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Dismas Hardy #17
Poison
From the “master of the legal thriller” (Chicago Sun-Times) John Lescroart comes a dramatic family drama in which attorney Dismas Hardy is called on to defend a former client against the accusation of murder.
Dismas Hardy is looking forward to cutting back his work hours and easing into retirement after recovering from two gunshot wounds. He is determined to spend more time with his family and even reconnect with his distant son, Vincent. But Dismas just can’t stay away from the courtroom for long and soon he is pulled into an intense family drama with fatal consequences.
Grant Carver, the vigorous patriarch of the Carver family and its four-generations owned family business, has been murdered. His bookkeeper Abby Jarvis, whom Hardy had defended on a DUI charge eleven years prior, is the prime suspect after police discover she’s been embezzling funds from the company—but she insists she did not kill her boss.
As he prepares to defend her, Dismas investigates the Carver clan and discovers the dark, twisted secrets within the family. It seems that Abby was not the only one who stood to profit from the company’s $25 million dollar market value. From jealous children to gold-digging girlfriends, Dismas has his work cut out for him in sifting through mud flinging, backstabbing, and accusations of blackmail.
But Dismas not only has to save his client’s life but his own, as it soon becomes clear that someone has a painted a target on his back, too. With Lescroart’s signature “smart, riveting, and utterly compelling” (Brad Thor, #1 New York Times bestselling author) prose, this whip smart and nail-bitingly suspenseful thriller will keep you guessing until the very last page.
Dismas Hardy is looking forward to cutting back his work hours and easing into retirement after recovering from two gunshot wounds. He is determined to spend more time with his family and even reconnect with his distant son, Vincent. But Dismas just can’t stay away from the courtroom for long and soon he is pulled into an intense family drama with fatal consequences.
Grant Carver, the vigorous patriarch of the Carver family and its four-generations owned family business, has been murdered. His bookkeeper Abby Jarvis, whom Hardy had defended on a DUI charge eleven years prior, is the prime suspect after police discover she’s been embezzling funds from the company—but she insists she did not kill her boss.
As he prepares to defend her, Dismas investigates the Carver clan and discovers the dark, twisted secrets within the family. It seems that Abby was not the only one who stood to profit from the company’s $25 million dollar market value. From jealous children to gold-digging girlfriends, Dismas has his work cut out for him in sifting through mud flinging, backstabbing, and accusations of blackmail.
But Dismas not only has to save his client’s life but his own, as it soon becomes clear that someone has a painted a target on his back, too. With Lescroart’s signature “smart, riveting, and utterly compelling” (Brad Thor, #1 New York Times bestselling author) prose, this whip smart and nail-bitingly suspenseful thriller will keep you guessing until the very last page.
10 pages, Audio CD
First published February 13, 2018
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About the author
John Lescroart
141 books1,300 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 371 reviews
September 25, 2019
This is a fairly decent entry in John Lescroart's long-running series featuring San Francisco defense attorney Dismas Hardy and the cast of characters that has grown up around him through the years. Hardy has aged through the books, and is recovering from a couple of gunshot wounds that he suffered on his last case. He's contemplating retirement but then a former client, Abby Jarvis, is charged with poisoning her boss, Grant Wagner, the owner of a successful family business. Dismas feels compelled to take Abby's case, at least initially, even though the cops and the D.A. seem to think that they have an iron-clad case against her.
The early books in this series are among my favorite legal thrillers of all. They are smart, witty, and hugely suspenseful. This book, though, is much more of a police procedural and there are relatively few courtroom scenes. The plot at once seems both thin and convoluted and didn't have the sense of urgency that so many of the earlier books did. And, I confess, I'm growing a bit tired of Hardy's children who are now young adults and who seem to keep blundering into these novels in ways that don't make a lot of sense to me. Hardy's wife, Frannie, is also something of a pain in this outing.
Hardy will persevere and attempt to sort through all the complicated issues that this case presents, while at the same time attempting to deal with the family drama that results. I enjoyed the book, but couldn't help comparing it to the earlier books in the series that got my blood pumping a lot more than this one did.
The early books in this series are among my favorite legal thrillers of all. They are smart, witty, and hugely suspenseful. This book, though, is much more of a police procedural and there are relatively few courtroom scenes. The plot at once seems both thin and convoluted and didn't have the sense of urgency that so many of the earlier books did. And, I confess, I'm growing a bit tired of Hardy's children who are now young adults and who seem to keep blundering into these novels in ways that don't make a lot of sense to me. Hardy's wife, Frannie, is also something of a pain in this outing.
Hardy will persevere and attempt to sort through all the complicated issues that this case presents, while at the same time attempting to deal with the family drama that results. I enjoyed the book, but couldn't help comparing it to the earlier books in the series that got my blood pumping a lot more than this one did.
February 25, 2018
3.5 stars.
The solution to my 2018 fiction slump may be to not aim too high. So I decided to read Poison, which is #17 in a series by an author I have never read. Low expectations can sometimes be rewarding. Poison was not profound or mind blowingly clever. But it felt like the comfort food of a very solid police procedural.
Dismas Hardy is a recognizable aging criminal defence lawyer who reluctantly takes on the case of a young woman who swears she is innocent in the murder of her boss who runs a successful family owned business. In parallel, a couple of seasoned police officers are investigating the seemingly unrelated murder of a young high tech industry millennial. I will say nothing more to avoid spoilers.
As in all good mysteries, there is a good balance between focus on the plot and focus on the lives of the recurring characters. And in this case, jumping in at #17 was not a problem.
I enjoyed it while it lasted. I suspect I won’t remember much of the plot. But I would definitely pick up another book in the series if I was looking for light entertainment.
Now I go back to my quest for fiction that knocks my socks off...
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.
The solution to my 2018 fiction slump may be to not aim too high. So I decided to read Poison, which is #17 in a series by an author I have never read. Low expectations can sometimes be rewarding. Poison was not profound or mind blowingly clever. But it felt like the comfort food of a very solid police procedural.
Dismas Hardy is a recognizable aging criminal defence lawyer who reluctantly takes on the case of a young woman who swears she is innocent in the murder of her boss who runs a successful family owned business. In parallel, a couple of seasoned police officers are investigating the seemingly unrelated murder of a young high tech industry millennial. I will say nothing more to avoid spoilers.
As in all good mysteries, there is a good balance between focus on the plot and focus on the lives of the recurring characters. And in this case, jumping in at #17 was not a problem.
I enjoyed it while it lasted. I suspect I won’t remember much of the plot. But I would definitely pick up another book in the series if I was looking for light entertainment.
Now I go back to my quest for fiction that knocks my socks off...
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.
