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Dismas Hardy #14
The Ophelia Cut
Defense attorney Dismas Hardy returns to defend a close friend against murder charges in New York Times bestselling author John Lescroart’s most suspenseful and intricately plotted novel to date.Brittany McGuire is the beautiful, twenty-three-year-old daughter of Susan Weiss and Moses McGuire—and the niece of defense attorney Dismas Hardy. Popular and pretty, Brittany has always moved easily from one boyfriend to the next, but her most recent ex, a young man named Rick Jessup, can’t seem to get over her. His abuse escalates, culminating in a terrible night when Brittany is raped.
Within twenty-four hours, Rick Jessup is dead, Moses McGuire is the prime suspect in the investigation, and Dismas Hardy has been hired to defend his old friend. Making things even more complicated, this case threatens to bring to light old secrets that could destroy the careers of Hardy and police lieutenant Abe Glitsky.
As the overwhelming evidence against Moses piles up, Dismas Hardy focuses on planting doubt in the minds of the jurors—until, in a feat of legal ingenuity that is staggering in both its implications and its simplicity, Hardy sees a new way forward that might just save them all. But at what price?
For the first time since 2009, the author’s most popular protagonist returns in a masterful novel that bears all the hallmarks of John Lescroart’s extraordinary storytelling gifts: a cast of flesh-and-blood characters, morally complex situations with no easy answers, and—of course—relentless, nail-biting suspense that will leave you breathless.
415 pages, Hardcover
First published May 7, 2013
495 people are currently reading
2223 people want to read
About the author
John Lescroart
141 books1,302 followersJohn Lescroart (born January 14, 1948) is an American author best known for two series of legal and crime thriller novels featuring the characters Dismas Hardy and Abe Glitsky.
Lescroart was born in Houston, Texas, and graduated from Junípero Serra High School, San Mateo, California (Class of 1966). He then went on to earn a B.A. in English with Honors at UC Berkeley in 1970. In addition to his novels, Lescroart has written several screenplays.
Lescroart was born in Houston, Texas, and graduated from Junípero Serra High School, San Mateo, California (Class of 1966). He then went on to earn a B.A. in English with Honors at UC Berkeley in 1970. In addition to his novels, Lescroart has written several screenplays.
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October 17, 2021
In this 14th book in the Dismas Hardy series, defense attorney Dismas represents his brother-in-law, Moses McGuire.
The book can be read as a standalone, but familiarity with the characters is a bonus.
*****
Dismas Hardy's brother-in-law, Moses McGuire, is accused of murdering Rick Jessup - an abusive, blackmailing young man that his daughter had dated.
Dismas sets out to get Moses acquitted of the murder charge and finds a bunch of possible alternative suspects. These include the handsome ex-cop/killer for hire who is in witness protection;
The "massage parlor" entrepreneur;
The crooked city councilman; etc.
The politics of the police investigation results in power plays within the department that involve Dismas' good friend, detective Abe Glitzky.
About half-way through the book slides into trial mode, with plenty of courtroom scenes.
I found this mystery book entertaining but felt it wasn't entirely satisfying and was not one of Lescroart's best efforts.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
May 1, 2014
This is another very good entry in what has become my favorite legal thriller series. Over the thirteen books that precede this one, author John Lescroart has created a great cast of characters, centered on attorney Dismas Hardy, Homicide Lieutenant Abe Glitsky, and their families and friends, many of whom are active in San Francisco's relatively close-knit legal community.
By now, all of these people have a history together and some of them are haunted by events that occurred in an earlier novel and that, in the story line, occurred six years earlier. The developments of that day remain closely guarded, but it's clear that there's a weak link in the chain: Moses McGuire, Dismas Hardy's brother-in-law, a gregarious saloon keeper and an alcoholic who has been on the wagon for the last six years. Now, though, McGuire seems in danger of falling off the wagon and perhaps revealing the secrets that could destroy several lives.
If Moses wasn't on the edge already, he's pushed very close to it when his beautiful twenty-three year-old daughter, Brittany, is assaulted and then raped by an amoral jerk named Rick Jessup. After the first assault, Moses confronts Jessup and beats him up. He also warns Jessup that if he ever attempts to see Brittany again, Moses will kill him.
Well, every time a character in a novel utters a threat of that nature, the reader knows exactly what's going to happen in the next chapter. Sure enough, shortly after the rape, Jessup is savagely beaten to death and the prime suspect is, of course, Moses McGuire.
Moses retains his brother-in-law to defend him, but the evidence against Moses seems overwhelming and as it piles up, Dismas, though a brilliant attorney, seems powerless to counteract it. Should Moses be convicted, it would certainly be bad news for him, but it might also mean disaster for any number of others.
This is a very well-told story with solid, believable characters that many readers have come to know practically as family. Lescroart keeps the reader on edge from the opening pages, and the courtroom scenes, as always in one of these novels, are riveting.
As this review would suggest, though, this would not be the place for a new reader to jump into this series for a variety of reasons. One would not want to cheat him- or herself from watching these characters interact through the earlier novels, and some of the things one would learn in this book would give away more than a few surprises from the earlier ones. Most important, those who have not read The First Law might find themselves confused because there are any number of references in this book to developments that took place in that one.
If you are a fan of legal thrillers and if, somehow, you have not yet discovered John Lescroart, do yourself a favor and start with Dead Irish, the first in the series. You'll be glad you did.
By now, all of these people have a history together and some of them are haunted by events that occurred in an earlier novel and that, in the story line, occurred six years earlier. The developments of that day remain closely guarded, but it's clear that there's a weak link in the chain: Moses McGuire, Dismas Hardy's brother-in-law, a gregarious saloon keeper and an alcoholic who has been on the wagon for the last six years. Now, though, McGuire seems in danger of falling off the wagon and perhaps revealing the secrets that could destroy several lives.
If Moses wasn't on the edge already, he's pushed very close to it when his beautiful twenty-three year-old daughter, Brittany, is assaulted and then raped by an amoral jerk named Rick Jessup. After the first assault, Moses confronts Jessup and beats him up. He also warns Jessup that if he ever attempts to see Brittany again, Moses will kill him.
Well, every time a character in a novel utters a threat of that nature, the reader knows exactly what's going to happen in the next chapter. Sure enough, shortly after the rape, Jessup is savagely beaten to death and the prime suspect is, of course, Moses McGuire.
Moses retains his brother-in-law to defend him, but the evidence against Moses seems overwhelming and as it piles up, Dismas, though a brilliant attorney, seems powerless to counteract it. Should Moses be convicted, it would certainly be bad news for him, but it might also mean disaster for any number of others.
This is a very well-told story with solid, believable characters that many readers have come to know practically as family. Lescroart keeps the reader on edge from the opening pages, and the courtroom scenes, as always in one of these novels, are riveting.
As this review would suggest, though, this would not be the place for a new reader to jump into this series for a variety of reasons. One would not want to cheat him- or herself from watching these characters interact through the earlier novels, and some of the things one would learn in this book would give away more than a few surprises from the earlier ones. Most important, those who have not read The First Law might find themselves confused because there are any number of references in this book to developments that took place in that one.
If you are a fan of legal thrillers and if, somehow, you have not yet discovered John Lescroart, do yourself a favor and start with Dead Irish, the first in the series. You'll be glad you did.
