What do you think?
Rate this book
Dismas Hardy #10
The Second Chair
The master of the legal thriller delivers a brilliantly suspenseful novel of deadly secrets, privileged youth, and uncertain justice...Dismas Hardy is finally on As a managing partner at his thriving, newly reorganized law firm, he's a rainmaker and fix-it guy for clients leery of taking their chances in a courtroom. Now Hardy's up-and-coming associate, Amy Wu, brings him a high-profile Andrew Bartlett, the seventeen-year-old son of a prominent San Francisco family, has been arrested for the double slaying of his girlfriend and his English teacher. The D.A. wants to try him as an adult. Determined to get the case into juvenile court and overwhelmed by the mounting evidence against her client, Wu asks Hardy to sit second chair for her in Bartlett's defense.
As the Bartlett case moves swiftly to trial, another series of murders grip the city. An unseen killer seems to be shooting citizens wantonly, and as fear and anxiety build around The Executioner (as he is quickly dubbed in the ensuing media frenzy), Abe Glitsky, the newly promoted deputy chief of the Investigations Bureau, leads the desperate hunt to stop him.
With the city on the verge of panic, Hardy and Glitsky are locked in a race against time-to save a client and to catch a murderer. But nothing is what it seems, and as both men's cases twist and turn to their shocking conclusions, the very foundations of San Francisco's legal system will be shaken to the core.
As the Bartlett case moves swiftly to trial, another series of murders grip the city. An unseen killer seems to be shooting citizens wantonly, and as fear and anxiety build around The Executioner (as he is quickly dubbed in the ensuing media frenzy), Abe Glitsky, the newly promoted deputy chief of the Investigations Bureau, leads the desperate hunt to stop him.
With the city on the verge of panic, Hardy and Glitsky are locked in a race against time-to save a client and to catch a murderer. But nothing is what it seems, and as both men's cases twist and turn to their shocking conclusions, the very foundations of San Francisco's legal system will be shaken to the core.
459 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
269 people are currently reading
1316 people want to read
About the author
John Lescroart
142 books1,299 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 218 reviews
November 3, 2021
In this 10th book in the 'Dismas Hardy' lawyer series, the attorney helps an associate in his firm defend a boy accused of murder. The book works well as a standalone.
*****
High school student Laura Wright and her drama teacher Mr. Mooney are rehearsing for the school play in his apartment when both are shot dead.
The prime suspect is Laura's on/off boyfriend, 17-year-old Andy Bartlett, reputed to be jealous of Laura's crush on the teacher.
Defense attorney Amy Wu, an associate in Dismas Hardy's law firm, gets the case. However Amy's dad died recently and she's been drinking and partying too much and using good judgment too little. Thus, without Andy's agreement, Amy makes a deal for the boy to "admit" to the crimes.
This is supposed to guarantee that Andy will be incarcerated in the juvenile system for 8 years rather than being tried as an adult and risking life in prison without parole. When Andy refuses to "admit" to the shootings, this "misunderstanding" leads to the wrath of the prosecutor and judge, who think Amy tried to pull a fast one.
To help Amy out of the hole she dug herself Hardy says he'll act as second chair (co-attorney) during Andy's subsequent court hearings. Once involved in the case Hardy launches his own investigation, questioning witnesses and examining evidence in the author's usual satisfying style.
Meanwhile, Hardy's cop friend Abe Glitsky, now San Francisco's Deputy Chief of Investigations, is dealing with a bizarre string of serial murders around town.
I thought the early part of the book - dealing with Andy's admitting or not admitting - was too slow and drawn out. Past that part, though, the action picked up, the story got more intricate, and the intermingling of Hardy's and Glitsky's cases was deftly handled. Overall a very good mystery book, recommended to fans of the genre.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
May 29, 2025
Three stories for the price of one!
The first, and for my money, the least interesting of the three, is a straight-up police procedural hunt for a serial killer dubbed The Executioner. Well, yeah … what else would you call an apparently motiveless killer whose MO involves getting up close and personal with his victims before dispatching them at virtually point blank range with a silenced handgun? The plot execution (argh … forgive me!), while not as low as mundane or pedestrian, certainly never reaches gripping or compelling. Interesting and workmanlike is perhaps the best description.
The second story is a legal procedural which provides an in-depth description of the juvenile trial of a minor charged with a double murder. Interesting, informative and even occasionally heartwarming but, once again, it fails to clear the hurdle of becoming a page-turner or a gripping thriller. Some readers might describe this piece of THE SECOND CHAIR triad as compelling, but it would almost certainly be because of the high level of interest involved with the legal twists and turns of dealing with a minor defendant and the systemic differences between juvenile and adult arrest, court procedures, imprisonment and sentencing.
The third and final tale (and, IMO, the cream of the crop) is strictly a character-focused behaviour driven story. Abe Glitsky is now SFPD’s Deputy Chief of Investigations and Dismas Hardy is the managing partner of his law firm. Both are successful and have arguably reached the zenith of their successful careers as a result of a combination of skill, luck, management, focus and performance. So what’s the problem and why aren’t they happy? Blend in an up and coming, young female lawyer who seems hell bent on a path of failure and self-destruction because she is devastated by the loss of her father. Although the idea that job performance and success is not synonymous with happiness and satisfaction seems obvious, it makes for an interesting story when the resulting behaviours drive the day to day work in the resolution of the two procedural plot-lines.
THE SECOND CHAIR is not a novel that will leave readers breathless but I can still say the John Lescroart is a great go-to author for a relaxing, enjoyable read. You might not close the last page with a “Wow” on your lips but you’ll still have a satisfied smile. I’m a continuing fan and John Lescroart remains on my go-to reading list.