December 29, 2017
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, John Lescroart, and Atria Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
As a long-time fan of John Lescroart and his work, I was pleased to receive an early copy of his latest legal thriller, which offers series fans much to digest while being highly entertained. Dismas Hardy is still recuperating from the harrowing end of the last novel, when he was shot twice at point blank range. Vowing to scale back at the legal practice and refuse any significant criminal work, Hardy is contacted by a former client whose was arrested for the murder of her boss. Hardy is willing to at least provide some early legal advice to Abby Jarvis, though remains at least somewhat dedicated to his promise, something his wife will demand he honour. The death of Grant Wagner shocked everyone, particularly since it was originally deemed a heart attack, only to be re-examined when one of the Wagner children could not understand the finding. Further inspection reveals that Wagner was actually poisoned, paired with other interesting pieces of evidence, including that Jarvis had been skimming from the company’s profits and that she had been spending a great deal of extra time with Wagner before his death. While the legal system moves forward, it is not only Hardy who feels that his client might be innocent. The entire Wagner family seems shocked that Jarvis might have murdered their father, aware of some secrets shared between Grant and Abby. As Hardy agrees to represent Abby at her arraignment, he pulls out all the stops, upsetting his former partner and current district attorney, challenging the validity of the evidence used to arrest his client, which opens a rare bail hearing and leaves everyone watching what else Hardy might have in store for the courtroom. When Wagner’s recent love interest is shot in the face and killed, it leaves SFPD Homicide to use all their resources to see if the shooting might be tied to Wagner’s murder. Trouble is, Abby Jarvis was behind bars during the shooting and could not have committed the crime. Can the Grant Wagner murder be fuelled by financial gain or might there be something far more sinister at play here? And how does all this tie into another recent shooting that has baffled SFPD Homicide? Lescroart does a masterful job with his full collection of San Francisco characters, sure to impress series fans and those who love a well-crafted legal thriller.
It is always a pleasure to pick up a John Lescroart legal thriller, or more generally, a piece from his ever-expanding ‘San Fran crew’ as I call them. As this extended series keeps its quality throughout the twenty-plus novels, it is enjoyable to dive into Lescroart’s work and discover the legal nuances he has to offer. Lescroart’s Dismas Hardy is always an interesting character, who has evolved throughout the series. While there has been little backstory offered over the last number of novels, the ever-flourishing developments within his family and legal units keeps the reader connected to this unique man. Hints throughout leave the reader wondering if there is some major change brewing, though surely Lescroart will force everyone to wait for the next novel to unveil his plans for this central character. There are a number of strong secondary characters, both those who appear regularly (and receive their own novels in the extended series) and the one-timers who appear within this novel. All the characters mesh well and promote a multi-faceted story that keeps the reader wondering as the narrative develops nicely. Turning to the story, Lescroart delivers a strong piece that looks not only to explore the legal nuances of Abby Jarvis’ case, but also some key areas of poison, finance, and familial interactions. Lescroart never enters a topic half-assed, choosing instead to show that he has done his work to permit the reader the most detailed information as possible. The narrative is heavy with all these areas of insight, but things do not get bogged down by this. Rather, they flourish and permit the reader new areas of interest that might pique their interest for personal exploration. I would be remiss if I did not mention the quality of Lescroart’s work. The novels always flow so well and chapters seem to melt away as the reader rushes through the narrative and finds a well-crafted story throughout. I can only hope that Lescroart will stick with the San Fran gang and let those novels propel him to continued greatness.
Kudos, Mr. Lescroart, for another stellar piece of writing. I have loved this series since first I discovered it and will recommend it to anyone who has an interest in legal thrillers.
This book fulfils Topic #1 in the Equinox #2 Book Challenge, A Book in a Series (not a debut).
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
As a long-time fan of John Lescroart and his work, I was pleased to receive an early copy of his latest legal thriller, which offers series fans much to digest while being highly entertained. Dismas Hardy is still recuperating from the harrowing end of the last novel, when he was shot twice at point blank range. Vowing to scale back at the legal practice and refuse any significant criminal work, Hardy is contacted by a former client whose was arrested for the murder of her boss. Hardy is willing to at least provide some early legal advice to Abby Jarvis, though remains at least somewhat dedicated to his promise, something his wife will demand he honour. The death of Grant Wagner shocked everyone, particularly since it was originally deemed a heart attack, only to be re-examined when one of the Wagner children could not understand the finding. Further inspection reveals that Wagner was actually poisoned, paired with other interesting pieces of evidence, including that Jarvis had been skimming from the company’s profits and that she had been spending a great deal of extra time with Wagner before his death. While the legal system moves forward, it is not only Hardy who feels that his client might be innocent. The entire Wagner family seems shocked that Jarvis might have murdered their father, aware of some secrets shared between Grant and Abby. As Hardy agrees to represent Abby at her arraignment, he pulls out all the stops, upsetting his former partner and current district attorney, challenging the validity of the evidence used to arrest his client, which opens a rare bail hearing and leaves everyone watching what else Hardy might have in store for the courtroom. When Wagner’s recent love interest is shot in the face and killed, it leaves SFPD Homicide to use all their resources to see if the shooting might be tied to Wagner’s murder. Trouble is, Abby Jarvis was behind bars during the shooting and could not have committed the crime. Can the Grant Wagner murder be fuelled by financial gain or might there be something far more sinister at play here? And how does all this tie into another recent shooting that has baffled SFPD Homicide? Lescroart does a masterful job with his full collection of San Francisco characters, sure to impress series fans and those who love a well-crafted legal thriller.
It is always a pleasure to pick up a John Lescroart legal thriller, or more generally, a piece from his ever-expanding ‘San Fran crew’ as I call them. As this extended series keeps its quality throughout the twenty-plus novels, it is enjoyable to dive into Lescroart’s work and discover the legal nuances he has to offer. Lescroart’s Dismas Hardy is always an interesting character, who has evolved throughout the series. While there has been little backstory offered over the last number of novels, the ever-flourishing developments within his family and legal units keeps the reader connected to this unique man. Hints throughout leave the reader wondering if there is some major change brewing, though surely Lescroart will force everyone to wait for the next novel to unveil his plans for this central character. There are a number of strong secondary characters, both those who appear regularly (and receive their own novels in the extended series) and the one-timers who appear within this novel. All the characters mesh well and promote a multi-faceted story that keeps the reader wondering as the narrative develops nicely. Turning to the story, Lescroart delivers a strong piece that looks not only to explore the legal nuances of Abby Jarvis’ case, but also some key areas of poison, finance, and familial interactions. Lescroart never enters a topic half-assed, choosing instead to show that he has done his work to permit the reader the most detailed information as possible. The narrative is heavy with all these areas of insight, but things do not get bogged down by this. Rather, they flourish and permit the reader new areas of interest that might pique their interest for personal exploration. I would be remiss if I did not mention the quality of Lescroart’s work. The novels always flow so well and chapters seem to melt away as the reader rushes through the narrative and finds a well-crafted story throughout. I can only hope that Lescroart will stick with the San Fran gang and let those novels propel him to continued greatness.
Kudos, Mr. Lescroart, for another stellar piece of writing. I have loved this series since first I discovered it and will recommend it to anyone who has an interest in legal thrillers.
This book fulfils Topic #1 in the Equinox #2 Book Challenge, A Book in a Series (not a debut).
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
December 24, 2017
Poison is the 17th installment of the Dismas Hardy series. I've been a fan of Hardy series for a while, and although Poison is entertaining enough, I didn't feel John Lescroart included the thrilling suspense I've come accustomed to in his other titles.
Hardy is called to action when an old client of his is charged with murdering her boss. Hardy is reluctant to take the case due to the danger that comes along with fighting a homicide charge, and he's semi-retired. Neither the two bullet wounds or his wife can dissuade him from making sure that justice prevails so that his client can clear her name and return to her life.
The only catch is that his client, Abby, appears to be the perfect suspect for having poisoned the deceased.
