Presumed Guilty truly made me feel like a fly on the wall in the life of a lawyer. And when the lawyer is fighting for someone he knows, it seems so much harder. Scott Turow does a great job of creating believable characters. My anxiety for Aaron was constant. Although it seemed like it took a long time for the story to unfold, I sort of appreciated learning details as Rusty did. Life isn’t a 2 hour movie. But this book would make a great limited series production! Thank you for giving me a book I couldn’t wait to read every day.

This is Scott Turow's third book featuring Rusty Sabich, the first two being Presumed Innocent and Innocent. It's not necessary to read the previous books to enjoy 'Presumed Guilty'.

****

Seventy-seven year old Rožat "Rusty" Sabich was a long-time prosecutor, and then a judge, in Kindle County [think Chicago]. For the past fourteen years Rusty has been living in a town called Mirror, 100 miles north of Kindle County, where he moved after 'his life collapsed under the impact of a series of calamities that began with the death of his wife and culminated in a prison sentence for him, which ended when the prosecutor suddenly conceded he was innocent.'

Rusty slowly rebuilt his life in Mirror, and now works as a mediator and arbitrator. In addition to reviving his career, Rusty is happily engaged to a clever grade school principal called Bea; and Rusty enjoys spending time with his best friend Mansfield "Mansy" Potter, a retired judge.

Rusty and Bea currently share their comfortable home on Mirror Lake with Bea's 22-year-old son Aaron, who's had his share of problems. Bea and her then husband Lloyd adopted African-American Aaron when he was a baby, and the boy grew up in the almost all White environs of Mirror. In junior high school, Aaron fell in love with a beautiful blonde girl called Mae Potter, and the twosome, both of whom became troublemakers and drug users, have had a tumultuous on-off relationship ever since. Aaron's current difficulties arise from his latest arrest over a year ago, which landed him in jail for four months. Aaron was holding drugs Mae had purchased, and since Mae's father, Harrison "Hardy" Potter, is the local Prosecuting Attorney, Aaron got ALL the blame.

Aaron is now on probation, with the following stipulations: he must live with Bea and Rusty; he must inform them of his whereabouts at all times; he must not drive; he must not leave the county; and he must not associate with drug users, which means he can't hang out with Mae. Of course Aaron doesn't always follow the rules.

As the novel opens, Aaron has 'gone dark': he hasn't been home for several days and he's turned off his phone and voicemail. If the situation continues Rusty will be REQUIRED to inform the court, and Aaron will go back to prison. Rusty and Bea keep trying to call and text Aaron, and they become increasingly worried when they hear nothing in return. Rusty is about to phone the judge when Aaron finally returns to Mirror, his explanation being that he and Mae traveled up north to go camping and discuss a possible future together. According to Aaron, the trip went badly because Mae - who has the notion of being an influencer on Insta and TikTok - was more interested in taking selfies than talking.

After a couple of days Aaron got fed up; grabbed Mae's phone; said he was through with her for good; and left to hitchhike home. The trip back took several days because 'most people up there don't pick up Black men'. Meanwhile, Mae had the car and plenty of cash, and Aaron expected her to get home before him.....but she hasn't returned.

The days pass, Mae doesn't show up, and her family grows more and more frantic. When Mae's body is found, apparently strangled to death, Mae's father Hardy Potter - who's VERY influential in the area - makes sure Aaron is charged with murder. The prosecuting attorney will be Hiram Jackdorp, a bulldog lawyer who almost never loses.

Bea asks Rusty to defend Aaron, despite the fact that Rusty isn't a defense lawyer. Conversely, Rusty's best friend Mansy, who's Mae's grandfather, implores Rusty NOT to take the case, insisting it will ruin their friendship. To cut to the chase, Rusty agrees to defend Aaron, against his better judgment.