Paul Weiss
The first, and for my money, the least interesting of the three, is a straight-up police procedural hunt for a serial killer dubbed The Executioner. Well, yeah … what else would you call an apparently motiveless killer whose MO involves getting up close and personal with his victims before dispatching them at virtually point blank range with a silenced handgun? The plot execution (argh … forgive me!), while not as low as mundane or pedestrian, certainly never reaches gripping or compelling. Interesting and workmanlike is perhaps the best description.
The second story is a legal procedural which provides an in-depth description of the juvenile trial of a minor charged with a double murder. Interesting, informative and even occasionally heartwarming but, once again, it fails to clear the hurdle of becoming a page-turner or a gripping thriller. Some readers might describe this piece of THE SECOND CHAIR triad as compelling, but it would almost certainly be because of the high level of interest involved with the legal twists and turns of dealing with a minor defendant and the systemic differences between juvenile and adult arrest, court procedures, imprisonment and sentencing.
The third and final tale (and, IMO, the cream of the crop) is strictly a character-focused behaviour driven story. Abe Glitsky is now SFPD’s Deputy Chief of Investigations and Dismas Hardy is the managing partner of his law firm. Both are successful and have arguably reached the zenith of their successful careers as a result of a combination of skill, luck, management, focus and performance. So what’s the problem and why aren’t they happy? Blend in an up and coming, young female lawyer who seems hell bent on a path of failure and self-destruction because she is devastated by the loss of her father. Although the idea that job performance and success is not synonymous with happiness and satisfaction seems obvious, it makes for an interesting story when the resulting behaviours drive the day to day work in the resolution of the two procedural plot-lines.
THE SECOND CHAIR is not a novel that will leave readers breathless but I can still say the John Lescroart is a great go-to author for a relaxing, enjoyable read. You might not close the last page with a “Wow” on your lips but you’ll still have a satisfied smile. I’m a continuing fan and John Lescroart remains on my go-to reading list.
Paul Weiss
October 12, 2014
Lescroart’s The Second Chair is a cautionary tale against cynicism, assumption, and habit. The mystery fooled me slightly on a couple of levels. I thought I knew the murderer from early on, but I was close with no cigar. And, even when I was fairly certain about the murderer’s identify, I became caught up in the procedural aspects of searching for the murderer and lost sight of the ball, so to speak. So, I found the mystery to be very satisfying because even when my sleuthing aim was askew, the clues were both there and fair! This was no “throw in the bad guy with little or no introduction at the end.”
The Second Chair is a story about appearances. The high school drama teacher appears to having an affair with a student; the step-sister appears to be a model child; the suspect appears to be a spoiled rich kid; the initial attorney appears to be doing her job and providing the best strategy; the familiar protagonist (Dismas Hardy) and familiar supporting character (Abe Glitzky) appear to be successful; and the evidence against the defendant appears to be incontrovertible. Appearances, however, can be deceiving and that is true of at least some of the appearances listed above. If you really want to solve this mystery before the final revelation at the climax, you’ll need to keep asking yourself questions like, “Who is trustworthy and who is not?” and “Who is content and confident and who is not?”
The Second Chair is also a cautionary tale about becoming one’s own worst enemy. It warns against suspicion and warns against self-indulgence (several characters are engaged in massive pity-parties). I particularly liked the one Dismas encouraged his associate at the end of the case. The associate, the beautiful Ms. Wu, was beating herself up for all of the mistakes she had made during the case. Hardy said, “It could always be better, but you ought to recognize when it’s good enough, don’t you think?” (p. 428) That seems like sound advice for anyone.
I do have to fault Lescroart’s research on one point. Because of an issue where Southern Baptists have traditionally opposed much of society, the author decided to introduce a minor character as a Southern Baptist minister. Dismas catches the pastor at home relaxing without his clerical collar. Unfortunately, this doesn’t ring true because most Southern Baptist ministers never wear a clerical collar (the exceptions usually being those who serve as hospital chaplains). Secondly, he visits said pastor at the rectory. An official residence owned by a Baptist congregation would be known as a parsonage, not a rectory. Since, however, these are the first errors of fact to which I can definitively point to in a Lescroart novel, I think I’ll just chuckle and let it go with this brief mention. It didn’t ruin the book for me; it just surprised me.
To be honest, I didn’t have a lot of empathy for the defendant in The Second Chair and found myself rather annoyed with the main protagonist throughout much of the book. But as a person who believes in the idea of redemption, I was delighted with the possibilities for redemption introduced in this story. Once again, Lescroart shows how one can present the brutal, unfair realities of life without losing the perspective of hope. I really enjoy his writing.
The Second Chair is a story about appearances. The high school drama teacher appears to having an affair with a student; the step-sister appears to be a model child; the suspect appears to be a spoiled rich kid; the initial attorney appears to be doing her job and providing the best strategy; the familiar protagonist (Dismas Hardy) and familiar supporting character (Abe Glitzky) appear to be successful; and the evidence against the defendant appears to be incontrovertible. Appearances, however, can be deceiving and that is true of at least some of the appearances listed above. If you really want to solve this mystery before the final revelation at the climax, you’ll need to keep asking yourself questions like, “Who is trustworthy and who is not?” and “Who is content and confident and who is not?”
