young man accused, the families of both, and the mess of a trial they all endure. The upsetting part is the fact you don’t know how to feel about any of them, and that feeling persists even after you close the book.

This is the third book in this series and it does not disappoint. When a young woman goes missing and her body is found two weeks later, what first looks like an accident sudden turns into a murder. Her on-again-off-again boyfriend, Aaron, is charged with the murder. Aaron’s soon-to-be-stepfather, Rusty, agrees to take the case against his better judgement. Whatever the out come, this case threatens to turn everyone’s live upside down.

The characters are relatable and realistic, some you can’t help but admire and other you love to hate. Well written with interesting plot lines, this legal thriller will keep you guessing until the very end. Works well as a stand alone or with the other books in the series.