Poison has no shortage of suspects but as the story plays out, the true killer is more than obvious. This may be the reason I didn't find this installment especially thrilling. Lescroart spends a lot more time with Hardy battling between wanting to save the world and his own life. This was interesting enough just not quite the legal suspense I was hoping for.
Suffice it to say, Poison was not one of the more thrilling reads in the Dismas Hardy series but it's worth the read for fans who want to continue their journey Hardy. Although Poison was a little lackluster for me, I am still a huge fan of Lescroart and am certainly looking forward to his next title.
Copy provided by Atria Books via Netgalley
Hardy is called to action when an old client of his is charged with murdering her boss. Hardy is reluctant to take the case due to the danger that comes along with fighting a homicide charge, and he's semi-retired. Neither the two bullet wounds or his wife can dissuade him from making sure that justice prevails so that his client can clear her name and return to her life.
The only catch is that his client, Abby, appears to be the perfect suspect for having poisoned the deceased.
Poison has no shortage of suspects but as the story plays out, the true killer is more than obvious. This may be the reason I didn't find this installment especially thrilling. Lescroart spends a lot more time with Hardy battling between wanting to save the world and his own life. This was interesting enough just not quite the legal suspense I was hoping for.
Suffice it to say, Poison was not one of the more thrilling reads in the Dismas Hardy series but it's worth the read for fans who want to continue their journey Hardy. Although Poison was a little lackluster for me, I am still a huge fan of Lescroart and am certainly looking forward to his next title.
Copy provided by Atria Books via Netgalley
April 29, 2018
John Lescroart’s Dismas Hardy series has been one of my “go to” favorites over the past few years. Part legal thriller, part police procedural, his stories have likable characters – defense attorneys and prosecutors, cops, their wives, and kids – who often butt heads professionally but can meet for “the Special” and a beer for lunch at Lou the Greek's or stop over on a Saturday night for a barbecue at one another’s home. They get along by agreeing to disagree, and sometimes one or the other will cross the line by doing a professional favor, such as giving a heads up about a potential suspect or new evidence.
In #17, Poison, Dismas needs all the help he can get. He goes against his better judgment when he agrees to defend a woman arrested for murdering her boss. He takes her on because he previously represented her in a vehicular manslaughter case. Now, he believes, it is because of that past record that she has been charged. In his opinion, the evidence against Abby Jarvis is flimsy.
This story caught my attention from the get-go because it opens with “Diz” and his adult son Vincent at the Giants’ baseball season opener. Great atmosphere. It also establishes their relationship and the generational differences in the use of technology and life experience. As we see later in the book, San Francisco – anywhere, really – can be dangerous, and there are things one should and shouldn’t do when there is a police investigation going on. And sometimes parents really do know best. But, eye-rolling aside, Vince and his dad seem to have a decent relationship.
Things get crazy complicated after that ballgame. Hardy learns of the arrest of Abby Jarvis for Grant Carver’s murder, which was first thought to be a heart attack. Nope. A second look revealed that it was poison, and for various reasons, Abby was deemed the prime suspect. Inheritance, for one. An affair with Grant, for another. If that’s not enough, there’s yet another reason. Abby swears she is innocent. But, that’s what they all say, isn’t it?
Grant’s family, known as “the G-team” (all their names start with G), appear to be a close-knit unit. They all work for the family business and are trying to hold it together. Are they really as united as they seem? Each insists that “Pops” had no reason to want to kill himself, but no one is sure Abby would have killed him either. That would seem to leave a family member as the most likely suspect. No one wants to believe that either.
There are two other murders that seem unrelated. Gunshot killings are not likely to be related to a poisoning – at least that’s what the police think. They don’t even see the two as related to each other at first. Lescroart has one of the cops on the case suffering from the after-effects of a shooting. He is volatile, angry. He is abusing his pain medication. Yet, somehow, he is the one who makes the connection. I guess it was the author’s way of helping this guy find redemption. I am kind of on the fence about the way the poisoning and the shooting cases were connected. Was it clever, or contrived? I can’t quite decide. I confess that it kept me interested, because I wanted to see how that would work out. I did have a pretty good idea who was behind it, and I’m not quite satisfied with the explanation. Good try, though.
Most of all, I liked the relationships in this book. It was fun seeing Abe Glitzky, the former police detective who is Diz’s best friend. He seems crankier than he used to be. Wes Farrell, the DA, has a very minor role. Wyatt Hunt, Hardy’s PI, has a pretty major role in Abby’s case. The guys make one quick stop at Lou’s for the Special, and Hardy even makes a quick stop at the bar that he owns to tend bar for a while. Shades of the good old days. The biggest relationship, of course, is between Dismas and his wife Frannie. He also has a significant relationship with his profession, which he takes very, very seriously. What happens when the two loves collide? It sounds like a lose-lose decision for everyone involved.
For anyone who has not read this series or any of its spin-offs, you could read Poison and enjoy it, but it helps to know and understand the characters. As a longtime fan of this series, I admit that this is probably not my favorite, but I still enjoyed it. Lou the Greek’s, the bar, Diz tossing darts in his office...those are all quirky things that make these books come to life for me, not to mention the San Francisco flavor of the stories. Keep ‘em coming, please. And don’t let Diz retire any time soon!
3.5 rounded to 4 stars
In #17, Poison, Dismas needs all the help he can get. He goes against his better judgment when he agrees to defend a woman arrested for murdering her boss. He takes her on because he previously represented her in a vehicular manslaughter case. Now, he believes, it is because of that past record that she has been charged. In his opinion, the evidence against Abby Jarvis is flimsy.
This story caught my attention from the get-go because it opens with “Diz” and his adult son Vincent at the Giants’ baseball season opener. Great atmosphere. It also establishes their relationship and the generational differences in the use of technology and life experience. As we see later in the book, San Francisco – anywhere, really – can be dangerous, and there are things one should and shouldn’t do when there is a police investigation going on. And sometimes parents really do know best. But, eye-rolling aside, Vince and his dad seem to have a decent relationship.
Things get crazy complicated after that ballgame. Hardy learns of the arrest of Abby Jarvis for Grant Carver’s murder, which was first thought to be a heart attack. Nope. A second look revealed that it was poison, and for various reasons, Abby was deemed the prime suspect. Inheritance, for one. An affair with Grant, for another. If that’s not enough, there’s yet another reason. Abby swears she is innocent. But, that’s what they all say, isn’t it?
Grant’s family, known as “the G-team” (all their names start with G), appear to be a close-knit unit. They all work for the family business and are trying to hold it together. Are they really as united as they seem? Each insists that “Pops” had no reason to want to kill himself, but no one is sure Abby would have killed him either. That would seem to leave a family member as the most likely suspect. No one wants to believe that either.
There are two other murders that seem unrelated. Gunshot killings are not likely to be related to a poisoning – at least that’s what the police think. They don’t even see the two as related to each other at first. Lescroart has one of the cops on the case suffering from the after-effects of a shooting. He is volatile, angry. He is abusing his pain medication. Yet, somehow, he is the one who makes the connection. I guess it was the author’s way of helping this guy find redemption. I am kind of on the fence about the way the poisoning and the shooting cases were connected. Was it clever, or contrived? I can’t quite decide. I confess that it kept me interested, because I wanted to see how that would work out. I did have a pretty good idea who was behind it, and I’m not quite satisfied with the explanation. Good try, though.