The Second Chair is also a cautionary tale about becoming one’s own worst enemy. It warns against suspicion and warns against self-indulgence (several characters are engaged in massive pity-parties). I particularly liked the one Dismas encouraged his associate at the end of the case. The associate, the beautiful Ms. Wu, was beating herself up for all of the mistakes she had made during the case. Hardy said, “It could always be better, but you ought to recognize when it’s good enough, don’t you think?” (p. 428) That seems like sound advice for anyone.
I do have to fault Lescroart’s research on one point. Because of an issue where Southern Baptists have traditionally opposed much of society, the author decided to introduce a minor character as a Southern Baptist minister. Dismas catches the pastor at home relaxing without his clerical collar. Unfortunately, this doesn’t ring true because most Southern Baptist ministers never wear a clerical collar (the exceptions usually being those who serve as hospital chaplains). Secondly, he visits said pastor at the rectory. An official residence owned by a Baptist congregation would be known as a parsonage, not a rectory. Since, however, these are the first errors of fact to which I can definitively point to in a Lescroart novel, I think I’ll just chuckle and let it go with this brief mention. It didn’t ruin the book for me; it just surprised me.
To be honest, I didn’t have a lot of empathy for the defendant in The Second Chair and found myself rather annoyed with the main protagonist throughout much of the book. But as a person who believes in the idea of redemption, I was delighted with the possibilities for redemption introduced in this story. Once again, Lescroart shows how one can present the brutal, unfair realities of life without losing the perspective of hope. I really enjoy his writing.
October 19, 2018
Mein 14. und letzter Lescroart ein gutes Buch zum Abschied, im Vergleich zu den letzten beiden Krampen des Meisters des politisch korrekten Thrillers wären sogar fünf Sterne angebracht,aber nach einer verheißungsvollen ersten Hälfte, verfällt L wieder in alte Schwächen. Konnte der Autor in früheren Büchern schon kein gutes Haar an den Bösewichtern lassen, so unterliefen ihm dieses mal gewaltige literarische Verfahrensfehler in Sachen Gerechtigkeit des Racheanspruchs.
Dabei begann des Buch wirklich gut: Die junge Anwältin Amy Wu (Halb schwarz/halb chinesisch) ist so in ihrer Strafverteidiger- und Abfreier-, Aufrissroutine befangen, dass sie erst gar keinen Gedanken an die Unschuld ihres 17jährigen Mandanten verschwendet, sondern acht Jahre im Jugendknast für eine Sonderangebot in Sachen Doppelmord hält. Doch vor Gericht beharrt ihr Klient dummerweise aufs seiner Unschuld und sie bekommt einen Riesenanschiss vom Chef-Staatsabwalt für falsche Versprechungen. Als die Dame sturzbesoffen mit der jüngsten Eroberung zum Parkplatz des Justizgebäudes taumelt, stolpert sie über die Leiche des vorhin noch so vergrätzten Oberjuristen.
in dieser Phase kommt Hauptheld Diz Hardy ins Spiel.
Bei der Aufklärung des Cold Case als eigentlichem Auslöser der scheinbar zufälligen Mordserie in San Francisco lässt Lescroart die Zügel ganz arg schleifen und verfällt in seine übliche Routine: nur kein gutes Haar an den Schurken der Geschichte zu lassen. Dabei geht es dieses mal nicht um einen grundgierigen Klinikchef, der seine Patienten als Versuchskaninchen benutzt oder einen Medienzaren, der sämtliche Instanzen gnadenlos niederknüppelt, die sein Lustmörder-Söhnchen aus dem Verkehr ziehen wollen. Für mich jedenfalls wäre der Urmord und der Beweis der Unschuld eines für Gattenmord verurteilten Mannes viel interessanter gewesen als die schon fünfhundert mal aufgewärmten Geschichten über Hardys gusseiserne Pfanne in der auch noch die allerletzte Resteverwertung zur Delikatesse gerät oder jedes Verhocken der üblichen Verdächtigen bei Lou dem Griechen bzw. Amy Wus und ihres Widersacher-Märchenprinzen von der Staatsanwaltschaft am Tresen des teuren Szene-Lokals.
Während der ersten Hälfte war ich glatt in Versuchung mir noch mal die fünf besten Fälle anzutun, aber es ist wohl an der Zeit, Tschüss zu Diz Hardy, seiner Frannie, Abe Glitzky, Wes Farrell und Amy Wu zu sagen und auf neue Freunde für die Serienhelden bei booklooker zu hoffen.
Dabei begann des Buch wirklich gut: Die junge Anwältin Amy Wu (Halb schwarz/halb chinesisch) ist so in ihrer Strafverteidiger- und Abfreier-, Aufrissroutine befangen, dass sie erst gar keinen Gedanken an die Unschuld ihres 17jährigen Mandanten verschwendet, sondern acht Jahre im Jugendknast für eine Sonderangebot in Sachen Doppelmord hält. Doch vor Gericht beharrt ihr Klient dummerweise aufs seiner Unschuld und sie bekommt einen Riesenanschiss vom Chef-Staatsabwalt für falsche Versprechungen. Als die Dame sturzbesoffen mit der jüngsten Eroberung zum Parkplatz des Justizgebäudes taumelt, stolpert sie über die Leiche des vorhin noch so vergrätzten Oberjuristen.
in dieser Phase kommt Hauptheld Diz Hardy ins Spiel.