June 20, 2013
I read the hardback edition purchased at my local bookstore – not through Amazon – because for the most part I’ve enjoyed reading John Lescroart’s books in the past, particularly the Dismas Hardy novels. In terms of courtroom drama I believe he’s one of the more reliable authors out there and he is certainly a fine writer who is adept at creating great suspense and drama.
The opening sections of the book were slow but necessary. We had to meet the new characters and we had to get the background on Moses McGuire’s daughter and the history regarding her dating relationships – and seemingly most important, we had to be refreshed of the incidents that occurred in the earlier Dismas Hardy novel The First Law. It’s a definite plus if you have previously read The First Law, but I would not go so far as to say it is necessary to have read it in order to enjoy The Ophelia Cut.
In this book, Hardy and his homicide cop pal Abe Glitsky and other friends / colleagues who were involved in “the incident” in The First Law now find those events hanging over their heads when McGuire is arrested and put on trial for murdering a man who raped his daughter. Everyone is afraid that McGuire – who is now drinking heavily again – will unwittingly share secrets from the past that could destroy Hardy and Glitsky and everyone else.
On the inside flap of the hardcover, the book description contains this statement: “As the overwhelming evidence against McGuire piles up, Dismas Hardy focuses on planting doubt in the minds of the jurors – until, in a feat of legal ingenuity that is staggering in both its implications and its simplicity, Hardy sees a new way forward that might just save them all.”
Honestly, the way the first 380 pages were written, on what the characters were thinking and saying in those pages, and based on the book description, I just assumed that Hardy was going to do something really clever as a last ditch effort that would also risk the one thing they’d do anything to avoid – having the things in the past they’d been hiding for more than six years come to light, under oath, in the courtroom. Maybe it was my fault for trying to assume something about the book instead of just letting the story unfold, but after 380 or so pages when I finally got to this stunning “feat of legal ingenuity” that “might just save them all” I couldn’t help but feel disappointed and cheated by the story. His way forward isn’t genius or staggering, it’s something that even when acted upon in the courtroom is called by one of the main characters as “joking around.”
That’s why I’m only giving it 3 stars. Just felt disappointed with the ending. The writing is great and once you get to the courtroom part then the drama and tension build nicely and the pace pulls you right along – I just felt cheated by the ending, like the author / publisher made a promise about what these characters would go through only to disregard that promise by creating an ending where so much of the storyline throughout the book just turned out to be irrelevant.
I still say read it if you’re a Dismas Hardy fan – but I’m not sure a first-time reader of this series would be compelled to go back and buy the earlier books based on this story.
The opening sections of the book were slow but necessary. We had to meet the new characters and we had to get the background on Moses McGuire’s daughter and the history regarding her dating relationships – and seemingly most important, we had to be refreshed of the incidents that occurred in the earlier Dismas Hardy novel The First Law. It’s a definite plus if you have previously read The First Law, but I would not go so far as to say it is necessary to have read it in order to enjoy The Ophelia Cut.
In this book, Hardy and his homicide cop pal Abe Glitsky and other friends / colleagues who were involved in “the incident” in The First Law now find those events hanging over their heads when McGuire is arrested and put on trial for murdering a man who raped his daughter. Everyone is afraid that McGuire – who is now drinking heavily again – will unwittingly share secrets from the past that could destroy Hardy and Glitsky and everyone else.
On the inside flap of the hardcover, the book description contains this statement: “As the overwhelming evidence against McGuire piles up, Dismas Hardy focuses on planting doubt in the minds of the jurors – until, in a feat of legal ingenuity that is staggering in both its implications and its simplicity, Hardy sees a new way forward that might just save them all.”
Honestly, the way the first 380 pages were written, on what the characters were thinking and saying in those pages, and based on the book description, I just assumed that Hardy was going to do something really clever as a last ditch effort that would also risk the one thing they’d do anything to avoid – having the things in the past they’d been hiding for more than six years come to light, under oath, in the courtroom. Maybe it was my fault for trying to assume something about the book instead of just letting the story unfold, but after 380 or so pages when I finally got to this stunning “feat of legal ingenuity” that “might just save them all” I couldn’t help but feel disappointed and cheated by the story. His way forward isn’t genius or staggering, it’s something that even when acted upon in the courtroom is called by one of the main characters as “joking around.”
That’s why I’m only giving it 3 stars. Just felt disappointed with the ending. The writing is great and once you get to the courtroom part then the drama and tension build nicely and the pace pulls you right along – I just felt cheated by the ending, like the author / publisher made a promise about what these characters would go through only to disregard that promise by creating an ending where so much of the storyline throughout the book just turned out to be irrelevant.
I still say read it if you’re a Dismas Hardy fan – but I’m not sure a first-time reader of this series would be compelled to go back and buy the earlier books based on this story.
Read
May 13, 2013Stayed up late last night to finish it but SO disappointed with the ending! Although Moses could be a bit of a loose canon, I don't think the ending worked for me. Much of the book was spent in the courtroom, which I don't recall from other Dismas Hardy workings. Also, some attention was paid to alternate bad guys and much was made of the "SODDIT" defense, but it ultimately did not go anywhere and several of the bad guys seem to just slip away. Did they get away with murder? Apparently we'll never know. Have we been set up for the next installment? Again, not sure. I always enjoy Lescroat's writings, but this one seemed to fall a bit short of previous ones I have read.
May 25, 2014
Let's get this straight, I was not always on board with The Ophelia Cut by John Lescroart but I felt that I had a duty to read it since I will be reading The Keeper soon. Not to mention, I'd also won it in a Goodreads giveaway a year ago and attempted to read and complete it then, but to no avail. I just wasn't interested in this novel. It begins promising but then become endlessly boring, going on and on about... nothing really. But finally after having finished it, I'm glad I could push through the muck to find what an awesome read it was.
The Ophelia Cut is the 14th novel in the Dismas Hardy series. Hardy is a successful defense attorney who's latest trial has him fighting for the life of his good friend Moses McGuire. McGuire's daughter Brittany finds herself involved with a man for appearances sake is charming, handsome, and successful. The reality of the matter is that Rick Jessup is a monster. He's violent and sadistic, unable to control himself at times. He becomes increasingly violent towards Brittany.
The bulk of this novel centers around the Moses McGuire trial where he's been accused of being Jessup's killer. There is a buttload of evidence that suggests that he could in fact be the culprit. Hardy really has his work cut out for him if he wants to get an innocent verdict for his client.
I haven't followed this series since inception but am aware of how popular the Dismas Hardy series is. When I got word (a year ago) that I'd won this book, I did my happy jig and settled down to read it. The Ophelia Cut is gripping from page one. There are secrets, lies, and videotapes. Oh yes!!! Videotape. But as I continued on, the book just became boring. It seemed like it took forever to get to the plot. Really, I read legal thrillers for the trial. The trial is why I can spend hours on end watching Law & Order episodes. The trial is where it's at.
Once Lescroart finally gets to the trial, I became interested again. Sure, I appreciated the effort in the background and character development that Lescroart provided, I still wanted more suspense. By the end of this novel, I was no longer on the fence about why this author or this series is so popular. The characters are all faced with having to do some deep introspection and decide what they will do for the person (people) they love. What secrets will they keep? What shillelagh is better to use? What lies will they tell?