The book is largely a legal drama, with extensive descriptions of trial preparation and many courtroom scenes. The issues that arise include a rush to judgment; bias; racism; Brady violations (when the prosecution fails to disclose evidence favorable to the defense); reluctant witnesses; expert witnesses; etc. Meanwhile, Aaron remains locked up during the trial, which is very hard on Bea and other family members.

It's fascinating to follow the examination and cross-examination of witnesses, and the book highlights some 'tricks of the trade' (i.e. So, you were once convicted of a crime. You're a criminal. How can we believe anything you say?) Author Scott Turow, who's a lawyer himself, is among the best writers for this kind of story.

Of course the truth comes out at the end, but I felt the denouement wasn't quite credible.

Legal thrillers are among my favorite genres and I enjoyed the book. That said, one plot point that arose mid-book struck me as an unnecessary 'add-on' that doesn't work. (Just my opinion.) On the upside, Turow includes wonderful descriptions of the upper Midwest, with the lakes and trees and wildlife and leisurely pace of life.

All in all this is a very good book, highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley, Scott Turow, and Grand Central Publishing for a copy of the book.

Presumed Guilty by Scott Turow is the third in the attorney Rusty Sabich series, which began almost 40 years ago with Presumed Innocent. Now Rusty is in his mid-70s and comes out of retirement to defend his step-son of murdering his girlfriend while on a camping trip. Turow is excellent yet again in this legal thriller. Afterall, he literary redefined the sub-genre with his wonderful prose over those years with 13 books.

Characterization is Turow’s forte. Here we meet Aaron, who is a college drop out with drug convictions and who is African American in a small Wisconsin town. Charged with killing his girl friend who he fought with and who he left at the camp site with no phone while he hitched home. As you can guess, the evidence is stacked high against Aaron. But like all Turow novels, we don’t know how the trial comes together and who did it until the last pages. Turow excels in the courtroom scenes.

I have always loved the character of Rusty – like most of Turow’s characters, Rusty is flawed and that is his strength. In this outing, Turow dwells on the topic of remaking your life. Can one do that after failing so publicly? Rusty, Aaron, and his mom (and Rusty’s wife) Bea are all dealing with remaking their lives after rough times. Rusty, as we know from the other books in the series, has served time for a murder he did not commit.

One of the only problems I had with the novel was it size – I thought that some of the prose could have been edited out as it did ramble on at times. Also, there were some references that I thought were outdated with vocabulary that did not fit the character. And I had to suspend my disbelief with Rusty taking on the case of his own step-son. Not likely! But forgiven because I wanted Rusty to take the case…

But since I read One L (a 1977 non-fictional account of Turow’s first year in Law School) shortly before entering law school, I have been a major fan of his works. Apparently, this will be Rusty’s last starring role in a novel, as Turow is going to leave Rusty behind. If you are lucky, you have this series still to read. But at least you now can read the final chapter in Rusty’s life.

This ARC title was provided by Netgalley.com at no cost, and I am providing an unbiased review. Presumed Guilty was published on Jan. 14, 2025.

4.5 stars

I first read Presumed Innocent decades ago, and in my head, Rusty Sabich will always be Harrison Ford, not Jake Gyllenhaal. I loved that book, loved the movie, and eagerly awaited anything and everything else Scott Turow would write. But I never loved any of his subsequent books as much as I loved that first one. Until now.

Presumed Guilty catches up with Rusty years after he was accused of murder, falsely imprisoned, and then set free with a huge settlement from the Kindle County law-and-order types who put him in prison to begin with. Rusty is now a retired judge, respected and well-known for things besides his murder trial, and living happily with a new love, Bea. Bea's son, Aaron, is now the one on trial for murder, and Rusty has been called reluctantly out of retirement to defend him.

You don't have to know all the details of Rusty's backstory to enjoy this book, but it helps. There are a lot of references to Barbara, and Nat, their son, is even in this book in a small capacity. This book doesn't give away the ending of Presumed Innocent, but it comes very close. Save yourself some wondering and read Presumed Innocent before you pick this one up -- it will go a long way toward explaining where Rusty is coming from at times. Or at least read a good synopsis or watch the movie. Do NOT watch the TV show, as it ends completely differently. As for the rest of the Kindle County book series, read them if you like, but they're not necessary to understand this one at all. Sandy Stern gets a brief mention or two, but that's about the only overlap. This one stands pretty well on its own.