Bei der Aufklärung des Cold Case als eigentlichem Auslöser der scheinbar zufälligen Mordserie in San Francisco lässt Lescroart die Zügel ganz arg schleifen und verfällt in seine übliche Routine: nur kein gutes Haar an den Schurken der Geschichte zu lassen. Dabei geht es dieses mal nicht um einen grundgierigen Klinikchef, der seine Patienten als Versuchskaninchen benutzt oder einen Medienzaren, der sämtliche Instanzen gnadenlos niederknüppelt, die sein Lustmörder-Söhnchen aus dem Verkehr ziehen wollen. Für mich jedenfalls wäre der Urmord und der Beweis der Unschuld eines für Gattenmord verurteilten Mannes viel interessanter gewesen als die schon fünfhundert mal aufgewärmten Geschichten über Hardys gusseiserne Pfanne in der auch noch die allerletzte Resteverwertung zur Delikatesse gerät oder jedes Verhocken der üblichen Verdächtigen bei Lou dem Griechen bzw. Amy Wus und ihres Widersacher-Märchenprinzen von der Staatsanwaltschaft am Tresen des teuren Szene-Lokals.
Während der ersten Hälfte war ich glatt in Versuchung mir noch mal die fünf besten Fälle anzutun, aber es ist wohl an der Zeit, Tschüss zu Diz Hardy, seiner Frannie, Abe Glitzky, Wes Farrell und Amy Wu zu sagen und auf neue Freunde für die Serienhelden bei booklooker zu hoffen.
April 17, 2018
Really like this author and this series. I saw the author speak last week at my library, and it was a lot of fun. Someone asked him who he reads, and he said CJ Box.fwiw. I just started one of his books as well.
March 4, 2017
3.5 stars
Liked it well enough to listen without being tempted to set it aside even though I didn't find Wu a likeable character. No real heart-stopping suspense or tension but a slow, steady burn throughout.
Liked it well enough to listen without being tempted to set it aside even though I didn't find Wu a likeable character. No real heart-stopping suspense or tension but a slow, steady burn throughout.
April 28, 2020
Lescroart is such a skilled writer. I've never read a book written by him and come away from that with feelings of disappointment. And the plot twist and the end was soooo delicious. If not for the coronavirus I might've licked my fingers!!😁😁😁
Buy it, read it and enjoy!-👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥
Buy it, read it and enjoy!-👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥
July 28, 2016
Dismas Hardy returns for the tenth time in author John Lescroart's, "The Second Chair". However the primary protagonist in this novel was one of Hardy's associates, Amy Wu. Wu has had recently lost her father and is struggling with keeping it together at the office. Hardy highly respects Wu and is patient giving her time to up her game. Wu's billables are not where they need to be for Hardy's firm. Amy picks up the case of 17 year old Andrew Bartlett who's accused of a double murder. Bartlett is currently housed in the Youth Authority lockup. Amy's plan is to accept the deal from the ADA, and plead guilty in juvenile court which would sentence Andrew to eight years. With plea Andrew would be released at age 25. The problem is everyone is on board with this plan, (even the judge), except Andrew. Andrew insists he's innocent. At the plea hearing Andrew has a melt down as he doesn't want to serve eight years for a crime he did not commit. With the judge and ADA in an uproar, Amy is forced to plan for a 707 hearing. The 707 hearing almost for sure would push case to adult court and Andrew would go to adult prison. After Amy reports back to Hardy on this situation, it's obvious she's made a mess of things. Hardy is forced to join defense as second chair (And at no charge). Meanwhile Abe Glitsky in his new position as Deputy Chief, has the city in an pickle while a serial killer runs loose. "The Executioner", leaves no clues, no forensics, as he kills silently. In a wonderful back and forth plot, "The Second Chair", seems to read as two novels at the same time. Master story teller John Lescroart weaves a tangled web of suspense back and forth with thick intensity. The primary characters as with all of Lescroart's books dominate, and are the cement that makes this plot solid. Several unique twists with the supporting characters help increase the enjoyment of the story exponentially. At over 590 pages I felt the book ran a bit too long. Most of the ending chapters were pretty much throw aways. However, this is an exceptional read. It had a pretty good pace and at times pages flew very quickly. I'm going with four stars out of a possible five stars for, "The Second Chair". Dismas Hardy fans will like it, and any john Lescroart fans shouldn't miss it.
July 31, 2016
I really enjoy all of John Lescroart's books, especially the ones with Dismas Hardy and Abe Glitsky. Glitsky has about the driest sense of humor I know of; many would say he has none at all, so he's a good straight man for Hardy's jokes and pranks, which are fairly constant.
This book, like most of them, starts off with some poor, undeserving soul getting into deep trouble, where things look very bleak to impossible. Sometimes Hardy's clients are so apparently guilty that even his friend Glitsky won't believe that he's not simply trying to get a guilty client off. In this story, the client is a 17 year old boy charged with a double homicide. He's been carrying a gun around for weeks, he was writing a book that described the crime almost exactly, etc. He's looking at life without parole, and facing a best case of 8 years incarceration. Even his lawyer is sure he's guilty. Sad, but no problem - Dismas Hardy comes to the rescue, as usual.
This book, like most of them, starts off with some poor, undeserving soul getting into deep trouble, where things look very bleak to impossible. Sometimes Hardy's clients are so apparently guilty that even his friend Glitsky won't believe that he's not simply trying to get a guilty client off. In this story, the client is a 17 year old boy charged with a double homicide. He's been carrying a gun around for weeks, he was writing a book that described the crime almost exactly, etc. He's looking at life without parole, and facing a best case of 8 years incarceration. Even his lawyer is sure he's guilty. Sad, but no problem - Dismas Hardy comes to the rescue, as usual.
February 16, 2009
I have read several of the Dismas Hardy---Abe Glitsky novels set in San Francisco. I enjoy the series immensely.
First, the two main characters, Disman Hardy and Abe Glitsky are well well written. They grow and change in the various novels so re4ading them in order if possible is a good idea. Though you can read them out of order and still enjoy them.
