Identical -- Free Preview

by Scott Turow

State Senator Paul Giannis is a candidate for Mayor of Kindle County. His identical twin brother Cass is newly released from prison, 25 years after pleading guilty to the murder of his girlfriend, Dita Kronon. When Evon Miller, an ex-FBI agent who is the head of security for the Kronon family business, and private investigator Tim Brodie begin a re-investigation of Dita's death, a complex web of murder, sex, and betrayal-as only Scott Turow could weave-dramatically unfolds...

39 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 20, 2015

About the author

Scott Turow is the author of ten bestselling works of fiction, including IDENTICAL, INNOCENT, PRESUMED INNOCENT, and THE BURDEN OF PROOF, and two nonfiction books, including ONE L, about his experience as a law student. His books have been translated into more than forty languages, sold more than thirty million copies worldwide, and have been adapted into movies and television projects. He has frequently contributed essays and op-ed pieces to publications such as the New York Times, Washington Post, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, and The Atlantic.

Reviews

[Jack Knorps · Rating 2 out of 5]

Scott Turow had an unmistakable effect on my decision to attend law school, because he practices and writes and lives in Chicago and because I wanted to practice and write and live in Chicago.

I made the mistake of taking inspiration from him primarily through 1L and the knowledge that several of his books had been bestsellers and adapted into films. I didn't read any of those books (I saw the movie of PRESUMED INNOCENT, which was O.K.) and maybe I should have. Because he writes "legal thrillers." I have little interest in writing legal thrillers, though I understand that one can use specialized knowledge and make themselves look like they know what they are talking about, even when certain events in the courtroom fly in the face of reality (this is what Roger Ebert meant when he wrote that nothing could possibly be more boring than a totally accurate film about the law).

I don't recall whether there are any unrealistic moments in the legal arena here, and some of these scenes were actually the most compelling to me. That said, this book is like a soap opera, and while Turow meant to write some sort of allegory of Greek mythology, this is straight up mass-market paperback genre-fiction. Turow knows what he is doing, and he probably does this genre better than John Grisham (though I have not kept up with his work post-1995). I did want to find out what really happened, and he did not show his hand throughout the novel, and I was slightly surprised by the ending, I think.

This is one of my least favorite books over the past decade, and perhaps that is fair because I picked it up on a pure whim. If you like legal thrillers, this may be for you. I think I might like a good legal thriller, but not one that deals in this subject matter (murder, libel, political ambition, family drama). I would give another Turow book a chance, but I wouldn't re-read this unless someone paid me to adapt it. Turow wrote THE LAST TRIAL after this (published it in May 2020), and that seems like it may have been a return to form. It would be more interesting to read another book like 1L, except about his career.

http://flyinghouses.blogspot.com/2016...

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting concept, but too much talk and too much focus on the love life of the lesbian character. Also, too much unnecessary language. Halfway through the audiobook and I don’t feel the plot has advanced much.

[Amy Montallana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome storyline. I've read this in one sitting and savor every word written. This is so human and so intriguing. Wonderful read indeed!

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was too complicated to me. And actually too wordy. Disappointed.

[Jody · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slow start for me but a nice twist about 2/3 of the way in

[miteypen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high expectations for this book but it didn't live up to them. I didn't realize that the core story was a reworking of a Greek myth. But the author added so much extra baggage it made the story all muddled. And there was no clearly identified main character. I like Turow a lot but this was not his best effort.

(I read the whole book, not just the first four chapters; I couldn't find another listing.)

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scott Turow presents another page turner that I couldn't put down. Set in his TriCities mythical place in Middle America, this novel explores the force of being an identical twin, a twenty-five year old murder, the strength of the Greek community, along with a number of likable characters. Was sad when it was over.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! Scott Turow's books are adventures in life and the law. This story of the Gianis twins, Cass and Paul, and a murder one of them pled guilty to and went to prison for, is truly masterful. Lots of twists and turns in this one.

[kathleen Moon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Identical

Only the first four chapters were available to me, so I still need the remainder of the book to be happy. What I did read makes me anxious to download the whole book assuming my library can access it. Author is off to a great start.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

looking forward to the full edition

[Anne Hipp · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointing

[Robin Pyburn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Turow's novels, especially Ordinary Heroes. This one disappointed me. I found the central idea implausible. The only characters who are really convincing are the two investigators.

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely give a book 5 stars Identical had a lot of twists and turns I enjoyed it.