Most of all, I liked the relationships in this book. It was fun seeing Abe Glitzky, the former police detective who is Diz’s best friend. He seems crankier than he used to be. Wes Farrell, the DA, has a very minor role. Wyatt Hunt, Hardy’s PI, has a pretty major role in Abby’s case. The guys make one quick stop at Lou’s for the Special, and Hardy even makes a quick stop at the bar that he owns to tend bar for a while. Shades of the good old days. The biggest relationship, of course, is between Dismas and his wife Frannie. He also has a significant relationship with his profession, which he takes very, very seriously. What happens when the two loves collide? It sounds like a lose-lose decision for everyone involved.
For anyone who has not read this series or any of its spin-offs, you could read Poison and enjoy it, but it helps to know and understand the characters. As a longtime fan of this series, I admit that this is probably not my favorite, but I still enjoyed it. Lou the Greek’s, the bar, Diz tossing darts in his office...those are all quirky things that make these books come to life for me, not to mention the San Francisco flavor of the stories. Keep ‘em coming, please. And don’t let Diz retire any time soon!
3.5 rounded to 4 stars
February 27, 2018
I have not read any of the other books in this series about criminal defense attorney Dismas Hardy, but the book worked fine as a standalone. I was expecting more of a legal thriller, however this is a procedural with investigations by both the San Francisco police and by Hardy with his private investigator.
Hardy's former client Abby Jarvis has been arrested for the murder by poisoning of her employer Grant Wagner. She has definite motives for killing him, but so do the victim's grown children and ex-girlfriend. More murders ensue. The book has a very conventional structure with no twists. There is a lot of family angst going on with both Hardy and one of the police detectives. I wasn't really interested in it. The book would occupy your time on a long flight but there is nothing special about it. I doubt that I will read more by this author.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
Hardy's former client Abby Jarvis has been arrested for the murder by poisoning of her employer Grant Wagner. She has definite motives for killing him, but so do the victim's grown children and ex-girlfriend. More murders ensue. The book has a very conventional structure with no twists. There is a lot of family angst going on with both Hardy and one of the police detectives. I wasn't really interested in it. The book would occupy your time on a long flight but there is nothing special about it. I doubt that I will read more by this author.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
February 23, 2018
This may be Dismas Hardy's 17th book but it's my first and I am thinking, "Where have I been?" This is an entertaining story of a defense lawyer in San Francisco. He is recovering from some bullet wounds following his last case when a former client calls him in deep trouble. She has been arrested for murdering her boss.
The client, Abby, had done time for vehicular manslaughter ten years previously but has seemed to turned her life around. She has a very good job as a bookkeeper at a prosperous company with a special needs daughter and a mother who lives with her. Why was she arrested? Well to start with the boss left her a million dollars in his will. Pretty good for a bookkeeper.
Abby is moody and lies at the drop of a hat on important things like where she was at the time of the murder. She omits important information like how she supplements her monthly income. She is outraged that she was arrested yet Hardy feels a responsibility to help her.
I love the sense of place of San Francisco. I love the memories of Candlestick Park and the descriptions of China Town, home of the largest Chinese population outside of Asia. There are lots of little things that show why San Francisco is so unique and special.
I plan to read more of this series. It's good and I did not feel lost in it even though I walked in on #17. Thanks to Net Galley, Atria Books and the author for a darn good mystery.
The client, Abby, had done time for vehicular manslaughter ten years previously but has seemed to turned her life around. She has a very good job as a bookkeeper at a prosperous company with a special needs daughter and a mother who lives with her. Why was she arrested? Well to start with the boss left her a million dollars in his will. Pretty good for a bookkeeper.
Abby is moody and lies at the drop of a hat on important things like where she was at the time of the murder. She omits important information like how she supplements her monthly income. She is outraged that she was arrested yet Hardy feels a responsibility to help her.
I love the sense of place of San Francisco. I love the memories of Candlestick Park and the descriptions of China Town, home of the largest Chinese population outside of Asia. There are lots of little things that show why San Francisco is so unique and special.
I plan to read more of this series. It's good and I did not feel lost in it even though I walked in on #17. Thanks to Net Galley, Atria Books and the author for a darn good mystery.
January 8, 2018
Getting shot ain't a walk in the park; and the last time it happened to defense attorney Dismas Hardy, two bullets nearly cost him his life. So now - a year later - he's still recovering and seriously contemplating at least a partial retirement. But everyone knows what happens to best-laid plans - and hopefully for better, not worse, he finds himself trying to defend former client Abby Jarvis. Turns out she's been charged with the murder of her boss, a highly successful owner of a closely held family business. Abby was the man's bookkeeper, hired not long after she got out of jail (a shorter-than-expected stint thanks to Dismas' defense). This time, it's claimed that she was embezzling substantial funds from the company; in part because of her prior record, the police believe her boss caught her in the act and she retaliated by putting a deadly poison in his ever-present tea.
The company will continue under the leadership of the "G Team" - owner Grant Wagner's children, whose names all begin with that letter. But as the investigation proceeds, aided by Dismas' loyal private investigator, Wyatt Hunt, it comes to light that relationships among the dead guy's kids may be less than harmonious. In fact, it can be argued that each of them has reason to get rid of daddy dearest. But the question is, did one of them do the deed? And can Dismas and Wyatt get to the truth before someone else gets hurt (perhaps even Dismas or his grown son, Vincent, who has ties to at least a couple of the suspects)?
I do love this character - this is his 17th appearance - what's not to like about a guy who, when it comes to technology calls himself an "old fart?" That he reads books by another of my favorite authors, C.J. Box, endears him to me even more. And while he may be trying to wind down, he's still "got it" in my book - with the action constant from beginning to end. I won't say that the whodunit came as a big surprise - in fact, I guessed it fairly early on - but that didn't diminish my enjoyment a whit. It's a terrific book, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
The company will continue under the leadership of the "G Team" - owner Grant Wagner's children, whose names all begin with that letter. But as the investigation proceeds, aided by Dismas' loyal private investigator, Wyatt Hunt, it comes to light that relationships among the dead guy's kids may be less than harmonious. In fact, it can be argued that each of them has reason to get rid of daddy dearest. But the question is, did one of them do the deed? And can Dismas and Wyatt get to the truth before someone else gets hurt (perhaps even Dismas or his grown son, Vincent, who has ties to at least a couple of the suspects)?
I do love this character - this is his 17th appearance - what's not to like about a guy who, when it comes to technology calls himself an "old fart?" That he reads books by another of my favorite authors, C.J. Box, endears him to me even more. And while he may be trying to wind down, he's still "got it" in my book - with the action constant from beginning to end. I won't say that the whodunit came as a big surprise - in fact, I guessed it fairly early on - but that didn't diminish my enjoyment a whit. It's a terrific book, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 10, 2018
You must already be invested in the Dismas Hardy series to really enjoy this book. (I believe this is my 11th of the series.) If not, you very likely will rate this one- or two-stars only. Unlike many others in the series, this is not a legal mystery/thriller in the conventional sense. It is closer in form to a police procedural, but there is a great deal of time spent on Hardy's inner struggles as he becomes involved in defending another person accused of murder, even though he had sworn off such cases. As a result, a substantial portion of the dialogue (both inner and outer) involves reconciling his legal practice with his relationship with his second wife Franny. Some of the other familiar characters are back, including BFF Detective Abe Glitzky (now retired) and P.I. Wyatt Hunt. Unusually, his son Vincent has a significant role to play, but his daughter Rebecca (and current legal partner) is essentially invisible except by reference.