It's been a long time since I read a courtroom thriller as well done as this one. And when I say courtroom thriller, I mean it quite literally -- EVERYTHING takes place in that courtroom. I know it sounds dull, but the defense lawyer "gotcha" moments are so good that it's not dull at all. In some ways it's a bit predictable, and the final whodunit isn't a huge shock. But there are enough red herrings along the way to be interesting, and given Rusty's background, some of them are downright harrowing.

Turow is a little bit law-professorish in the way he explains every nuance of what happens in the courtroom, and now that he's in his mid-70s, some of his writing screams "old white man." But Rusty, too, is an old white man, so it hardly seems out of place. And even though I've found some of his previous books heavy on the procedural stuff to the point that I couldn't enjoy the story, this one strikes a good balance between instruction and drama.

I've been where Rusty is, watching a family member be victimized by the court system, and Turow does a great job of capturing the sleepless nights, the doubts, the anger, the helplessness, and everything else that comes with that. The drama that goes on behind the scenes is well-depicted, and is a great companion to the drama inside the courtroom.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me a sneak peek at this book!

At the end, I really enjoyed this book. The problem, for me, was that it took me until 50% in to get into it. I felt like there was a lot of information that didn't really need to be included and it just left me a little distracted.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

A return to Kindle county and Rusty who is now an elderly retired judge who must defend his stepson who is charged with murdering his girlfriend. This one starts slowly- so slowly I almost gave up - but the trial brings this one to life. There are quite a few twists and turns along with a red herring or two. Thanks to NetGalley for the read!

He is in his mid 70s now. He knows the legal system from every side. We know him from his early career. His name is Rusty Sabich, and we met him in Presumed Innocent
Rusty Sabich is a character we have known for many years and he is consistent in his regard for the law, come what may. He is a man of honor and visionary who has lived many ups and downs in his life.
Scott Turow knows the legal system well after working in the court system for his career. His books are brilliant and compelling , and his characters are fully drawn and well-depicted. We know them for better or worse. He gives a dignity and calm elegance to his novels. He was a lawyer before writing his marvelous books and it is fascinating to read how the trial unfolds. The entire procedure is authentic and jumps off the page, making his books compulsively readable.
When I see a new Scott Turow, I don’t even read the description because I know how good it will be.
I carried Presumed Guilty around with me and read every chance I got. I loved it and hope he will keep writing..I could not put it down and cared about the case, the characters, and their lives.
There are no spoilers in this review because I want the reader to feel the excitement and immerse himself, or herself in a fabulous read.

Thank you to the author and to the publisher for providing me with a copy of the book. All opinions are my own.
i

"Presumed Guilty" by Scott Turow continues the story of Rusty Sabich, the Kindle County attorney and judge who, in the aftermath of the tumultuous events in Turow's earlier books "Presumed Innocent" and "Innocent," has retired and retreated north to the fictional rural town of Mirror Lake, where he has just become engaged to elementary school principal Bea. Life has finally settled down for Rusty--until, that is, Bea's son Aaron goes on a camping trip with his girlfriend Mae and returns without her several days later. This is problematic enough, as Aaron has potentially violated his parole for a previous drug conviction, but as events escalate, Rusty once again finds himself in the middle of a trial that could cost him everything. Readers will make the obvious comparisons with the Gaby Petito story, but this isn't a thinly veiled ripped-from-the-headlines story. Rather, the pleasure in this book, like in all Turow's novels, comes from his insider's experience of how trials work, given voice here in Rusty's first person narrative of the investigations, the strategies, the pitfalls, and the gambles that characterize jury trials. "Presumed Guilty" is a fairly long book and while I think the beginning could have been edited down a bit, by the time I arrived at the courtroom scenes--the venue where Turow's writing shines brightest--I was hooked and turning pages late into the night.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Grand Central Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this title in return for my honest review.