In retrospect, I should have given the The Ophelia Cut a fair shake from the beginning. I could have already been neck deep in The Keeper by now if I'd had just a little more patience. Sure it's a little slow at times but... well worth the journey in the end. There are some ties that need to be closed up but I'm hoping that future installments will satisfy closing up the holes. Fans of this series won't want to miss this one and new fans, such as myself, won't want to miss anymore novels by John Lescroart.
Copy provided by Simon and Schuster via a Goodreads Giveaway
The Ophelia Cut is the 14th novel in the Dismas Hardy series. Hardy is a successful defense attorney who's latest trial has him fighting for the life of his good friend Moses McGuire. McGuire's daughter Brittany finds herself involved with a man for appearances sake is charming, handsome, and successful. The reality of the matter is that Rick Jessup is a monster. He's violent and sadistic, unable to control himself at times. He becomes increasingly violent towards Brittany.
The bulk of this novel centers around the Moses McGuire trial where he's been accused of being Jessup's killer. There is a buttload of evidence that suggests that he could in fact be the culprit. Hardy really has his work cut out for him if he wants to get an innocent verdict for his client.
I haven't followed this series since inception but am aware of how popular the Dismas Hardy series is. When I got word (a year ago) that I'd won this book, I did my happy jig and settled down to read it. The Ophelia Cut is gripping from page one. There are secrets, lies, and videotapes. Oh yes!!! Videotape. But as I continued on, the book just became boring. It seemed like it took forever to get to the plot. Really, I read legal thrillers for the trial. The trial is why I can spend hours on end watching Law & Order episodes. The trial is where it's at.
Once Lescroart finally gets to the trial, I became interested again. Sure, I appreciated the effort in the background and character development that Lescroart provided, I still wanted more suspense. By the end of this novel, I was no longer on the fence about why this author or this series is so popular. The characters are all faced with having to do some deep introspection and decide what they will do for the person (people) they love. What secrets will they keep? What shillelagh is better to use? What lies will they tell?
In retrospect, I should have given the The Ophelia Cut a fair shake from the beginning. I could have already been neck deep in The Keeper by now if I'd had just a little more patience. Sure it's a little slow at times but... well worth the journey in the end. There are some ties that need to be closed up but I'm hoping that future installments will satisfy closing up the holes. Fans of this series won't want to miss this one and new fans, such as myself, won't want to miss anymore novels by John Lescroart.
Copy provided by Simon and Schuster via a Goodreads Giveaway
September 23, 2016
The Ophelia Cut by John Lescroart
Dismas Hardy series Book #14
3★'s
What the Book Promised:
When a brutal rapist is murdered, a loving father stands accused of the crime and defense attorney Dismas Hardy must defend his brother-in-law and old friend Moses McGuire in a thrilling case that hits far too close to home.
What I Found:
Moses McGuire's flighty twenty-three year old daughter, Brittany... has horrible taste in men and frequently flits from one boyfriend to another. Brittany has begun dating Rick Jessup, who is not only politically connected, but also arrogant, narcissistic and if you look up "jerk" in the dictionary....there will be a big picture of Rick. She realizes much too late that her dream lover is a cruel and immoral misogynist. Major trouble ensues, and Dismas Hardy finds himself representing his brother-in-law, Moses, who finds the whole huge mess that could cost him his freedom.
That being said and when I am about 80% through the book...the bombs begin to drop and what started out as another great Dismas Hardy story...falls totally flat. It leaves most of the real questions unanswered and the final segment regarding the flaky Brittany...made absolutely no sense whatsoever. The plot had been interesting although it took way too long to conclude and I don't think the author knew just how to end the book. Up to this book this has been a well done, "can't wait to read the next book" series.
Dismas Hardy series Book #14
3★'s
What the Book Promised:
When a brutal rapist is murdered, a loving father stands accused of the crime and defense attorney Dismas Hardy must defend his brother-in-law and old friend Moses McGuire in a thrilling case that hits far too close to home.
What I Found:
Moses McGuire's flighty twenty-three year old daughter, Brittany... has horrible taste in men and frequently flits from one boyfriend to another. Brittany has begun dating Rick Jessup, who is not only politically connected, but also arrogant, narcissistic and if you look up "jerk" in the dictionary....there will be a big picture of Rick. She realizes much too late that her dream lover is a cruel and immoral misogynist. Major trouble ensues, and Dismas Hardy finds himself representing his brother-in-law, Moses, who finds the whole huge mess that could cost him his freedom.
That being said and when I am about 80% through the book...the bombs begin to drop and what started out as another great Dismas Hardy story...falls totally flat. It leaves most of the real questions unanswered and the final segment regarding the flaky Brittany...made absolutely no sense whatsoever. The plot had been interesting although it took way too long to conclude and I don't think the author knew just how to end the book. Up to this book this has been a well done, "can't wait to read the next book" series.
May 26, 2013
The seemingly contrived and convenient conclusion of this courtroom thriller is redeemed in the final pages with an ironic revelation. When we first met Dismas Hardy many years ago, he was a struggling young barrister, a former cop and Viet-Nam vet, who scraped through law school to earn a low-paying position as a city prosecutor. In this fourteenth novel of the series, we see a tired, sixty-something criminal defense attorney plowing through the winter of his life and career. The evolution of Dismas Hardy seems nearly complete; author John Lescroart clearly gets an "A+" for character development. The plot of THE OPHELIA CUT is strong. The San Francisco locale is colorful. And the dialog crackles with authenticity. This is a good stand-alone novel for readers new to Lescroart's work. However, readers who follow the series may be less satisfied and more saddened by plot developments. In addition to a clumsy epilogue, there are several new unresolved story-lines which portend a follow-up novel. But one wonders if the honorable Dismas Hardy will find the gumption to carry on.
June 25, 2013
I am a long time fan of John lescroart. However, in recent years I have relegated to only reading his books about Dismas and Abe. I find the other characters terrible. That said, I'm still trying to decide if I like this book or not. It started odd strong. And I enjoyed the Tony s character most. Would love to see a book about him. I absolutely despised Brittany. She was written as a one- dimensional airhead. The focus on her looks was distracting and unnecessary. She's pretty. We got it. Wish he had finished the Abe thread. There was no resolution in regards to his job, colleagues etc. I wanted him to have his say. And the end? Well...i still gave no idea who did it. A quick read but grab this from the library for sure.
January 18, 2015
Thankfully I was given this book in exchange for a review. If I had paid the $11 they are asking for it, I would be throwing a fit. Now, having said that, I have not read anything else by this author, but from what I gather or have heard, he's decent and can write. Not this time. As if trying to be the next John Grisham, he has fallen flat on his face. The blurb says nail biting suspense... No, not at all.
This book is slow, boring and completely bogged down with crap. The premise seemed great at first. I couldn't wait to read it. But pages of pages of repetitive who dun-nit and legal explanation left me wishing I didn't have to finish. If it were cleaned up, I.E. a content editor goes through and cuts half the worthless book out, it COULD be good. You could greatly tell the authors hesitation in writing this book. With each new sentence and paragraph, it goes from flowing, to drawn out and boring again, as if unsure of what they were doing. I really don't think the author put much hard work into the book and too much was left unresolved. For a book I couldn't wait to read, it left me feeling like I just wasted two days.