Lescroart is a master at building suspense, and this book is no exception. Related mostly but not entirely by following Dismas, I'm afraid the denouement was rather abrupt and in several ways, related second-hand. The villains were essentially revealed to the reader even before Dismas finally figured out who the persons were. After that, the story was wrapped up in just a few pages. I'm not sure why Lescroart had things play out like that, but I found the final chapters a bit of a letdown.
I listened to the audio, narrated by Jacques Roy, who was ok but all the previous ones to which I have listened were narrated by David Colacci, who is exceptional. So I couldn't help being slightly disappointed, most likely through no fault of Roy.
Lescroart is a master at building suspense, and this book is no exception. Related mostly but not entirely by following Dismas, I'm afraid the denouement was rather abrupt and in several ways, related second-hand. The villains were essentially revealed to the reader even before Dismas finally figured out who the persons were. After that, the story was wrapped up in just a few pages. I'm not sure why Lescroart had things play out like that, but I found the final chapters a bit of a letdown.
I listened to the audio, narrated by Jacques Roy, who was ok but all the previous ones to which I have listened were narrated by David Colacci, who is exceptional. So I couldn't help being slightly disappointed, most likely through no fault of Roy.
July 15, 2018
Starting a series with #17 isn't usually a good idea, but it worked out very well in this case. The book stood alone just fine & yet the author spent almost no time on the obviously long back story. Perfect. An excellent murder mystery & legal thriller with very little court room time. It mostly dealt with a dozen characters with very realistic issues. Well done on the addiction issues.
The biggest disappointment was that catching the killer was underplayed. That meant it avoided some real stumbling blocks, but it also didn't have the impact it could & should have had. It was close to a 4 star read up to that point. Rather long, but engaging. Very well narrated. If I find my library has another, I'll get it.
The biggest disappointment was that catching the killer was underplayed. That meant it avoided some real stumbling blocks, but it also didn't have the impact it could & should have had. It was close to a 4 star read up to that point. Rather long, but engaging. Very well narrated. If I find my library has another, I'll get it.
April 28, 2018
Lame. 1 of 10 stars
June 6, 2018
Man I love me some Dismas Hardy but wow. What happened here? I got worried when I saw the book was only 290 pages but remained hopeful. This book to me was slightly pointless. So we have the story ride through the premise, have one small court scene. Then bam. Killer identified. Doesn’t even put up a fight Mystery solved. Book done. No challenge whatsoever. Very disappointing.
January 15, 2018
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with an e-copy of Poison by John Lescroart in exchange for an honest review. This novel is the 17th installment about attorney Dismas Hardy, which attests to the popularity of the legal genre in general and John Lescroart in particular. Hardy is approaching retirement and recuperating from a gunshot wound when he is approached by Abby Jarvis, a former client who has been arrested for the murder of Grant Carver, her boss and lover. The adult Carver children all work for the family business and all have something to gain from the death of the patriarch. Abby stands to financially gain as well, which has led to her arrest. What follows are more murders, deceptions and intrigue which could put Hardy and his family at risk. Poison maintains the reader's interest throughout and is a tense but enjoyable read.
April 1, 2018
I've jumped around quite a bit in sequence in the Dismas Hardy books, but it doesn't seem to matter.
I'm sure the narrative would be a bit richer if I watched the gradual maturation of his family life, but jumping right to the present worked out fine. His wife Frannie is tired of Dismas putting himself in danger for his clients. He doesn't get to see as much of his adult son as he would like, but they have a good relationship despite their generational disagreement about mobile phones.
Solid mystery, and I always enjoy recognizing San Francisco Bay Area locations and culture.
I'm sure the narrative would be a bit richer if I watched the gradual maturation of his family life, but jumping right to the present worked out fine. His wife Frannie is tired of Dismas putting himself in danger for his clients. He doesn't get to see as much of his adult son as he would like, but they have a good relationship despite their generational disagreement about mobile phones.
Solid mystery, and I always enjoy recognizing San Francisco Bay Area locations and culture.
June 6, 2018
Welcome back Dismas Hardy! Great book, smart plot, my favorite city and favorite characters. Looking forward to the next one.
April 7, 2018
First Sentence: If opening day wasn’t the happiest landmark in Dismas Hardy’s year, he didn’t know what was.
San Francisco attorney Dismas Hardy is recovering from two gunshot wounds and thinking about retirement. The murder of Grant Wagner, the owner of a successful family business, changes his plans. Abby Jarvis was a former client of Hardy’s and is the prime suspect. She was Wagner’s bookkeeper and was receiving substantial sums of cash off the books, but she claims she is innocent. The further Dismas digs into the family relationships, the more precarious his own life becomes.
If you’ve not read Lescroart in a while, or ever, this is a good time to change that. Lescroart is a true storyteller. He engages the reader from the beginning with his style and humor—“Part of it, of course, was AT&T Park, which to his mind was essentially the platonic ideal of a ballpark. (Although, of course, how could Plato have known?)”
There is a fair number of characters in the story, but Lescroart is adept at introducing them all and making them distinct enough not to become confused. Having the perspective of the victim’s family is an interesting approach.
In addition to a good recounting of the past case which caused Hardy to be shot, there is an excellent explanation of the steps and process of the law. Rather than its being dry reading, it involves one as if they are the defendant. Early on, it is revealed that poison was the cause of Wagner’s death, and interesting information on wolfsbane is provided. The link made from the first murder to the second is nicely done as it then becomes personally dangerous to Dismas.
The mention of food and family—“Hardy made them both an enormous omelet in his black cast-iron pan… They discussed the irony that he’d spiked the eggs with a cheese from Cowgirl Creamery named Mt. Tam, and that Frannie was going out to climb the very same Mount Tamalpais with her women’s hiking group in the next half hour or so.”—local landmarks, and all the San Francisco references, add realism to the story. Another such touch is the mention of a fellow author—“…C.J. Box novel, stopping on a high note when he laughed aloud after coming across the line ‘Nothing spells trouble like two drunk cowboys with a rocket launcher.’”
Lescroart not only shows what happens on the defense side of a case, but also with the homicide team and, somewhat, with the prosecution team. The crisis within the Hardy household is realistically portrayed. Lescroart has a very good way of subtly increasing the suspense.
“Poison” is an extremely well-done legal thriller filled with details which can seem overwhelming yet are interesting and, most of all, important. The well-done plot twists keep one involved and the end makes one think.
POISON (Legal Thril-Dismas Hardy-San Francisco, CA-Contemp) – G+
Lescroart, John – 17th in series
Atria Books – February 2018
San Francisco attorney Dismas Hardy is recovering from two gunshot wounds and thinking about retirement. The murder of Grant Wagner, the owner of a successful family business, changes his plans. Abby Jarvis was a former client of Hardy’s and is the prime suspect. She was Wagner’s bookkeeper and was receiving substantial sums of cash off the books, but she claims she is innocent. The further Dismas digs into the family relationships, the more precarious his own life becomes.
