Top notch courtroom drama! Expertly woven tale. Starts as a slow burn but quickly snowballed to a great finish. When the main character is accused of murder, Rusty a semi retired judge takes on the case at the request of his fiancee who just happens to be the accused's mother. This courtroom drama takes no prisoners. The action is very quickly paced once the case moves to the courtroom. I didnt see the ending coming.

5 stars

Scott Turow grows his reputation with legal thrillers with Presumed Guilty. I loved this book even more than Presumed Innocent. He kept me reading to discover the truth of what actually happened as a young man of color is accused of murder in a racist community. Turow isn't afraid to feature older characters and show how experience counts in being successful. His characterizations were so well drawn that I felt true emotion for them and was sorry to have the novel end leaving me heartbroken for some and hopeful and happy for others. I have already recommended the title to others and am so sorry it is not available for purchase until after the holidays. I remain a great fan of Scott Turow and look forward to more legal thrillers from him!

Scott Turow is one of my go-to authors for a good legal thriller. In this third book featuring Rusty Sabich, Turow does an excellent job entertaining and educating about the legal system.

First introduced in "Presumed Innocent," Rusty is now 77, retired, and engaged to Bea, a white woman with an adopted Black son, Aaron. Aaron has had run-ins with the law and is now on probation under the supervision of Rusty and Bea. Aaron goes on a camping trip with his troubled girlfriend, Mae, to work on their relationship; Aaron returns without Mae. When Mae is later found dead, Aaron is charged with first-degree murder. and at Bea's request, Rusty agrees to represent him at trial. With the evidence stacked against Aaron, Rusty must use his legal experience to see that Aaron gets a fair trial.

Although it is a long book, more than 500 pages, it is a quick read. The story is compelling, fast-paced, and excellently written. The moral dilemmas facing Rusty and the legal minefield he had to negotiate make for an excellent legal thriller. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy courtroom drama with interesting characters. 4.5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is January 14, 2025.

I’ve been a big fan of Scott Turow since I read Presumed Innocent back in the 1980s when I was working in a public library. How much do I love him? I read tons of mysteries/thrillers, and am particularly fond of legal intrigue in that category. But I will drop EVERYTHING on my TBR list when a new book by Scott Turow is released! So when I had the opportunity to read an advance copy of Presumed Guilty (release date January 4, 2025) from Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley, I once again shut off the world for a few days! (Turow’s books are definitely not in my “one night stand” category!)

His first novel, Presumed Innocent, came out in 1986, and introduced characters in the fictional Kindle County (cough Chicago/Cook County cough) – several of whom reappear in later books in the Kindle County series. Presumed Innocent set the tone with prosecutor “Rusty” Sabich and defense attorney Alejandro “Sandy” Stern. In Presumed Guilty, Sabich is now retired after both spending time in prison, then serving as a judge. He has left Kindle County and is living on a lake in a quiet part of the rural midwest, planning a wedding with Bea. Rusty admits he didn’t exactly plan their situation: “I am not certain that we would have ended up under the same roof if Covid had not forced our hands.” They find their idyllic haven further disrupted by Bea’s adult son Aaron, adopted at birth. Bea is white, Aaron is black – not that it should matter, but it definitely does in this story. Rusty is generous, supportive, and loving to Bea as she struggles with Aaron’s issues, and he admits to being “impressed by the occasional cruelty of motherhood with its consuming anxieties that seem to have no expiration date.” 

Aaron disappears while staying with Rusty and Bea while on probation for drug possession. Worried about him being sent back to jail, Rusty and Bea begin a somewhat frantic search for Aaron, starting with his Grandfather (with whom he has a close relationship). Rusty hasn’t been overly involved in the somewhat touchy relationship between Bea and her father: “Bea’s grievance with her father is akin to a spring with an underground source: it will never run dry.” After Aaron returns, he is charged with murder, and needs an attorney. Bea suggests Rusty and, after he asserts he isn’t qualified, Bea points out “Do you know what qualification you do have? You understand what it's like to be charged with a murder you didn’t commit.” What could possibly go wrong? As the trial goes along, things get complicated and Rusty realizes “...she is putting saving Aaron ahead of her relationship with me.” 