Besides a good strong pair of lead characters. John Lescroart always give you good legal thriller. The books are fast paced and fairly realistic. One thing Lescroart is really good at is showing other things that affect the law---namely politics and mdia pressure and so on.
Like any series some are of course better than others, but I've never yet been disappointed in this series. Please treat yourself if you have not read any and try one!
First, the two main characters, Disman Hardy and Abe Glitsky are well well written. They grow and change in the various novels so re4ading them in order if possible is a good idea. Though you can read them out of order and still enjoy them.
Besides a good strong pair of lead characters. John Lescroart always give you good legal thriller. The books are fast paced and fairly realistic. One thing Lescroart is really good at is showing other things that affect the law---namely politics and mdia pressure and so on.
Like any series some are of course better than others, but I've never yet been disappointed in this series. Please treat yourself if you have not read any and try one!
November 11, 2010
This was a garage sale find that I had put on a shelf and forgotten until a bout of illness had me looking for a lively mystery. I liked this book. I thought the plot line was rich and I thought it sufficiently had suspense and some humor throughout and kept my attention. My only issue was I honestly wasn't a huge fan of the protagonist, Amy Wu, which surprised me. (Not a spoiler).. in the beginning she is grieving over the loss of her father and I felt bad for her, but the way she acted through the novel, I couldn't really get on board with her character and didn't find myself really cheering for her. The boss - Dismas Hardy, now he I adored. In fact, would love to see more books with HIM in it, plus that's a pretty great name. A nice read. Enjoyed it.
February 10, 2008
A good legal thriller with a surprise twist at the end. I enjoy reading Lescroart's legal thrillers which often include the Dismas Hardy character. Wonder why he hasn't gotten the same press as John Grisham -- they're in the same league as far as I'm concerned.
July 9, 2019
This is the kind of legal thriller that I love...a double murder with a juvenile suspect, lawyers, court, police, a serial killer on the loose, evidence to be examined and re-examined - and two of my favorite characters in Lescroart's novels: Dismas Hardy and Abe Glitsky.
So the 17 year old juvenile is being represented by a young female attorney who has not had any experience with murder trials. BUT if she can convince the young kid to plead guilty as a juvenile, there is no trial and his exposure is limited to a short sentence. On the other hand, if he does not plead guilty, he will be tried as an adult and risks LWOP - life without parole. This is a weighty issue and that alone would be worth reading the book.
But then there is the evidence and the witnesses and the victims, all of which add to the suspense. On the side there is an apparent serial killer running loose nicknamed the Executioner because of his style of killing his victims. And Dismas and Abe are up to their old tricks playing practical jokes on one another while trying to solve these difficult life and death dilemmas.
My only problem when I find these gems is the prospect that I may have already read them! Nevertheless, I run the risk and jump right in. And I had NOT read this one previously and it was great.
So the 17 year old juvenile is being represented by a young female attorney who has not had any experience with murder trials. BUT if she can convince the young kid to plead guilty as a juvenile, there is no trial and his exposure is limited to a short sentence. On the other hand, if he does not plead guilty, he will be tried as an adult and risks LWOP - life without parole. This is a weighty issue and that alone would be worth reading the book.
But then there is the evidence and the witnesses and the victims, all of which add to the suspense. On the side there is an apparent serial killer running loose nicknamed the Executioner because of his style of killing his victims. And Dismas and Abe are up to their old tricks playing practical jokes on one another while trying to solve these difficult life and death dilemmas.
My only problem when I find these gems is the prospect that I may have already read them! Nevertheless, I run the risk and jump right in. And I had NOT read this one previously and it was great.
January 18, 2022
This was my least favourite book in the series in a while (I'm reading them sequentially), mainly because the real killer was pretty obvious the entire time. However, I still enjoyed it, and I'm thoroughly immersed in the series now.
December 16, 2024
Read years ago
November 23, 2019
Colacci is back as narrator, but listening now I realize that the voices aren't yet as developed as they are in later titles.
March 16, 2022
Wow this book was a long read with so many different things going on but primarily wu lost her father and fell into someone that wasn't giving it all or the benifit of a doubt. When her client a 17 yr old boy was charged with a double homicide everyone didn't believe the kid when he said he was innocent. Wu suffered some blame from herself but when the time for forgiveness almost was too late
June 25, 2020
What happens when a lawyer automatically assumes her client is guilty? What happens when you try to get your client to plead guilty to something he says he did not do? Amy Wu, an associate of Dismis Hardy is about t o find out!
First, Wu will feel the reprimand when Hardy decides to take second chair to try to get the seventeen year old defendant tried as a juvenile in a double homicide.
But, Dismis is stunned when his friend Abe Glitsky declares that a rash of murders attributed to 'the executioner' may be linked to the murders young Bartlett is charged with.
Glitsky's strange idea grabs Hardy and now they are both running hard, trying to stop more murders and free Bartlett. But, will they be in time to save Wu?
First, Wu will feel the reprimand when Hardy decides to take second chair to try to get the seventeen year old defendant tried as a juvenile in a double homicide.
But, Dismis is stunned when his friend Abe Glitsky declares that a rash of murders attributed to 'the executioner' may be linked to the murders young Bartlett is charged with.
Glitsky's strange idea grabs Hardy and now they are both running hard, trying to stop more murders and free Bartlett. But, will they be in time to save Wu?
August 9, 2020
One of the best legal thrillers I have read. The weekend was so interesting because of the book.