This was an amazing follow up to what has turned into a blockbuster hit. This can be read as a standalone but I suggest reading these books in order because they’re just that good and they stand out. I don’t think anyone writes legal thrillers the way Scott Turrow does and he has definitely set a standard for the genre.

I found this story to be riveting and I wasn’t sure what to believe. The best kind of story!

Scott Turow is an auto read author for me because he just knows how to write a book and this one was another hit. I was pulled into the story from the very beginning and since I read his previous book that made it even better. I enjoyed trying to figure things out all the way to the very end. This is another hit and I highly recommend.

Scott Turow is brilliant. Read his biography and you can’t help but be impressed at his achievements in any field he has pursued. I have enjoyed his books starting with One L, a description of first year law school. I wish I could say Presumed Guilty was as enjoyable as his earlier works, but for me that is not the case. I’m afraid like many who have had a long successful career, he is getting by on past reputation. What we now have is a narrator clearly a stand-in for the author, who never met a thought, an observation or a description he didn’t like. The VFW meeting place, the war record of one of the characters, the strategies of opposing counsel are all given equal weight whether they are necessary to advance the narrative or not. Each paragraph is laid down with the same dispassionate tone whether it is Rusty describing his exercise routine or Aaron on the witness stand in his murder trial. What could have been a dramatic reveal at the end barely raised the temperature.
This book could have been improved by some judicious pruning. Instead we have a way too long story told by a garrulous old man in love with the sound of his own voice.

Loved this book so much! I’ve been following this series since the beginning and I’ve never been more in the edge of my seat.

There is only one word to describe this thriller - riveting. A mystery with a complicated storyline of a lawyer whose fiancee’s son is accused of murder. Faced with soaring legal fees she cannot pay, he reluctantly agrees to defend his soon to be stepson. Told in meticulous detail, the reader sees the turmoil of every facet of the case, from the investigation, to the gathering of evidence, to the arrest and trial. The book is long, 544 pages, but by the time the trial starts about halfway in, it no longer matters as it becomes almost impossible to put down. My only quibble is with the overly long backstories of some of the minor characters that do not seem to advance the story nor become important as the story goes on. Still, the thoroughness of the courtroom scenes showing not only the prosecution and defense, but also the hopes and fears of the narrator as he navigates the mine fields of evidence is fascinating. Seems like it would be great on audio. Highly recommend.

I absolutely loved this and could not put it down! I've read all of Scott Turow's books, and this ranks as one of his best for sure. In this book, Rusty is retired and living in an idyllic lakeside small town with his fiancee, Bea. Bea has a young adult son, Aaron, who has had some trouble -- jail time for drugs -- and a longtime troubled relationship with Mae, his girlfriend. When Mae is discovered dead after a camping trip with Aaron, Aaron becomes the suspect and is eventually arrested, thanks in part to the fact that Mae's family is very prominent in the area and her father is the powerful county DA. Rusty reluctantly comes out of retirement to defend Aaron, resulting in a very engaging, suspenseful courtroom drama. Readers are kept genuinely guessing until the very last pages. I look forward to recommending this title to all readers who enjoy suspenseful, intelligent mysteries.

Tremendous book. Best novel I've read in a year. Masterful, complex characters and perfect plot development, with just the right amount of suspense and fooling of the reader. I've been reading Turow since One-L and I thought Presumed Innocent so many decades ago was just about perfect, setting a standard for legal thrillers that could rarely be matched and never surpassed. But I think Turow surpassed himself this time. Bravo. Please give him my congratulations -- and thanks for a great read.