This book is slow, boring and completely bogged down with crap. The premise seemed great at first. I couldn't wait to read it. But pages of pages of repetitive who dun-nit and legal explanation left me wishing I didn't have to finish. If it were cleaned up, I.E. a content editor goes through and cuts half the worthless book out, it COULD be good. You could greatly tell the authors hesitation in writing this book. With each new sentence and paragraph, it goes from flowing, to drawn out and boring again, as if unsure of what they were doing. I really don't think the author put much hard work into the book and too much was left unresolved. For a book I couldn't wait to read, it left me feeling like I just wasted two days.
June 3, 2013
I've read all the Lescroart books, and really enjoy them. This one was right up there, until the very end. Dis is an excellent attorney, but this time I feel that Lescroart just took a cheap and easy way out that wasn't really true to character. Overall, it seemed shorter and less developed. The ride was good, the destination, not so much.
April 30, 2018
The Ophelia Cut is a welcome addition to the Dismas Hardy series, which has recently laid somewhat dormant. I enjoy this series because of the depth of the main characters, who grow and change with time, and who strive to maintain their integrity even in the most trying of their personal conflicts and their legal cases. In Ophelia, Attorney Hardy faces one of his greatest challenges both personally and professionally. His niece and God-daughter, Britney, has been raped, and twenty four hours later, her assailant is dead. The prime suspect is Britney's father, Moses Malone, brother of Diz's wife. Diz decides to represent Moses in a situation that could not be more fraught with ethical dilemmas. What father wouldn't feel murderous toward the man who raped his daughter? The picture is complicated further by the fact that Mose has started drinking again, and Diz and their circle of friends/colleagues are worried that, while under the influence, he might betray a secret that would severely damage each and every one.
I don't know another writer who can write courtroom drama as well as Lescroart. The scenes are particularly effective in the audio version of the novel, in this case adroitly read by David Colacci. The tension builds slowly, chapter by chapter, and the reader, along with Mose's family and friends, is never sure whether or not he is guilty, anticipating the verdict with as much trepidation as the they are. The novel could have ended at that point, but it didn't, and the final scene is a shocker that I never saw coming. This is a book without a final resolution, leaving many of its ethical questions unresolved. Can revenge ever be justice? What is a lawyer's obligation when he suspects his witness is lying? What if the prosecution failed to pursue alternative theories? And if you're wondering what the title means, you'll have to wonder till the final page.
Highly recommended, one of Lescroart's absolute best. The followup novel should be really interesting.
I don't know another writer who can write courtroom drama as well as Lescroart. The scenes are particularly effective in the audio version of the novel, in this case adroitly read by David Colacci. The tension builds slowly, chapter by chapter, and the reader, along with Mose's family and friends, is never sure whether or not he is guilty, anticipating the verdict with as much trepidation as the they are. The novel could have ended at that point, but it didn't, and the final scene is a shocker that I never saw coming. This is a book without a final resolution, leaving many of its ethical questions unresolved. Can revenge ever be justice? What is a lawyer's obligation when he suspects his witness is lying? What if the prosecution failed to pursue alternative theories? And if you're wondering what the title means, you'll have to wonder till the final page.
Highly recommended, one of Lescroart's absolute best. The followup novel should be really interesting.
April 6, 2018
I would not recommend this book. I love the series, but not this book. The plot seemed preposterous. It almost seemed as though the book was written in a rush - with a goal of finishing it quickly instead of taking the time to stand back to see if it made sense. As a result, one of the best (in my opinion) characters in the series was painted into a plot hole whose only way out was death. I am sad that he will not be in future books, and died (in my opinion) unnecessarily.
Who committed the crime? I don't know. How did the victim endure so much violence and heartache and possibly contribute to the death of her father - and come out at the end psychologically unscathed with a career in Hollywood? I don't know (and I found it completely unbelievable). How could an attorney have perjured herself to save the accused (and herself)? I don't know, but I lost all respect for her and for Dismas in the process.
Who committed the crime? I don't know. How did the victim endure so much violence and heartache and possibly contribute to the death of her father - and come out at the end psychologically unscathed with a career in Hollywood? I don't know (and I found it completely unbelievable). How could an attorney have perjured herself to save the accused (and herself)? I don't know, but I lost all respect for her and for Dismas in the process.
August 29, 2013
I learned to like cop/lawyer/mysteries partly because of John Lescroart, a 'local' writer (San Francisco) who does it all right.
He's a strong writer - by that I mean his writing and his content is full of muscle (figuratively, not literally). He writes good strong prose and his characters are alive and breathing in all their faults and struggles because of the writing. And yet, the main characters are likable, and you the reader root for them.
I have read all of Lescroart's books, and this latest is perhaps my favorite yet. The setting of San Francisco can't be beat (although the city and its environs is less of a character in this book as in others). But the story is immediate and thought-provoking, combining city politics, rape, sex trafficking, the mob, family, family and friendship ties, and love, all together.
He's a strong writer - by that I mean his writing and his content is full of muscle (figuratively, not literally). He writes good strong prose and his characters are alive and breathing in all their faults and struggles because of the writing. And yet, the main characters are likable, and you the reader root for them.
I have read all of Lescroart's books, and this latest is perhaps my favorite yet. The setting of San Francisco can't be beat (although the city and its environs is less of a character in this book as in others). But the story is immediate and thought-provoking, combining city politics, rape, sex trafficking, the mob, family, family and friendship ties, and love, all together.
January 2, 2022
I love this series...but not this book. Page turning suspense? I don't think so. It started out that way, but somewhere after the trial began, the story lost steam and I lost interest. Perhaps Lescroart has taken these characters as far as they should go.
January 16, 2019
I enjoy this series but the end of this book fell flat. Too many stories lines left up in the air and you never even find out what really happened.
February 24, 2023
Реална оценка 2.5★
Нещо не успя да ме впечатли особено... Сякаш е писана по задължение... В желанието да има повече и по-големи обрати, добрата идея се е загубила. Беше ми твърде наблъскано, твърде скалъпено и нереалистично.
За сметка на това пък ясно си личи стила на Джон Лескроарт ☺️
Нещо не успя да ме впечатли особено... Сякаш е писана по задължение... В желанието да има повече и по-големи обрати, добрата идея се е загубила. Беше ми твърде наблъскано, твърде скалъпено и нереалистично.
За сметка на това пък ясно си личи стила на Джон Лескроарт ☺️
September 1, 2019
Good thriller to listen to on a road trip. Was a tad disappointed when the title was finally resolved in the last few pages. Overall, most exciting.
April 17, 2013
I received an advanced uncorrected proof through a goodreads giveaway. This review is based upon that copy. I have ignored errors of formatting, spelling, and punctuation. This is a review purely of the story.
I wish I could offer a more favorable review, but the novel's flaws outweighed its strengths. As an avid reader--over 300 titles in the past year--I've certainly come across my share of great and poor novels. The Ophelia Cut is neither, but I believe it could be made very much better, with some rather heavy editing.
Upon reading the novel's description, my first thought was that this wasn't my usual fair, but I was actually interested by the plight of the avenging father, and the attorney brother-in-law set to defend him. This is a rather large part of the description on the back cover. And yet, it took nearly a quarter of the book to get to the first line of the description.