Dismas Hardy and his law firm attempt to save a 17 years old boy accused of a double murder of his girlfriend and their drama teacher. The story delves into the juvenile legal system and it is really enlightening. The psychology of children of dysfunctional families is another aspect well analysed.
Abe Glitsky the police deputy chief is a lovable person as usual, running an investigation into random murders of the City. He is the best friend of Hardy and both are recovering from the trauma of previous joint investigations.
The climax and the ending are really unexpected.
I must read all written by this author.
Dismas Hardy and his law firm attempt to save a 17 years old boy accused of a double murder of his girlfriend and their drama teacher. The story delves into the juvenile legal system and it is really enlightening. The psychology of children of dysfunctional families is another aspect well analysed.
Abe Glitsky the police deputy chief is a lovable person as usual, running an investigation into random murders of the City. He is the best friend of Hardy and both are recovering from the trauma of previous joint investigations.
The climax and the ending are really unexpected.
I must read all written by this author.
July 7, 2012
This is good, legal fiction with enduring characters. But the story starts out in tedious fashion, with a character we don't know and with few likeable qualities. Dismas is still mourning David, and behaves out of character for the first part of the book. When he realizes that his associate is about to condone a grave misjustice, he pulls his head out of the sand and becomes the Hardy we know and love.
The book covers the juvenile justice system at length, and becomes tedious in places. I'm not sure if Lescroat wants to shock us or impress us with his knowledge.
The info on this book says it is 624 pages. The paperback version I read is just 456 pages.
The book covers the juvenile justice system at length, and becomes tedious in places. I'm not sure if Lescroat wants to shock us or impress us with his knowledge.
The info on this book says it is 624 pages. The paperback version I read is just 456 pages.
January 20, 2022
Intriguing, involved, inventive, and generally well written, "The Second Chair" has several layers and levels. Author John Lescroart does write interestingly and well, but he needs a better copy-editor: "Neither" requires a singular verb, for example.
But Lescroart's large cast of characters earns a reader's attention, as do his plots and storylines.
His books do gently point out how corrupt and degenerate San Francisco is, without beating readers about our heads, without overly stressing the point.
Author Lescroart is, in fact, one of the best writers around today.
But Lescroart's large cast of characters earns a reader's attention, as do his plots and storylines.
His books do gently point out how corrupt and degenerate San Francisco is, without beating readers about our heads, without overly stressing the point.
Author Lescroart is, in fact, one of the best writers around today.
July 10, 2017
Continuing my travels through the Dismas Hardy series. This one was pretty good, with a couple of plot twists to keep things interesting. I won't go into it.
I am from the Bay Area/Peninsula, and I really like/appreciate the accuracy of Lescroart's settings--things he mentions are really there, and in this book he took a trip down to Redwood City and everything he includes is accurate. It makes me feel a little more connected somehow.
Recommend the series. On to the next one!
I am from the Bay Area/Peninsula, and I really like/appreciate the accuracy of Lescroart's settings--things he mentions are really there, and in this book he took a trip down to Redwood City and everything he includes is accurate. It makes me feel a little more connected somehow.
Recommend the series. On to the next one!
March 3, 2013
Ok, I'm officially a Dismas Hardy fan! And Abe Glitsky too. Though Amy Wu and Jason Brandt, not so much. Great book...justice prevails and there are good guys for law enforcement and the defense working together. Gotta love that...
March 13, 2016
quite good story. attorney dismas Hardy and jid young associate defend a 17 year old accused of a double murder. It takes a great deal of investigation and stick-to-itiveness to reach an acceptable conclusion.
October 17, 2017
AUTHOR: JOHN LESCROART...
CHARACTERS: Dismas Hardy, Amy wu, Abe Glitsky, Andrew. Bartlett, Hal North, Linda North,Ray Cottrell, Micheal Mooney, Laura Wright, Jason Brandt,Clearance Jackman, and others...
LOCATION: SAN FRANCISCO ((USA))
GENRE: THRILLER...
PLOT:
Andrew Bartlett, stepson of prominent business owner Hall North, was arrested for murdering his girl friend Laura Wright and her teacher Micheal Mooney at later's residence. As per police reports,jealousy is the motive for murder, Andrew Barlett jealous of Laura's crush on the teacher. Since Andrew is seventeen year old minor, he has been placed at the juvenile detention facility named YGC ((Youth guidance center)) until further hearing . Everything,starting from line up identification by the neighbors , his step father's gun found at the scene of crime, his aloof nature, and his treatment for anger managment is enough for the police for framing him as the prime suspect in the homicide.
Andrew is represented by Dismas Hardy's associate Amy wu as the defence lawyer in this case. Amy,- in spite of the best defence she is going to give for her client- personally feels that this is an open and shut case and there is nothing left for her to defend Andrew. She meets Andrew's parents with a plan, to keep Andrew in the juvenile system, not to let prosecution to try him as an adult. If Andrew goes as an adult, life imprisonment without parole is in the play. If he goes as a juvenile, the wrost case is he is in coustody at the youth farm - which is way better than state prison- for just eight years, until he turns twenty five.Then he is free with his whole life in front of him. To have any chance of convincing the District Attorney, Andrew has to admit the crime by pleading guilty at the juvenile court.
Amy wu, and Andrew's parents meets him at the detention center and tries to convince Andrew to plead guilty, accept eight years custody, and walk free when he turns twenty five years of age. In spite of Amy's continuous meetings and pleadings, Andrew refuses to admit the crime, by stating that,when Mooney and Laura were murdered, he actually walked away from Mooney's apartment to a calm place where he can easily by heart the dialogues for the forthcoming school drama. At the time of hearing Andrew -in spite of Amy's request- openly declares before the judge that he is innocent and ready face the trial as adult.