If you’ve not read Lescroart in a while, or ever, this is a good time to change that. Lescroart is a true storyteller. He engages the reader from the beginning with his style and humor—“Part of it, of course, was AT&T Park, which to his mind was essentially the platonic ideal of a ballpark. (Although, of course, how could Plato have known?)”
There is a fair number of characters in the story, but Lescroart is adept at introducing them all and making them distinct enough not to become confused. Having the perspective of the victim’s family is an interesting approach.
In addition to a good recounting of the past case which caused Hardy to be shot, there is an excellent explanation of the steps and process of the law. Rather than its being dry reading, it involves one as if they are the defendant. Early on, it is revealed that poison was the cause of Wagner’s death, and interesting information on wolfsbane is provided. The link made from the first murder to the second is nicely done as it then becomes personally dangerous to Dismas.
The mention of food and family—“Hardy made them both an enormous omelet in his black cast-iron pan… They discussed the irony that he’d spiked the eggs with a cheese from Cowgirl Creamery named Mt. Tam, and that Frannie was going out to climb the very same Mount Tamalpais with her women’s hiking group in the next half hour or so.”—local landmarks, and all the San Francisco references, add realism to the story. Another such touch is the mention of a fellow author—“…C.J. Box novel, stopping on a high note when he laughed aloud after coming across the line ‘Nothing spells trouble like two drunk cowboys with a rocket launcher.’”
Lescroart not only shows what happens on the defense side of a case, but also with the homicide team and, somewhat, with the prosecution team. The crisis within the Hardy household is realistically portrayed. Lescroart has a very good way of subtly increasing the suspense.
“Poison” is an extremely well-done legal thriller filled with details which can seem overwhelming yet are interesting and, most of all, important. The well-done plot twists keep one involved and the end makes one think.
POISON (Legal Thril-Dismas Hardy-San Francisco, CA-Contemp) – G+
Lescroart, John – 17th in series
Atria Books – February 2018
March 21, 2018
John Lescroart surprises with a courtroom drama in which the suspense is all about whether Dismas Hardy's new case will ever get into a courtroom. Poison is the 17th novel in Lescroart's first-rate series about the San Francisco defense attorney who is also an ex-Marine, a bartender, and a former assistant DA. As the title suggests, the case at the heart of this tale is about a death by poison.
Dismas ("Diz") Hardy, now sixty-something, is the managing partner of a small firm of San Francisco plaintiffs' attorneys that includes his daughter Rebecca ("the Beck"). His son, Vincent, is now 26 and working at Facebook. Dismas is still recovering from two gunshot wounds suffered in an earlier case. Neither he nor his wife Frannie is happy at all about his having gotten shot—again. Lawyering is not supposed to be a perilous occupation. And now a new case may expose Dismas to new danger.
The charismatic owner of a specialized plumbing and fixtures company has died suddenly at the age of 62. Although first thought to be the result of a heart attack, a second autopsy has revealed the cause to be poison. Grant Wagner had four adult children, all of them involved in running the company, and a stepson from his second marriage.
Although Wagner's death was ruled either a suicide or a homicide, the San Francisco cops assigned to the case take little time to arrest Abby Jarvis, the bookkeeper at Wagner's company and his longtime girlfriend. Jarvis calls Dismas from jail because he had defended her a decade ago on a vehicular homicide charge that sent her to prison for five years. The cops have already decided Jarvis is guilty, so the investigation into other possible suspects falls largely to the investigator Dismas retains, Wyatt Hunt. The circle of possible murderers quickly widens to include all four of Wagner's children and a former girlfriend. Meanwhile, the detectives who arrested Jarvis are investigating the shooting death of a young entrepreneur. Can there possibly be a connection between the two cases? As readers, we know that's likely. But we won't find out how for a long time . . .
Dismas ("Diz") Hardy, now sixty-something, is the managing partner of a small firm of San Francisco plaintiffs' attorneys that includes his daughter Rebecca ("the Beck"). His son, Vincent, is now 26 and working at Facebook. Dismas is still recovering from two gunshot wounds suffered in an earlier case. Neither he nor his wife Frannie is happy at all about his having gotten shot—again. Lawyering is not supposed to be a perilous occupation. And now a new case may expose Dismas to new danger.
The charismatic owner of a specialized plumbing and fixtures company has died suddenly at the age of 62. Although first thought to be the result of a heart attack, a second autopsy has revealed the cause to be poison. Grant Wagner had four adult children, all of them involved in running the company, and a stepson from his second marriage.
Although Wagner's death was ruled either a suicide or a homicide, the San Francisco cops assigned to the case take little time to arrest Abby Jarvis, the bookkeeper at Wagner's company and his longtime girlfriend. Jarvis calls Dismas from jail because he had defended her a decade ago on a vehicular homicide charge that sent her to prison for five years. The cops have already decided Jarvis is guilty, so the investigation into other possible suspects falls largely to the investigator Dismas retains, Wyatt Hunt. The circle of possible murderers quickly widens to include all four of Wagner's children and a former girlfriend. Meanwhile, the detectives who arrested Jarvis are investigating the shooting death of a young entrepreneur. Can there possibly be a connection between the two cases? As readers, we know that's likely. But we won't find out how for a long time . . .
March 28, 2018
Poison is the 17th entry in John Lescroart's long running Dismas Hardy series.
A former client of Dismas has been charged with murder. Her employer has been poisoned - and she stands to benefit from the will. But, there are a myriad of other suspects. It's a family business and any of the man's relatives had an opportunity to kill him. And as Dismas digs into their lives, looking to clear his client, he discovers they all have secrets - and motives.
I've always enjoyed Dismas as a lead character - he's intelligent, cagey and driven to find answers. The supporting cast has always included now retired SFPD Lieutenant Abe Glitsky. They play well off of each other, with differing personalities and styles, but with an eye on the prize - catching the guilty. (Glitsky has a few novels where he is the lead character.) PI Wyatt Hunt is also a fave supporting player of mine.
The murder method in Poison was unusual and clever. Dismas's sussing out of the murderer was just as clever. The whodunit is somewhat revealed before the final aha, but the path to those final answers was enjoyable and entertaining.
I enjoyed the return to Hardy's roots - murder, defense and the courtroom. Some of the previous entries became too convoluted and a bit far fetched for my taste.
Lescroart has moved the series along in real time, with the players aging and evolving. The Hardy family life has figured into the plots over the years. Dismas is now looking at making a change as well and has been contemplating retirement. I will be curious to see where Lescroart takes him in the next book. Although Posion is part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone.
I chose to listen to Poison. The reader was Jacques Roy - a narrator I've quite enjoyed in other books. He has a calm, quiet voice that suits the character of Dismas. His speaking is well paced, well modulated and easy to understand with a slight gravelly tone. That measured pace draws the listener into the story.
A former client of Dismas has been charged with murder. Her employer has been poisoned - and she stands to benefit from the will. But, there are a myriad of other suspects. It's a family business and any of the man's relatives had an opportunity to kill him. And as Dismas digs into their lives, looking to clear his client, he discovers they all have secrets - and motives.