But... I'm getting ahead of myself here. Let me start from the beginning.
Overall, I'm going to give this novel 1 out of 5 stars. If I didn't feel obligated by receiving the advanced proof to give the novel a good-faith review, I would have stopped reading it by the fourth or fifth chapter. I would have been left wondering, where was the story described on the back cover?
My advice, though it's likely far too late in the publishing process: Lescroat needs to chop most of Part 1 out. Perhaps most of it could be moved to later in the novel, after the story has been established. Particular portions might best fit in the "whodunnit" phase, where the investigation is ongoing. Also, don't lead with Ricci / Solaia. Lead with Brittany and Jessup, the catalyst for the story.
I wish I could offer a more favorable review, but the novel's flaws outweighed its strengths. As an avid reader--over 300 titles in the past year--I've certainly come across my share of great and poor novels. The Ophelia Cut is neither, but I believe it could be made very much better, with some rather heavy editing.
Upon reading the novel's description, my first thought was that this wasn't my usual fair, but I was actually interested by the plight of the avenging father, and the attorney brother-in-law set to defend him. This is a rather large part of the description on the back cover. And yet, it took nearly a quarter of the book to get to the first line of the description.
But... I'm getting ahead of myself here. Let me start from the beginning.
Overall, I'm going to give this novel 1 out of 5 stars. If I didn't feel obligated by receiving the advanced proof to give the novel a good-faith review, I would have stopped reading it by the fourth or fifth chapter. I would have been left wondering, where was the story described on the back cover?
My advice, though it's likely far too late in the publishing process: Lescroat needs to chop most of Part 1 out. Perhaps most of it could be moved to later in the novel, after the story has been established. Particular portions might best fit in the "whodunnit" phase, where the investigation is ongoing. Also, don't lead with Ricci / Solaia. Lead with Brittany and Jessup, the catalyst for the story.
November 20, 2025
Чудесен съдебен трилър, от онези, които те карат да мислиш постоянно. Не ми харесаха някои отклонения от сюжета, които наистина нямаха връзка с него, или поне аз не можах да открия. Многото име на героите кара да се чувстваш объркан в началото, но после нещата се нареждат.
Романът засяга интересната тема за това какво е способен да направи един баща когато дъщеря му е наранена. Къде свършва моралът и къде започва единствено мисълта за страданието на детето ти.
Романът засяга интересната тема за това какво е способен да направи един баща когато дъщеря му е наранена. Къде свършва моралът и къде започва единствено мисълта за страданието на детето ти.
December 18, 2017
Six-Word Review: Rape, murder, arrest, trial, verdict, fallout.
Defense Attorney Dismas Hardy is back and we are all the better for it. Although, I've enjoyed the few previous books that had Hardy as a supporting character, I most identify with Hardy and am happy he's a major character again. I've also read and enjoyed the "Hunt" books featuring private investigator, Wyatt Hunt.
The twist in this entry is that Hardy, defends his brother-in-law and very good friend, Moses McGuire, against a charge of murder. All the characters from previous novels in the series are here especially Abe Glitsky, head of the Major Crimes Division and perhaps, Hardy's best friend.
McGuire is a recovering alcoholic and gregarious bar owner who is party to a six-year-old secret that could bring Hardy and his friends down. This sub-plot increases the suspense. He is accused of killing a totally reprehensible but politically connected rapist, Rick Jessup. Jessup had drugged and raped McGuire's extraordinarily beautiful daughter, Brittany.
The evidence is overwhelming and Hardy is, for once, at a loss as to how to counteract it. There is also a sub-plot involving an ex-cop in the witness protection program further complicating Hardy's life. The efforts to protect the six-year-old secret, defend McGuire, keep peace in his own family, and somehow come up with a winning strategy puts him in a no-win situation.
There are a number of surprises at the end of the book including the conclusion of the trial and what happens to McGuire and his family. Everything gets tied up neatly, though, leaving this reader satisfied.
While I heartily recommend the entire series, I would suggest holding off on this volume until you have, at least, read "The First Law". The events in that story create the secret everyone is trying to protect in this one. If you've not tried this series, give it a go from Book One, "Dead Irish". You will be rewarded, especially if you like courtroom drama and have spent time in San Francisco, where these stories all take place.
Defense Attorney Dismas Hardy is back and we are all the better for it. Although, I've enjoyed the few previous books that had Hardy as a supporting character, I most identify with Hardy and am happy he's a major character again. I've also read and enjoyed the "Hunt" books featuring private investigator, Wyatt Hunt.
The twist in this entry is that Hardy, defends his brother-in-law and very good friend, Moses McGuire, against a charge of murder. All the characters from previous novels in the series are here especially Abe Glitsky, head of the Major Crimes Division and perhaps, Hardy's best friend.
McGuire is a recovering alcoholic and gregarious bar owner who is party to a six-year-old secret that could bring Hardy and his friends down. This sub-plot increases the suspense. He is accused of killing a totally reprehensible but politically connected rapist, Rick Jessup. Jessup had drugged and raped McGuire's extraordinarily beautiful daughter, Brittany.
The evidence is overwhelming and Hardy is, for once, at a loss as to how to counteract it. There is also a sub-plot involving an ex-cop in the witness protection program further complicating Hardy's life. The efforts to protect the six-year-old secret, defend McGuire, keep peace in his own family, and somehow come up with a winning strategy puts him in a no-win situation.
There are a number of surprises at the end of the book including the conclusion of the trial and what happens to McGuire and his family. Everything gets tied up neatly, though, leaving this reader satisfied.
While I heartily recommend the entire series, I would suggest holding off on this volume until you have, at least, read "The First Law". The events in that story create the secret everyone is trying to protect in this one. If you've not tried this series, give it a go from Book One, "Dead Irish". You will be rewarded, especially if you like courtroom drama and have spent time in San Francisco, where these stories all take place.
July 29, 2013
Lescroart brings back his key character, Dismas Hardy, to ensure a massive hit, and does not disappoint. Pushing forward a few storylines throughout the opening third of the book, Lescroart paints a multi-faceted story that helps the reader reacquaint themselves with the players involved. When news about the murder of a political up-and-comer begins trickling down, a strong motive emerges for one character, though he declares his strong innocence. Is there more to the story than meets the eye? Lescroart dedicates the second half of the book to a thorough and stunningly powerful courtroom drama where Hardy must use all his skills as a criminal defence attorney to prove an alternate theory, even if there is little more than breadcrumbs to do so. Sitting on a precarious edge, Hardy is entrusted not only with getting the accused off for a crime he says he did not commit, but also to keep a deep secret that could bring a group down with ties to all aspects of the city’s political fabric. Using San Francisco as an ongoing backdrop, Lescroart tells an entertaining story, filled with character development, drama, and intrigue that keeps the reader hooked until the dust cover closes. In true Lescroart fashion, cliff-hangers abound and no slack jaw is safe from a stunning plummet into the ‘O’ position.