As things go on, many of Rusty’s relationships and ideas are tested. His great friend Mansy tells Rusty that he is destroying the lives of several people: “There’s wreckage everywhere you’ve gone.” Rusty’s response is to tell Mansy that it’s “ …called the criminal justice system... It’s a slaughterhouse and just about everyone who gets close up ends up spattered with blood. People think it’s so great to punish bad guys until they get caught up in the grisly business of doing it.”  I loved it. Since I can’t give this SIX stars, I’ll go with five. Thank you, Scott Turow!

I absolutely loved this book. Great to have Turow back. Rusty Sabich has finally found a peaceful life , semi-retired, involved with a woman he loves until her son is accused of a horrible murder and Rusty must become his lawyer.

I was involved with the trial and so engaged by the wonderful writing and character development that I couldn't put the book down. Of course, Rusty is always a brilliant character, but is the accused, Aaron, that I found fascinating and extremely sympathetic.

This is a very timely novel, with much that harkens to the political climate today. I highly recommend this novel. I'm sure it will be on many BEST BOOKS lists. Don't miss it.

Thank you Netgalley for this enthralling novel and a chance to see Rusty again.

Rusty Sabich is back, defending the son of his girlfriend, Bea, against a murder charge. Aaron claims he is innocent, and there are several people who hated Mae. Did Aaron kill her?

That's pretty much the plot. This is an excellent courtroom drama or legal thriller, whichever name you prefer.

It's split into 3 parts. The setup, the offense, and the defense.

Honestly, the setup was a slog. It was the first 30%, and I found it quite boring. The writing itself is quality, and there were no holes or strange happenings. It was tight. It just didn't capture my interest. Part of that might be because it's coming from the first-person narrative who isn't directly involved in the murder, and part of it might be because there is so much backstory from the previous novels that is squeezed into the retelling.

I haven't read the previous books, but I do remember the shocking end of the original movie, Presumed Innocent, so I had a little bit of the story. That's why I was interested in this installment.

The second and third parts of the book make it a worthwhile read. The courtroom part is absolutely riveting. The legal aspects are top-notch, and throughout I wasn't sure if Aaron was the killer or not. There are so many possible suspects. Even in the second and third parts, whenever it veered out of the courtroom, I began to skim again.

The ending, like in the first one, was unexpected but made so much sense. It was fabulously done.

Thank you to NetGalley, Scott Turow, and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to review an advanced copy.

3.5 rounded up to 4. I've read all of Scott Turow's book and do not rate this among his very best. Still, Turow writes well and readers who have read the first two books in this series will find this a satisfying continuation. Former prosecutor and judge Rusty Sabich is now settled in an area outside of his previous life in Kindle County with Bea, his younger fiance and her son Aaron. When Aaron is charged with murdering his longtime girlfriend Mae, 77-year old Rusty reluctantly takes the case, despite his lack of experience as a defense attorney. The story contains few surprises but while the writing is good and the characters are well developed, I found it to be slow in parts and the resolution unbelievable, for reasons I'll withhold so as not to include any spoilers. There are parts of the book that could use some tightening. Nonetheless, fans of the series and of Turow's other works will be happy to get their hands on Presumed Guilty.

A captivating legal thriller with lots of court room drama. I liked the backstory being that it’s been quite some time since I read Presumed Innocent. An engaging read.

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #PresumedGuilty

This was my first Scott Turow novel, and even though I hadn't read the previous two following Rusty's story, I was able to hop right in and get invested in Presumed Guilty!

There is a LOT of back-story and detail here. This isn't a quick read in-terms of the pace. However, you will be so eagerly following along that you just may fly through it.

This was GREAT - even better than Presumed Innocent! Rusty is back, and will return to the courtroom one last time to defend his fiancee's adopted son in a murder trial - does he have a chance in the judicial system when he is already presumed guilty by all? Turow is a masterful teller of courtroom dramas, and this one is no exception.

Thank you NetGalley for a chance to read and review this ARC.