I've always enjoyed Dismas as a lead character - he's intelligent, cagey and driven to find answers. The supporting cast has always included now retired SFPD Lieutenant Abe Glitsky. They play well off of each other, with differing personalities and styles, but with an eye on the prize - catching the guilty. (Glitsky has a few novels where he is the lead character.) PI Wyatt Hunt is also a fave supporting player of mine.
The murder method in Poison was unusual and clever. Dismas's sussing out of the murderer was just as clever. The whodunit is somewhat revealed before the final aha, but the path to those final answers was enjoyable and entertaining.
I enjoyed the return to Hardy's roots - murder, defense and the courtroom. Some of the previous entries became too convoluted and a bit far fetched for my taste.
Lescroart has moved the series along in real time, with the players aging and evolving. The Hardy family life has figured into the plots over the years. Dismas is now looking at making a change as well and has been contemplating retirement. I will be curious to see where Lescroart takes him in the next book. Although Posion is part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone.
I chose to listen to Poison. The reader was Jacques Roy - a narrator I've quite enjoyed in other books. He has a calm, quiet voice that suits the character of Dismas. His speaking is well paced, well modulated and easy to understand with a slight gravelly tone. That measured pace draws the listener into the story.
May 27, 2018
I'm disappointed in this book for a few reasons. One is personal; my love for this series is in a large part due to the interactions between Hardy and Abe Glitsky, and there wasn't much of that in this book.
But there were a couple of technical things that bothered me. These might be considered spoilers, somewhat, so I'll put spoiler tags around the rest of the review just in case. I don't know that it's really a major spoiler, but read at your own risk.
But there were a couple of technical things that bothered me. These might be considered spoilers, somewhat, so I'll put spoiler tags around the rest of the review just in case. I don't know that it's really a major spoiler, but read at your own risk.
October 10, 2018
Abby Javis is Grant Wagner's secretary and he left $1 million to Abby when
Poisoned
to death with a drug, "Aconite". This lead to Abby Javis being accused of his death & using the drug to kill him. Investigations show Abby was also getting $100k per year while working for Grant. They determine Abby's child, Veronica, is the family's half sister. Can Dismas Hardy prove Abby is innocent?
Grant was looking to sell the company & retired. His children the "G-Team" were Gene, Gary, Grace & Gloria, they did not agree with their dad. Aunt Ginger was related to the "G-Team", Grant's 2nd wife, with an adopted child, Joey. In addition to the Poison, they find a life insurance policy with his name.
I enjoy the Dismas Hardy series. If reviews say Lescroart is a writer who matches John Grisham & Scott Turow.... Why aren't more of us reading his books?
Grant was looking to sell the company & retired. His children the "G-Team" were Gene, Gary, Grace & Gloria, they did not agree with their dad. Aunt Ginger was related to the "G-Team", Grant's 2nd wife, with an adopted child, Joey. In addition to the Poison, they find a life insurance policy with his name.
I enjoy the Dismas Hardy series. If reviews say Lescroart is a writer who matches John Grisham & Scott Turow.... Why aren't more of us reading his books?
April 25, 2018
The latest John Lescroart novel featuring Dismas Hardy is a bit different than the previous ones of course. Hardy had been shot twice in his last investigation, and since he has a lot of chronic pain, he is thinking seriously of severely cutting back his work time. Of course, he is also concerned about the risks involved to himself and his family in case some desperate or otherwise person running from the law decides to retaliate. Wife Franny is all for it. In this particular volume a wealthy business owner dies suddenly of what is thought to be a heart attack. The business owner has five children and also a stepson, who is the youngest family member. The man's younger daughter keeps thinking that since her dad had a good report from his annual physical two weeks before, she is convinced his heart didn't fail. She talks the ME's office into doing another autopsy, and the cause of death is revealed to be a rather hard to get herb, wolfsbane, which in homeopathic doses may help some people, but it doesn't take much more than a very small amount to kill someone. An old client of Dismas' has been indicted for first degree murder on this case without any smoking gun, so to speak. So Dismas does get involved in helping his former client clear her name. This is really one convoluted and multi-angled case. I sure had a great time reading it!
September 16, 2018
Absorbing plot and likable main character. Like the series, this is a good addition. Some profanity but no graphic descriptions (murder/sex scenes). Recommended.
Free at the local library and I thank mine.
Free at the local library and I thank mine.
March 18, 2018
This latest Dismas Hardy book is a perfect blend of crime, foes, family and colleagues.
After being shot twice, Diz is reluctant to take on another murder case, but this one involves a former client, Abby Jarvis. He believes she will not get adequate representation without him.
When his case evolves to possibly endangering a family member, Frannie draws a hard line.
After being shot twice, Diz is reluctant to take on another murder case, but this one involves a former client, Abby Jarvis. He believes she will not get adequate representation without him.
When his case evolves to possibly endangering a family member, Frannie draws a hard line.
January 11, 2018
Review to follow.
May 13, 2018
What's the line about damning with faint praise? I liked this book—gave it three stars—but honestly, I think Dismas Hardy's star is waning as the hero for fresh fiction from Lescroart, and maybe he needs to take the giant leap of making a new start with someone else. Not someone from this franchise, either (he's done that with Glitzky, Farrell, Hunt, Rebecca, trying to mix it up, and none of them was as successful as the ones with Hardy), and maybe not set in San Francisco! Everything has become so familiar, so entrenched in its tracks that I could almost write the book for him—Dismas's relationships with Frannie, with Glitzky, with Hunt, the way he thinks and the things he does to figure out his cases, the places he hangs out (if I have to read one more description of Lou the Greek's...)—all completely predictable.
Because this has been true for a while, the only variable in this series has been the crime story—what the client and the circumstance bring to the table—and this one was a bit lackluster. The client wasn't made either particularly accessible or likable, the suspects for the initial crime were a parade of cardboard characters without a lot of depth, and the most interesting people in the book were the police officers (but even they verged on cliché, given as they were to jump to the arrest way before they should have been and then stubbornly hanging on). Also, it became fairly obvious to me about halfway through the book who the murderer must be, and then it was a waiting game to see how long and in what way Hardy would figure it out himself and what he would do. And what he did—I can't picture it working. I feel like the criminal would have seen through his ploy.
So over all, although it was a pleasant and faintly engaging read, I'm not sure I'll be back. I've made it through 17 (plus the spinoffs), but I think I need to find a new mystery writer for my go-to list. Too bad.
Because this has been true for a while, the only variable in this series has been the crime story—what the client and the circumstance bring to the table—and this one was a bit lackluster. The client wasn't made either particularly accessible or likable, the suspects for the initial crime were a parade of cardboard characters without a lot of depth, and the most interesting people in the book were the police officers (but even they verged on cliché, given as they were to jump to the arrest way before they should have been and then stubbornly hanging on). Also, it became fairly obvious to me about halfway through the book who the murderer must be, and then it was a waiting game to see how long and in what way Hardy would figure it out himself and what he would do. And what he did—I can't picture it working. I feel like the criminal would have seen through his ploy.
So over all, although it was a pleasant and faintly engaging read, I'm not sure I'll be back. I've made it through 17 (plus the spinoffs), but I think I need to find a new mystery writer for my go-to list. Too bad.