Although he apears to have reached the top, Dismas Hardy, the rainmaker and managing partner of the thriving San Francisco law firm, has lost his faith in the justice system. When Amy wu, his associate failes in her plan to keep Andrew in the juvenile detention center, he decides to sit SECOND CHAIR in defending Andrew. At the same time Hardy's friend Abe Glitsky, has just been promoted to the deputy chief of the Investigation Bureau,and has trouble of his own in handling sensitive issues.
Hardy, after deciding to help Amy, by second sitting in Andrew's case, starts his own investigations secretly. Interviews with Andrew's friends, Mooney's father, his two divorced wives ,helps him to find that Mooney served as a juror in an homicide case., Andrew's friends mention him as a kind hearted person who can't think of murdering his classmate. While interviewing Mooney's neighbour, a Mrs.Salarco ,at her residence, Hardy discovers that she is having confusions about the identity of Andrew at the scene of crime, since she can't see clearly the hooded man running away from the house from the second floor of her house.
Six locals... Elizabeth Cary, Montrose,Wong,Tollman , Shui Takahashi and prosecutor Allan Boscacci were murdered by a serial killer nick named as "The Executioner " by the task force set up by Abe Glitsky for finding the murderer. These victims were all killed by a silencer attached hand gun, since no gun shots were heard by the neighbours.
After searching the old case records in the archives, Abe Glitsky finds that all the dead victims including Mooney served as Jurors in a homicide case, which sent Welding Lucas, accused for murdering his wife ,to life imprisonment. His son appealed against this verdict and at the end Lucas Welding was proved as an innocent man. Before he got cleared and released from prison, cancer claimed him and he was dead in the prison itself.
His son Ray Corttel, started avenging the jurors for wrongly convicting his innocent father, by murdering all of them at frequent intervels. Since Mooney was also served as a juror, Ray killed him at his residence, when Mooney,Laura and Andrew were practising dialogs for school drama. Ray killed Laura because he wanted to leave no evidence for his cruelty. Ray confessed this to Amy wu, when he came to kill her at her apartment, for wrongly convicting Andrew for the crime he did not commit, like his father. Hardy, Glitsky arriving at the correct time arrests Ray Corettel and sends him to prison,. Andrew walks free with his parents.
MY COMMENT...
Navigating San Francisco's halls of justice, author Lescroart conveys with authority the dynamics of big city law and how it's inextricability linked with big politics.
THE SECOND CHAIR.....GOOD TIME PASS
CHARACTERS: Dismas Hardy, Amy wu, Abe Glitsky, Andrew. Bartlett, Hal North, Linda North,Ray Cottrell, Micheal Mooney, Laura Wright, Jason Brandt,Clearance Jackman, and others...
LOCATION: SAN FRANCISCO ((USA))
GENRE: THRILLER...
PLOT:
Andrew Bartlett, stepson of prominent business owner Hall North, was arrested for murdering his girl friend Laura Wright and her teacher Micheal Mooney at later's residence. As per police reports,jealousy is the motive for murder, Andrew Barlett jealous of Laura's crush on the teacher. Since Andrew is seventeen year old minor, he has been placed at the juvenile detention facility named YGC ((Youth guidance center)) until further hearing . Everything,starting from line up identification by the neighbors , his step father's gun found at the scene of crime, his aloof nature, and his treatment for anger managment is enough for the police for framing him as the prime suspect in the homicide.
Andrew is represented by Dismas Hardy's associate Amy wu as the defence lawyer in this case. Amy,- in spite of the best defence she is going to give for her client- personally feels that this is an open and shut case and there is nothing left for her to defend Andrew. She meets Andrew's parents with a plan, to keep Andrew in the juvenile system, not to let prosecution to try him as an adult. If Andrew goes as an adult, life imprisonment without parole is in the play. If he goes as a juvenile, the wrost case is he is in coustody at the youth farm - which is way better than state prison- for just eight years, until he turns twenty five.Then he is free with his whole life in front of him. To have any chance of convincing the District Attorney, Andrew has to admit the crime by pleading guilty at the juvenile court.
Amy wu, and Andrew's parents meets him at the detention center and tries to convince Andrew to plead guilty, accept eight years custody, and walk free when he turns twenty five years of age. In spite of Amy's continuous meetings and pleadings, Andrew refuses to admit the crime, by stating that,when Mooney and Laura were murdered, he actually walked away from Mooney's apartment to a calm place where he can easily by heart the dialogues for the forthcoming school drama. At the time of hearing Andrew -in spite of Amy's request- openly declares before the judge that he is innocent and ready face the trial as adult.
Although he apears to have reached the top, Dismas Hardy, the rainmaker and managing partner of the thriving San Francisco law firm, has lost his faith in the justice system. When Amy wu, his associate failes in her plan to keep Andrew in the juvenile detention center, he decides to sit SECOND CHAIR in defending Andrew. At the same time Hardy's friend Abe Glitsky, has just been promoted to the deputy chief of the Investigation Bureau,and has trouble of his own in handling sensitive issues.
Hardy, after deciding to help Amy, by second sitting in Andrew's case, starts his own investigations secretly. Interviews with Andrew's friends, Mooney's father, his two divorced wives ,helps him to find that Mooney served as a juror in an homicide case., Andrew's friends mention him as a kind hearted person who can't think of murdering his classmate. While interviewing Mooney's neighbour, a Mrs.Salarco ,at her residence, Hardy discovers that she is having confusions about the identity of Andrew at the scene of crime, since she can't see clearly the hooded man running away from the house from the second floor of her house.