4.5 stars rounded up
I can remember being several years younger and not as wise *wink* and picking up my very first Scott Turrow book Presumed Innocent. I'll never forget the impression it left me of an intriguing and riveting thriller. I became hooked from the start of that book until the spine tingling conclusion and feel like it's one of my first legal thrillers that had me guessing the whole time. Rusty Sabich is back in this book but many (many) years later after his wrongful conviction. This time the focus is on his fiancé's son and the legal troubles he finds himself in. This book is over 500 pages long and at time I really wanted the story to move faster. However, after finishing it, I can't think of a single thing that I would edit out or condense as it makes up the whole complete story necessary for the bigger picture. Rusty is engaged to Bea who has a 20 something son who is accused of murdering his girlfriend. Bea is pushing Rusty to represent him. Rusty has not been a defense attorney during his long career (he always was a prosecutor or a Judge) and fears that if he does this it could potentially lead to a conviction for Aaron. There is a lot of focus on the trial and the details of each supporting character. In usual Turrow style, we get some interesting character driven details and we get shades of grey in our main characters. The morally grey within each of us is what Turrow does best to highlight. None of us are completely free of fault or bad decisions and he highlights them well within this story to keep you guessing who may be the person that ultimately took the life of Mae, the girlfriend of Aaron.
I am going to run out and pick this up in print when it comes out and add it to my "favorites" pile of books. It's a book to read over and over to appreciate the truly brilliant writing of Mr. Turrow.

Thank you for the chance to read this. I am looking forward to publication date and will recommend to others.

Scott Turow has readers in the palm of his hand in Presumed Guilty. Now in his 70's, Rusty Sabitch is a semi-retired judge living in a small lake town in Wisconsin with his fiancée Bea and her adopted son Aaron. When Aaron is accused of killing his on-again off-again girlfriend Mae, Bea convinces Rusty to defend him. Arron and Mae share a volatile history that includes drug use for which Aaron in on probation when the two of them decide to go on a camping trip and she does not return.
The courtroom drama, which is makes up the majority of the book, is masterfully written. Turow has a keen way of taking the reader through the legal process.
Thank You, Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this arc in return for an honest review. I look forward to highly recommending this book when it is published in January and suggesting they clear out their weekend for it. If it had been published prior to Christmas, it would be my go-to gift to friends who love to read.

I really enjoyed this thriller and getting to know the characters of Rusty, Mae, and Aaron. Aaron's predicament is immediately captivating, and Turow (as always) weaves a fascinating and entertaining story with just the right amount of twists and turns. My one complaint is that the book should have been shorter. Overall I recommend PRESUMED GUILTY for fans of legal thrillers.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

Great read and great thriller with awesome courtroom scenes. Rusty has a great life as a retired lawyer/judge who lives with his fiance in a lovely home on a midwestern lake. But, that life has a wrench thrown into it when Rusty's fiance's son is accused of murdering his on-again-off--again girl friend. Rusty takes the case and finds himself wondering whether the young man is guilty or is the guilty party one of the others in the immediate circle of family and friends. The story is told by Rusty and carries the reader into the minds and motives of the characters in a setting that exposes the good and bad of people. Thanks to Net Galley for the arc. Totally enjoyed this!

I usually enjoy a Scott Turow’s books, especially Presume innocent. This one was tough to get into. It was slow at the beginning, too much description in the first half of the book to build the scenes but hard to get through that to the more captivating second half

I’ve always loved Turow, and no one makes a trial more.compelling. This is no exception, except early on I figured whodunnit, but the pages flew- already looking forward to the next one.

I usually enjoy a Scott Turow’s books and a great legal thriller. This one was tough to get into. It was very slow in the beginning, too much description in the first half of the book. It didn’t hold my interest.

An interesting approach by an author I have read since Presumed Innocent. Always a good story teller, and story. Loved it

Scott Turow has written another engrossing, detailed, and highly enjoyable courtroom drama. No one does it better.
I gave it the following SCORE:
Setting: Present Day, small towns in Wisconsin
Characters: The narrator, Rusty Sabich returns along with a new fiancée, Bea, her adopted son, Aaron, her family, Aaron’s girlfriend, Mae, and a perfect cast of prosecution and law enforcement.
Overview: Aaron has been accused of murdering Mae with an overwhelming amount of evidence and Rusty, reluctantly and because of his age, is pressed into service to defend him. His investigator, Susan DeLeo, is particularly intriguing and influential. The prosecution is headed by Hiram Jackdorp - really his name - perfectly portrayed as the nemesis you love to hate. And the interplay between the judge, Jackdorp, and Sabich throughout the trial is a terrific story within a story.
Recommendation: I rate this book 5 stars
Extras: This book is long and takes a while to get into the characters and move the plot along. But when the courtroom scenes begin, it is exceptionally hard to put the book down. This is one book that I’m actually willing to postpone sleep for to see what happens in the next chapter after the last chapter’s cliffhanger line. Highly recommended and equal to Turow’s classic, “Presumed Innocent.”
Thanx to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to provide this candid review.