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Scott Turrow's latest, Presumed Guilty, brings back Rusty Sabich from his blockbuster debut, 1987's Presumed Innocent. It's almost forty years later since Rusty was found not guilty of murdering his mistress. He's now living in the midwest with his new love, Bea, and her troubled adopted son, Aaron. Rusty now finds himself going from prosecutor to defending Aaron after he's been charged with murder of his troubled girlfriend Mae. In typical Turrow fashion both law and politics play seperate roles in the case that will influence both the investigation and final verdict of the case. There's also a focus on Rusty's personal life which once again is turned upside down when secrets are exposed and loyalties among his inner circle are challenged. Turrow achieves the rarity of creating a successful third follow up after his disappointing second follow up, 2011's "Innocent," Rusty has truly comes full circle with his newly found compassion and empathy which shows in his approach to Aaron's defense. He isn't perfect, but he's now a more accessable and relateable hero. The case itself isn't as complex or complicated as Rusty's were, but is as compelling especially with its authentic courtroom scenes. The outcome wasn't much of a surprise, but the final resolution that follows is truly one of the best that I ever read. The only major flaw is that the narrative at times becomes distilted and repetitive. Facts that are commonly known about the court system are thrown in at times during the courtroom scenes that momentarily slows down the narrative, but then quickly picks back up.

Scott Turrow changed how legal thrillers were written. He paved the way for every successful lawyer turned bestselling authors such as John Grisham and Lisa Scottoline. Turrow shows in his latest that he's not ready to rest on his legendary status, but ready to keep being a voice in the genre he created.

I took the LSAT many moons ago with the thought of going into law but ended up in HR. So I enjoy a detailed courtroom drama and this novel has one...very detailed. Turow brings back Rusty Sabich and there is a lot of personal development and dilemma involved . This is not a quick read. However , if you love the law you will have your fill. Some twists and turns keep it interesting. Solid read but a little too much.

Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley

Almost forty years after the publication of his debut novel, Presumed Innocent, Scott Turow has given us Presumed Guilty, the third book in the Kindle County series. I remember loving both Presumed Innocent and The Burden of Proof back in the day, as well as the 1990 movie so my expectations were very high coming in.

The Rusty Sabich of Presumed Guilty, now in his mid-70’s and no longer a resident of Kindle County, is more Harrison Ford than Jake Gyllenhaal. He’s engaged to a grade school principal whose adopted son (Aaron) becomes suspected in the death of his girlfriend. The father of the girl is the county’s elected Prosecuting Attorney and he’s convinced from the start that Aaron murdered his daughter.

This book was longer than most that I read and I loved every bit of it. It was good to catch a glimpse of Rusty’s new life in the chapters preceding the trial, and the trial itself was riveting. As is always the case with me, if I can learn something new as a result of a book, I am thrilled. There were legal concepts included in Presumed Guilty that I had not heard about (or read about in previous courtroom dramas), so that was a plus. There were a couple of throwbacks to the events of the preceding books but the only new readers who might be confused are those who only watched the Apple TV series due to the liberties taken by that program’s showrunners.

I don’t say this lightly aware that we are not in February as of yet, but I expect that, at the end of the year, Presumed Guilty will be one of my favorite books of 2025.

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to read this terrific book. The above opinions are my own.

Courtroom drama at it's best! I love a good legal thriller reminiscent of early John Grisham and this one fits the bill. Filled with exceptional detail, it keeps you guessing what actually happened without getting tedious or boring. I'll be recommending this one and look forward to future books from Scott Turow. My thanks to Grand Central Publishing for providing a review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Rusty Sabich is back in Presumed Guilty by Scott Turow. Now he's a retired judge, doing some arbitration on the side. His soon-to-be stepson is arrested for murder and Rusty agrees to represent him.
This book is courtroom drama, not a legal thriller. Turow's style is not fast-paced - more like a slow ride down the river where you see everything. Turow will draw out every thought in Rusty's head so that you know exactly what he's thinking and has been thinking and is anticipating. Every moment takes a while. As long as that's your expectation you won't be disappointed.
Always a surprising ending. Fans of in-depth, slow-burn drama will enjoy this one.