Six locals... Elizabeth Cary, Montrose,Wong,Tollman , Shui Takahashi and prosecutor Allan Boscacci were murdered by a serial killer nick named as "The Executioner " by the task force set up by Abe Glitsky for finding the murderer. These victims were all killed by a silencer attached hand gun, since no gun shots were heard by the neighbours.
After searching the old case records in the archives, Abe Glitsky finds that all the dead victims including Mooney served as Jurors in a homicide case, which sent Welding Lucas, accused for murdering his wife ,to life imprisonment. His son appealed against this verdict and at the end Lucas Welding was proved as an innocent man. Before he got cleared and released from prison, cancer claimed him and he was dead in the prison itself.
His son Ray Corttel, started avenging the jurors for wrongly convicting his innocent father, by murdering all of them at frequent intervels. Since Mooney was also served as a juror, Ray killed him at his residence, when Mooney,Laura and Andrew were practising dialogs for school drama. Ray killed Laura because he wanted to leave no evidence for his cruelty. Ray confessed this to Amy wu, when he came to kill her at her apartment, for wrongly convicting Andrew for the crime he did not commit, like his father. Hardy, Glitsky arriving at the correct time arrests Ray Corettel and sends him to prison,. Andrew walks free with his parents.
MY COMMENT...
Navigating San Francisco's halls of justice, author Lescroart conveys with authority the dynamics of big city law and how it's inextricability linked with big politics.
THE SECOND CHAIR.....GOOD TIME PASS
June 7, 2009
Parts of the book were a bit slow moving, but alltogether a nice courtroom thriller.
May 16, 2015
Great book
August 11, 2025
I started this book August 9. The date of the top is the date I ordered it from my desk. This book was well worth waiting for really really good. I enjoyed tremendously.. at one point however, I had a little upset when one of the lawyers made a grammatical error. The error was in a sentence that had two clauses and the second clause where it was an object of the verb he said Joe and I instead of Joe and me you, I know that lawyers are well trained to speak correctly and to be very precise in their language. I wish all publishers would edit every every time a the word I is used inappropriately and conversely, the word me is used inappropriately the results of not knowing how to handle pronouns ends up in stupid things. Such as I gave presents to John and Marcie. I gave one to him and one to see, which is totally incorrect it to him and her or better yet to them anyway enough grammar and pronouns it bothered me so much that I have a YouTube called Linda’s grammar hammer which deals mainly with pronouns if I ever get enough readers or to this thing, I will then add on more because there is so much more. I have a feeling that we are not teaching grammar anymore in the public schools probably stop at sixth grade and then it’s totally ignored, except with their writing, essays and essays generally don’t call for a lot of pronouns. Anyway, to say what I’ve said before please excuse all errors in writing I can no longer see well enough to correct what I dictate, but also goes with. That is take care of your eyes. See your eye doctor at least at least once a year and wear a hat to keep the sun out of your eyes
April 18, 2020
In this Dismas Hardy legal thriller, Dismas and his young associate, Amy Wu star in a perplexing case. Andrew Bartlett, the 17-year-old son of a prominent family, has been arrested for the murder of his girl friend and his English teacher. The case seems open and shut. A revolver is found on the table at the scene, the revolver Andrew took from his father and has been lugging around.
In the background, Hardy’s friend in the police force, Glitsky, is dealing with a spate of murder in San Francisco.
Along with a number of books I’ve been reading lately, the book gets bogged down in the minutia of what people wear, what rooms look like, which street they are driving on, and which pub they attend.
It’s almost as if writers today have reverted to a Victorian style of writing. During this pandemic with libraries close, how I long for a suspense or mystery novel that moves, where I can’t stop reading rather than having to force myself to read. I did again with this one what I’ve never done, skipped to the end.
In the background, Hardy’s friend in the police force, Glitsky, is dealing with a spate of murder in San Francisco.
Along with a number of books I’ve been reading lately, the book gets bogged down in the minutia of what people wear, what rooms look like, which street they are driving on, and which pub they attend.
It’s almost as if writers today have reverted to a Victorian style of writing. During this pandemic with libraries close, how I long for a suspense or mystery novel that moves, where I can’t stop reading rather than having to force myself to read. I did again with this one what I’ve never done, skipped to the end.
August 14, 2024
4.5 I have never read any of Lescroart's books but I'm now a fan. I don't seek out "lawyer" books but this was given to me and even though the copyright is old (2004), it was an excellent book. I would have given it FIVE STARS except for ONE character and I can't figure out his point in making her the way she was - it added nothing to the story and honestly took away from it from my standpoint b/c it, like so many books, puts the promiscuous female in the novel in a bad light!!
AND in this case, unless I missed something, it was totally unneeded information. Yes, she was tired in the mornings but maybe she just worked into the wee hours as do so many lawyers. And he made her out to be basically, a drunk whore- who didn't get paid for her nighttime activities!! THEN she starts sleeping with the DA - a BIG no-no but they were drunk. Maybe they should both get tested for STDs!!
Having said all that - I will seek out more books by Lescroart.
AND in this case, unless I missed something, it was totally unneeded information. Yes, she was tired in the mornings but maybe she just worked into the wee hours as do so many lawyers. And he made her out to be basically, a drunk whore- who didn't get paid for her nighttime activities!! THEN she starts sleeping with the DA - a BIG no-no but they were drunk. Maybe they should both get tested for STDs!!
Having said all that - I will seek out more books by Lescroart.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 218 reviews