December 15, 2017
Dismas Hardy is ready to slow down and maybe even give up murder cases when a former client reaches out to him. She has been arrested for killing her boss. As the evidence mounts up, there are more killings seemingly unrelated to this case. Harry’s wife, still shell shocked from Dismas being shot in the last novel and fearing future danger, gives him an ultimatum regarding this case and Harry must race against the clock to prove his client’s innocence.
It’s evident that there is some connection among the murders, and I didn’t want to put the book down until I found out what it was and how the case is resolved.
It’s been a while since the last Hardy novel and it was a pleasure to have him back. The usual cast of characters are there including Abe Glitsky, son and daughter, Vincent and Rebecca, private investigator Hunt.
If you are a fan of John Lescroart, you will welcome this latest addition to the Dismas Hardy series. If this is your first introduction to him, you will want to go back and read some of his prior works. He is master of the legal thriller.
August 18, 2018
Out of all of the 17 Dismas Hardy legal thrillers I've read, this was one of the two or perhaps three that rated 3 stars instead of the usual four or five stars. It was still very enjoyable, and almost as comfortable as pulling on your favorite sweater on a cold October morning. But Lescroart has done better in most of his past novels to capture that thrilling court room ambience and 11th hour discovery to change the course of the trial Dismas has been fighting on.
"Poison" engages you with a plausible whodunit, and although we see the list of suspects grow that are involved in the murder of a plumbing wholesaler magnate, the twist isn't as satisfying as I was expecting.
Nonetheless, I enjoyed reading about Dismas getting into another murder investigation...even though he knows his past few investigations and trials have nearly cost him his life.
Is it time for Dismas to retire? That, my friends, is the question to consider, but I truly hope not, for I am a true fan of Dismas Hardy.
"Poison" engages you with a plausible whodunit, and although we see the list of suspects grow that are involved in the murder of a plumbing wholesaler magnate, the twist isn't as satisfying as I was expecting.
Nonetheless, I enjoyed reading about Dismas getting into another murder investigation...even though he knows his past few investigations and trials have nearly cost him his life.
Is it time for Dismas to retire? That, my friends, is the question to consider, but I truly hope not, for I am a true fan of Dismas Hardy.
November 4, 2017
One of my favorite things about this Dismas Hardy series is that they never get old! There’s always enough new info & storylines that make each one a great read without ever seeming like you’ve read it before. This was one of the best in this series!
Thanks to Atria for this early copy!
Thanks to Atria for this early copy!
April 18, 2018
While defense attorneys were fond of saying that it really didn't matter and they really didn't care about whether their clients were factually guilty or not, basic human nature kicked in when you sincerely believed that you were defending an innocent person.
Dismas Hardy defense attorney, bar owner, father of two and husband of one, has sworn never to take homicide case again. To dangerous. Been shot at and done that. However, when Abby Jarvis called him from the San Francisco jail in desperate need, he was pulled in to her defense. Having defended her once before for an car accident that resulted in a death, Hardy knew what type of person Abby was. She was good person with a good heart that made terrible decisions. With those terrible decisions, she owned up to them and wanted a better life.
Abby now works as a bookkeeper for a big corporation. She has a daughter with specials needs and with special needs, you always need money. When her boss Grant Carver ended up dead which looked like a heart attack but later came back as being murdered, the authorities found a motive in Abby. He was poisoned and Abby is now indicted with murder. Because of another round of bad decisions, Abby has pleaded for Hardy to take her case. With Carver's family in the mix, known as the G-Team, Dismas must find motive for Grant's murder and opportunity. Hardy wants to believe his client's innocence, but the truth of lies come to light, and he struggles with his client to be forthcoming. His way of going thru a case with his contracted investigator, the dots begin to connect. Dimas leaves no stone unturned.
With the Hardy series, there are several cases going along and this is no different. A murder of a young Chinese man who was executed at his home. No forced entry and it points to the victim knowing his killer. Waverly and his partner Yamashiro are called to the scene and begin to unravel the young man's life. During their investigation, Waverly is overcoming traumatic stress and it is taking hold of his work and his personal life. This brings an element humanity to these men as his partner calls him on it and how he deals with it. The two detectives also brought the indictment to Abby and continue to make their case solid against her.
So I am reading about these two cases and thinking ok where is the tie. What ties them together and low and behold there are several things. One Hardy's son who knew the victim. A big concern for his family and the second tea. But that is all I am going to tell you. It is more fun as you go along and tie one on.
I am not sure but this may be the end of the series and I hope not. I like Hardy. He has wit, grit and he is like a dog with a bone. He never gives up on a case and on people. Even to the bitter end. Enjoyed this one!
A Special Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
Dismas Hardy defense attorney, bar owner, father of two and husband of one, has sworn never to take homicide case again. To dangerous. Been shot at and done that. However, when Abby Jarvis called him from the San Francisco jail in desperate need, he was pulled in to her defense. Having defended her once before for an car accident that resulted in a death, Hardy knew what type of person Abby was. She was good person with a good heart that made terrible decisions. With those terrible decisions, she owned up to them and wanted a better life.
Abby now works as a bookkeeper for a big corporation. She has a daughter with specials needs and with special needs, you always need money. When her boss Grant Carver ended up dead which looked like a heart attack but later came back as being murdered, the authorities found a motive in Abby. He was poisoned and Abby is now indicted with murder. Because of another round of bad decisions, Abby has pleaded for Hardy to take her case. With Carver's family in the mix, known as the G-Team, Dismas must find motive for Grant's murder and opportunity. Hardy wants to believe his client's innocence, but the truth of lies come to light, and he struggles with his client to be forthcoming. His way of going thru a case with his contracted investigator, the dots begin to connect. Dimas leaves no stone unturned.
With the Hardy series, there are several cases going along and this is no different. A murder of a young Chinese man who was executed at his home. No forced entry and it points to the victim knowing his killer. Waverly and his partner Yamashiro are called to the scene and begin to unravel the young man's life. During their investigation, Waverly is overcoming traumatic stress and it is taking hold of his work and his personal life. This brings an element humanity to these men as his partner calls him on it and how he deals with it. The two detectives also brought the indictment to Abby and continue to make their case solid against her.
So I am reading about these two cases and thinking ok where is the tie. What ties them together and low and behold there are several things. One Hardy's son who knew the victim. A big concern for his family and the second tea. But that is all I am going to tell you. It is more fun as you go along and tie one on.
I am not sure but this may be the end of the series and I hope not. I like Hardy. He has wit, grit and he is like a dog with a bone. He never gives up on a case and on people. Even to the bitter end. Enjoyed this one!
A Special Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
January 31, 2019
So......Agatha Christie isn’t the only one who knows her way around poison!!
Twenty years later I am still reading this series - finally getting back to the three I haven’t read yet. Great to connect with Dismas again after being away for a few years, like a class reunion. He even lives in my old home neighborhood, the Richmond District of San Francisco.
Great story, these characters all seem like real people and the plot is plausible. So many of them are not. Can’t wait to read the last two to date. If you enjoy lawyer/detective stories this is an excellent series.
Twenty years later I am still reading this series - finally getting back to the three I haven’t read yet. Great to connect with Dismas again after being away for a few years, like a class reunion. He even lives in my old home neighborhood, the Richmond District of San Francisco.
Great story, these characters all seem like real people and the plot is plausible. So many of them are not. Can’t wait to read the last two to date. If you enjoy lawyer/detective stories this is an excellent series.
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