I have always admired Lescroart for his complex storyline, especially as it relates to a Hardy novel. It is too easy to make a cookie-cutter book with superficial characters and a plot to match. Lescroart prefers generating something with storylines that advances all characters in his literary quiver. His ability to create cameos of some characters to accentuate others keeps the reader closely tied to the entire collection, though it can create some confusion and the need to re-read past work as a homework assignment in order to better place the themes arcing from one book to the next. Not a plotline goes by without a great ‘ah ha’ moment and I am left trying to amass all the crumbs to bring the story together. No doubt, Lescroart prefers this more in-depth approach, which keeps the avid reader coming back for more, and begging publishers to announce the next instalment.
Kudos, as always, Mr. Lescroart for your ability to capture a thoroughly intriguing courtroom drama while adding new layers to characters. I am so eager to devour the next book, knowing I will not be disappointed.
I have always admired Lescroart for his complex storyline, especially as it relates to a Hardy novel. It is too easy to make a cookie-cutter book with superficial characters and a plot to match. Lescroart prefers generating something with storylines that advances all characters in his literary quiver. His ability to create cameos of some characters to accentuate others keeps the reader closely tied to the entire collection, though it can create some confusion and the need to re-read past work as a homework assignment in order to better place the themes arcing from one book to the next. Not a plotline goes by without a great ‘ah ha’ moment and I am left trying to amass all the crumbs to bring the story together. No doubt, Lescroart prefers this more in-depth approach, which keeps the avid reader coming back for more, and begging publishers to announce the next instalment.
Kudos, as always, Mr. Lescroart for your ability to capture a thoroughly intriguing courtroom drama while adding new layers to characters. I am so eager to devour the next book, knowing I will not be disappointed.
April 24, 2013
I was fortunate enough to get an advanced readers copy for an honest review. With it being an ARC the formatting was horrible. There were no breaks between character shifts and it made the story very difficult to follow. Hopefully this is corrected with the published novel, because it was tough to keep my attention, when I was constantly having to go back and re-read so I knew when the shift occurred.
The beginning of the book has a lot of characters to introduce which caused the story to bounce around and I wasn't a big fan of that. Also we learn that a bunch of the characters are linked by an "event", but we don't know what it is exactly. Little bits and pieces are revealed by different characters overtime, and I can see how this could build suspense, but I thought it was just annoying. So feeling a little lost I decided to write Mr. Lescroart and ask him if this would be explained. He wrote me back the very next day and said he thought this would be enough info for a standalone novel. He apologized that I was lost and really was a great guy about it. He truly cares about his readers and their questions. This fact alone made me begin to enjoy this book more. I was able to gather more info about the event throughout the book but I will be reading The First Law which is the book that this event takes place in. Plus, once the trial got going there was no need to know anything about the “Event”.
Now back to this book, It was a slow starter and I found it hard to keep all of the characters straight at first. A little after a quarter of the way through, the story really started to pick up. All it took was finally grasping who each player was and the story started to fall into place. If I can give one piece of advice when it comes to reading this book, it would be to hang in there. I am not usually a fan of courtroom novels but this kept me hooked all the way through to the verdict. Slightly predictable, but still very enjoyable.
This is my first book by Lescroart and I liked it enough that I will have to read more. It took awhile but he did a great job of building suspense and creating characters that eventually were very memorable. I do recommend this to anyone who likes courtroom suspense.
The beginning of the book has a lot of characters to introduce which caused the story to bounce around and I wasn't a big fan of that. Also we learn that a bunch of the characters are linked by an "event", but we don't know what it is exactly. Little bits and pieces are revealed by different characters overtime, and I can see how this could build suspense, but I thought it was just annoying. So feeling a little lost I decided to write Mr. Lescroart and ask him if this would be explained. He wrote me back the very next day and said he thought this would be enough info for a standalone novel. He apologized that I was lost and really was a great guy about it. He truly cares about his readers and their questions. This fact alone made me begin to enjoy this book more. I was able to gather more info about the event throughout the book but I will be reading The First Law which is the book that this event takes place in. Plus, once the trial got going there was no need to know anything about the “Event”.
Now back to this book, It was a slow starter and I found it hard to keep all of the characters straight at first. A little after a quarter of the way through, the story really started to pick up. All it took was finally grasping who each player was and the story started to fall into place. If I can give one piece of advice when it comes to reading this book, it would be to hang in there. I am not usually a fan of courtroom novels but this kept me hooked all the way through to the verdict. Slightly predictable, but still very enjoyable.
This is my first book by Lescroart and I liked it enough that I will have to read more. It took awhile but he did a great job of building suspense and creating characters that eventually were very memorable. I do recommend this to anyone who likes courtroom suspense.
December 6, 2013
The Ophelia Cut by John Lescroart is the latest installment in the Dimas Hardy series. This book was provided to me by Atria publishing and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was published in May 2013.
The gang is back. Diz and Moses and Abe. Moses is trying to stay sober and is doing a great job until his daughter Brittany hooks up with the wrong guy. After he confronts the man about harassing his daughter, the man turns up dead and of course we can guess who the prime suspect is.
Diz must try and help his old friend who is also his brother in law. The truth is everyone who puts themselves in Moses's position knows deep down they would do the same thing if it was their daughter and for the most part everyone including Moses's wife and daughter thinks he is guilty.
But, there are other suspects. So, did Moses take revenge on the man that hurt his daughter or was it the guy's lifestyle and rather sleazy associates that got him murdered?
This is one the hardest cases and hardest situations Dismas has been in a long while. The weight of decisions made in the past still hang in the air around the close friends and family and is always like an elephant in the room. Could this case be somehow connected to the past?
I have to admit that I love Dismas Hardy legal thrillers. I was looking forward to this one for awhile and have actually been hoarding this one because I don't know when there will be another one.
This installment though will leave you in complete shock like no other before it. I am still reeling from the developments and of course I'm sure the author has raised a few eyebrows from long time fans.
I'm a little unsettled about the whole thing and many questions are left unanswered or rather left up to the reader to draw their own conclusions. I'm going to have to think on it before I decide for sure, but I do hope we get a follow up to this story soon.
This was still a solid outing in the series even if I wasn't thrilled with the plot developments.
So, I'm still going to give this one an A.
This book was published in May 2013.
The gang is back. Diz and Moses and Abe. Moses is trying to stay sober and is doing a great job until his daughter Brittany hooks up with the wrong guy. After he confronts the man about harassing his daughter, the man turns up dead and of course we can guess who the prime suspect is.
Diz must try and help his old friend who is also his brother in law. The truth is everyone who puts themselves in Moses's position knows deep down they would do the same thing if it was their daughter and for the most part everyone including Moses's wife and daughter thinks he is guilty.
But, there are other suspects. So, did Moses take revenge on the man that hurt his daughter or was it the guy's lifestyle and rather sleazy associates that got him murdered?
This is one the hardest cases and hardest situations Dismas has been in a long while. The weight of decisions made in the past still hang in the air around the close friends and family and is always like an elephant in the room. Could this case be somehow connected to the past?
I have to admit that I love Dismas Hardy legal thrillers. I was looking forward to this one for awhile and have actually been hoarding this one because I don't know when there will be another one.
This installment though will leave you in complete shock like no other before it. I am still reeling from the developments and of course I'm sure the author has raised a few eyebrows from long time fans.
I'm a little unsettled about the whole thing and many questions are left unanswered or rather left up to the reader to draw their own conclusions. I'm going to have to think on it before I decide for sure, but I do hope we get a follow up to this story soon.
This was still a solid outing in the series even if I wasn't thrilled with the plot developments.
So, I'm still going to give this one an A.
October 2, 2016
I sorely wish that I had realized that there were thirteen previous books in the Dismas Hardy series before I agreed to review this thriller. I have never read a John Lescroart novel and I now know I've been missing out for many years. I will be giving this legal thriller four stars not because I personally enjoyed it that much but because I'm sure if I had had the back story I would have loved it at least that much. I will now be going back and starting with the Hardy book #1 and hoping that svn though I've read #14 that I'll still enjoy the ride.
Because I am not already a fan of Lescroart's spectacularly written characters I found that I felt I was slogging through the first half of the book because of all the backstory I had to read. As I've found with my favorite authors, as a fan, I love all the little details from all the other books when a new story comes out. I cherish every word I get to read every time there's a new novel to devour. Because I'm not yet a rabid fan of this author I didn't get that joyous feeling with all the necessary details, I just felt tired. This was my own fault, my own doing, not the fault of the author at all.
I love a good legal thriller and because I find that many of the best of them are thrilling because of the way the story line plays out I will not be giving away any details of this story. I might give a hint away that will lesson your enjoyment of the ride and I'd hate to do that for a fan. I relish every moment with a great author which I can heartily tell Lescroart is. I urge you to read this novel if you're already a fan of this author but like me, if you have the privilege of reading from the start of this series I beg you to begin with me and soak yourself in a spectacular series. I know fans of Lescroart will be jealous of us, we get to read these books for the first time. I know that's how I feel about new readers of my favorite authors. I yearn to be ignorant of the story again so I can revel in the best an author can give. I'm betting the Hardy series will be just that kind of awesome.
Because I am not already a fan of Lescroart's spectacularly written characters I found that I felt I was slogging through the first half of the book because of all the backstory I had to read. As I've found with my favorite authors, as a fan, I love all the little details from all the other books when a new story comes out. I cherish every word I get to read every time there's a new novel to devour. Because I'm not yet a rabid fan of this author I didn't get that joyous feeling with all the necessary details, I just felt tired. This was my own fault, my own doing, not the fault of the author at all.
I love a good legal thriller and because I find that many of the best of them are thrilling because of the way the story line plays out I will not be giving away any details of this story. I might give a hint away that will lesson your enjoyment of the ride and I'd hate to do that for a fan. I relish every moment with a great author which I can heartily tell Lescroart is. I urge you to read this novel if you're already a fan of this author but like me, if you have the privilege of reading from the start of this series I beg you to begin with me and soak yourself in a spectacular series. I know fans of Lescroart will be jealous of us, we get to read these books for the first time. I know that's how I feel about new readers of my favorite authors. I yearn to be ignorant of the story again so I can revel in the best an author can give. I'm betting the Hardy series will be just that kind of awesome.
April 6, 2017
A LEGAL THRILLER FULL OF SURPRISES
I have a question for you if you love courtroom dramas.
What is it that keeps you coming back for more?
Is it the sheer tension and suspense? The brilliance of the litigators? The clash of personalities in the courtroom? The opportunity to guess which way the jury will go? The potential for surprises?
If questions along those lines define your taste for the genre, you should be a fan of John Lescroart, a San Francisco writer who has authored 21 crime thrillers centered in the courtroom (14 of which are in the Dismas Hardy series, of which The Ophelia Cut is one). And you may feel that this, his most recent work, is his best ever.
For starters, you will never guess the ending of this novel (unless you cheat and turn directly to the concluding chapters). I thought I’d figured it out about a third of the way through the book, so I was flummoxed when I read to the end.
Plaintiff’s attorney Dismas (“Diz”) Hardy is one of Lescroart’s familiar cast of characters, the protagonist of the series, which also includes the crusty SFPD chief homicide detective Abe Glitsky; Hardy’s investigator, Wyatt Hunt; and his law partner Gina Roake. In The Ophelia Cut, Hardy’s brother-in-law, Moses McGuire, and both his and Hardy’s young-adult daughters, Brittany McGuire and Rebecca (“The Beck”) Hardy, also appear on center stage.
As so much of the fun of reading books like this lies in the slow revelation of the circumstances that shape the plot, I prefer not to describe here how the tale unfolds. Lescroart’s characters, and the accuracy of the facts he works into the story, are so engaging that I don’t want to spoil the fun. Read it. You’ll enjoy it. And, if you live in the San Francisco Bay Area — or you’d like to live here — you’ll find a bonus in the frequent references to familiar landmarks and popular watering holes.
I have a question for you if you love courtroom dramas.
What is it that keeps you coming back for more?
Is it the sheer tension and suspense? The brilliance of the litigators? The clash of personalities in the courtroom? The opportunity to guess which way the jury will go? The potential for surprises?
If questions along those lines define your taste for the genre, you should be a fan of John Lescroart, a San Francisco writer who has authored 21 crime thrillers centered in the courtroom (14 of which are in the Dismas Hardy series, of which The Ophelia Cut is one). And you may feel that this, his most recent work, is his best ever.
For starters, you will never guess the ending of this novel (unless you cheat and turn directly to the concluding chapters). I thought I’d figured it out about a third of the way through the book, so I was flummoxed when I read to the end.
Plaintiff’s attorney Dismas (“Diz”) Hardy is one of Lescroart’s familiar cast of characters, the protagonist of the series, which also includes the crusty SFPD chief homicide detective Abe Glitsky; Hardy’s investigator, Wyatt Hunt; and his law partner Gina Roake. In The Ophelia Cut, Hardy’s brother-in-law, Moses McGuire, and both his and Hardy’s young-adult daughters, Brittany McGuire and Rebecca (“The Beck”) Hardy, also appear on center stage.
As so much of the fun of reading books like this lies in the slow revelation of the circumstances that shape the plot, I prefer not to describe here how the tale unfolds. Lescroart’s characters, and the accuracy of the facts he works into the story, are so engaging that I don’t want to spoil the fun. Read it. You’ll enjoy it. And, if you live in the San Francisco Bay Area — or you’d like to live here — you’ll find a bonus in the frequent references to familiar landmarks and popular watering holes.
April 18, 2013
The Ophelia Cut is the latest of Lescroart's Dismas Hardy series. I finished it a couple of weeks ago, and although I always enjoy catching up with these characters.
As I mentioned in a previous post, the back story, the event that no one wants uncovered is from six years previously and covered in Lescroart's The First Law.
When Dismas' niece is raped and her assailant murdered, suspicion falls on his brother-in-law Moses McGuire. Dismas must defend him and keep him from talking too much, possibly revealing old secrets that could destroy several lives.
Everyone has something to lose if Moses, an alcoholic, talks out of turn. Moses insists he is innocent, but as the evidence continues to point to him, a moral dilemma arises. Also, a bit of ambiguity in the conclusion may indicate that some events may be revisited in a future novel.
The plus: Always good see how the various characters who have become so familiar in previous books are doing. Lescroart reads quickly and easily, a master at building suspense, leaving questions open, letting his characters behave in keeping with their personas.
The minus: Brittany does not have the same fullness of character as most of Lescroart's creations. Maybe she isn't even supposed to, she certainly seems shallow. And...something about the conclusion just bothers me.
Lescroart has written 15 novels featuring Dismas, Abe, and other friends and colleagues (I've read most, if not all, of them), and even if this one isn't a favorite, it is still a good read. Ignore the cover--this is the worst one ever.
From Net Galley/Atria Books.
Mystery/Legal Thriller. Publ. May 7, 2013. Print version 432 pages.
ISBN-10: 1476709157
As I mentioned in a previous post, the back story, the event that no one wants uncovered is from six years previously and covered in Lescroart's The First Law.
When Dismas' niece is raped and her assailant murdered, suspicion falls on his brother-in-law Moses McGuire. Dismas must defend him and keep him from talking too much, possibly revealing old secrets that could destroy several lives.
Everyone has something to lose if Moses, an alcoholic, talks out of turn. Moses insists he is innocent, but as the evidence continues to point to him, a moral dilemma arises. Also, a bit of ambiguity in the conclusion may indicate that some events may be revisited in a future novel.
The plus: Always good see how the various characters who have become so familiar in previous books are doing. Lescroart reads quickly and easily, a master at building suspense, leaving questions open, letting his characters behave in keeping with their personas.
The minus: Brittany does not have the same fullness of character as most of Lescroart's creations. Maybe she isn't even supposed to, she certainly seems shallow. And...something about the conclusion just bothers me.
Lescroart has written 15 novels featuring Dismas, Abe, and other friends and colleagues (I've read most, if not all, of them), and even if this one isn't a favorite, it is still a good read. Ignore the cover--this is the worst one ever.
From Net Galley/Atria Books.
Mystery/Legal Thriller. Publ. May 7, 2013. Print version 432 pages.
ISBN-10: 1476709157
May 18, 2013
I had a hard getting through John Lescroat’s The Ophelia Cut. I’ve never read any of the Dismiss Hardy books and I had a difficult time understanding what actually happened six years ago that all the main characters in the book wanted to keep a secret. I did not know when I started it that this was the 14th book in a series. I should have checked Goodreads first!
The story itself is ok – kind of a murder mystery and legal thriller combined together. Simply put, Defense Attorney Dismis Hardy’s alcoholic brother in law, Moses, has been accused of murder and it is up to Dismis and his friends to prove reasonable doubt. There’s a lot more to the story than this but that is the bare bones plot. Maybe if I had read some of the other Dismis books the characters’ actions would have made more sense to me. One good thing was that there were a couple of twists at the end which at least made the story more interesting. But be prepared for disappointment since by the end of The Ophelia Cut you will not actually find out who the murderer is.
By the way Dismis also has this habit of calling his daughter, named Rebecca, “The Beck” which was very annoying and happened a lot throughout the book. She’s sort of a secondary character but I was at times, mixing her up with Moses’ daughter (Rebecca’s cousin) Brittany who has a bigger role in The Ophelia Cut.
I'm going with three stars because I thought the legal action was well written but I think this book is more for Lescroat's fans than for new readers.
The story itself is ok – kind of a murder mystery and legal thriller combined together. Simply put, Defense Attorney Dismis Hardy’s alcoholic brother in law, Moses, has been accused of murder and it is up to Dismis and his friends to prove reasonable doubt. There’s a lot more to the story than this but that is the bare bones plot. Maybe if I had read some of the other Dismis books the characters’ actions would have made more sense to me. One good thing was that there were a couple of twists at the end which at least made the story more interesting. But be prepared for disappointment since by the end of The Ophelia Cut you will not actually find out who the murderer is.
By the way Dismis also has this habit of calling his daughter, named Rebecca, “The Beck” which was very annoying and happened a lot throughout the book. She’s sort of a secondary character but I was at times, mixing her up with Moses’ daughter (Rebecca’s cousin) Brittany who has a bigger role in The Ophelia Cut.
I'm going with three stars because I thought the legal action was well written but I think this book is more for Lescroat's fans than for new readers.
June 12, 2013
So, after what felt like a long wait to me, I started reading The Ophelia Cut and realised quite early on that here was Dismas Hardy, rocking the reading world once again. I love a good legal thriller and Dismas Hardy, along with Steve Martini's Paul Madriani are two of my favourite literary lawyers. In this outing, his niece Brittany is raped and Dismas finds himself in defence of Brittany's father Moses, standing accused of the murder of the rapist. With past events threatening to come to light, this is a race against time to save Moses and to ensure the future safety of Dismas and his friends.
As usual it is brilliantly written. This is, I believe, the 14th outing for Mr Hardy in his own right and the standard has not slipped - indeed if anything it has improved with each story. Dismas is not young now but he is still impressive in stature and intelligence. Mr Lescroart explores family here - not only blood family but the family we create for ourselves as we move through life. Over the course of all the Hardy novels, these relationships have developed, changed and if you read them all will become almost like your own. Other novels follow other major characters and as a whole, this authors catalogue is magnificent - A whole life story for Mr Hardy and those that surround him. Anyone who has followed them all will LOVE "The Ophelia Cut" - there is nothing bad here. If you have yet to enjoy these books, I would recommend reading them in order - Dead Irish is the first - and I promise you will very quickly catch up because one will follow another. Very enjoyable.
As usual it is brilliantly written. This is, I believe, the 14th outing for Mr Hardy in his own right and the standard has not slipped - indeed if anything it has improved with each story. Dismas is not young now but he is still impressive in stature and intelligence. Mr Lescroart explores family here - not only blood family but the family we create for ourselves as we move through life. Over the course of all the Hardy novels, these relationships have developed, changed and if you read them all will become almost like your own. Other novels follow other major characters and as a whole, this authors catalogue is magnificent - A whole life story for Mr Hardy and those that surround him. Anyone who has followed them all will LOVE "The Ophelia Cut" - there is nothing bad here. If you have yet to enjoy these books, I would recommend reading them in order - Dead Irish is the first - and I promise you will very quickly catch up because one will follow another. Very enjoyable.
October 8, 2017
Another fairly typical Lescroart novel, although this one deviated a bit. Oh, it had the usual Dismas Hardy widecracks, with Abe Glitsky's dry responses, a few humorous T-shirts, etc. But in this one, we're never sure if the accused is guilty or not, and the ending isn't that happy. But I'm not complaining; I think it's a good thing to break the mold now and then to keep us on our toes.
There is a fair amount of material that relates back to a previous book, "The First Law", so it would be very good if one was to read it before the current one. I usually like to read a series in order, so I knew all about it, and I'm sure it added to my enjoyment. It's not completely necessary, but you will be wondering what happened if you didn't read it first.
There is a fair amount of material that relates back to a previous book, "The First Law", so it would be very good if one was to read it before the current one. I usually like to read a series in order, so I knew all about it, and I'm sure it added to my enjoyment. It's not completely necessary, but you will be wondering what happened if you didn't read it first.
August 14, 2013
It has good plot; story about a girl whose father allegedly killed her rapist, he was arrested and put on trial. The first half of the book felt somehow slow. The characters were well developed. Some were unnecessarily detailed. I find the last half part, the trial, to be the exciting bit. The author wrote in great details how the trial went and explained clearly the strategy they were approaching. The ending of the book left me unsatisfied. It was totally unexpected. Maybe the intention of the author was to make it as real as possible, that things don't always go as planned. The path that the daughter chose in the end was puzzling to me considering what she had gone through.
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