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Jason Kolarich #1
The Hidden Man
Jason Kolarich is a Chicago attorney with a lineman's build, a razor- sharp intellect-and the grief of a tragic personal loss. When an estranged childhood friend is charged with murder, Kolarich must create a solid defense-even while doubting his client's innocence. But it soon becomes clear that Kolarich will have to uncover long-forgotten events from their shared childhoods to save his friend-and bring a relentless killer to justice before he strikes again.
337 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 29, 2009
252 people are currently reading
3266 people want to read
About the author
David Ellis
84 books2,295 followersDavid Ellis is a lawyer and the Edgar Allan Poe Award winner for Best First Novel for Line of Vision. Ellis attended Northwestern Law School and began his legal career in private practice in Chicago in 1993. He served as the House Prosecutor who tried and convicted Illinois Governor Blagojevich in the Impeachment Trial before the Illinois Senate. He was elected to the Illinois Appellate Court in 2014 and took office December 1, 2014. Ellis currently lives outside Chicago with his wife and three children.
Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 342 reviews
April 27, 2024
4 Stars
March 13, 2020
Choosing to begin a new series, I turned to David Ellis, with whom I am familiar through his collaborative writing. Focussing on his standalone work, I turned to this legal thriller, which kept me riveted throughout the process and begging for more (thankfully, there are three more books). Little Audrey Cutler is taken from her bed one night in 1980, stolen from under her mother’s watchful eye. The police turn their attention immediately to Griffin Perlini, a known paedophile in the area. However, Perkins denies having anything to do with it and Audrey cannot be found anywhere on the premises. Twenty-six years later, Audrey’s older brother, Sammy, runs into Perlini in public. Soon thereafter, Perlini is found murdered and Sammy is the most likely suspect. When criminal lawyer Jason Kolarich is approached by a mysterious Mr. Smith to defend Sammy Cutler, he is not sure he wants the case, A best friend to Sammy in their childhood, Kolarich remembers the tragedy well and is not sure if he can be of proper assistance. However, this Mr. Smith is quite convincing and Kolarich agrees to take the case, but is forbidden to seek any continuances or additional forensics. Under great pressure, Kolarich begins his defence prep, trying not only to ensure his client’s innocence, but build a case against Griffin Perlini, if only to give Sammy an out for having committed the crime. In the midst of the preparation, Kolarich learns that his brother has been nabbed with guns and drugs, likely facing a long time in jail. Juggling these two cases simultaneously, Kolarich learns that there is more to each case than meets the eye and that Mr. Smith may not be a Good Samaritan, but a man with an agenda all his own. Fighting against the clock and the legal hurdles before him, Jason Kolarich will have to show his acumen as a defence attorney, or someone will surely suffer, both emotionally and physically. A wonderful start to an intriguing series, David Ellis has me hooked. Recommended for those who love a well-plotted legal thriller as well ad the reader who enjoys getting lost in the fast-pace of a great novel.
I have long known of David Ellis as one of the stronger collaborators with a very popular author, but I wanted to see some of his work where he might be able to come out from the shadows. Ellis does well on his own, crafting powerful legal thrillers that never stop developing. Jason Kolarich is a wonderful protagonist, whose life has not always been very easy. Growing up in an abusive household, Kolarich learned early to fight his own battles and protect those closest to him. This determination served him well when he and Sammy Culter were kids and spilled onto the football field when he made it to college. However, anger may have clouded his judgment, something that Kolarich had to nip in the bud in order to properly defend his clients. Gritty and stopping at little, Kolarich is ready to defend those who need him, while pushing others out of his way. Other characters serve to develop the plot well, impeding Kolarich ruthlessly, but also helping to extract the best information possible. Ellis has created a handful of wonderful characters who enrich the novel in many ways. The reader is treated to countless flavours throughout the book, all of which blend together effectively. With a strong plot and a few legal cases that are time sensitive, Ellis pulls the reader into the middle of the story quickly and never loses the momentum to keep the piece on track. With a mix of short and longer chapters, the reader is ready to tackle “a little more”, which ends up being a sizeable chunk. This series debut has me wanting a whole lot more, something that bodes well as I binge this series.
Kudos, Mr. Ellis, for this fabulous legal thriller. I am not sure why I waited so long to read your solo work!
Love/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/...
I have long known of David Ellis as one of the stronger collaborators with a very popular author, but I wanted to see some of his work where he might be able to come out from the shadows. Ellis does well on his own, crafting powerful legal thrillers that never stop developing. Jason Kolarich is a wonderful protagonist, whose life has not always been very easy. Growing up in an abusive household, Kolarich learned early to fight his own battles and protect those closest to him. This determination served him well when he and Sammy Culter were kids and spilled onto the football field when he made it to college. However, anger may have clouded his judgment, something that Kolarich had to nip in the bud in order to properly defend his clients. Gritty and stopping at little, Kolarich is ready to defend those who need him, while pushing others out of his way. Other characters serve to develop the plot well, impeding Kolarich ruthlessly, but also helping to extract the best information possible. Ellis has created a handful of wonderful characters who enrich the novel in many ways. The reader is treated to countless flavours throughout the book, all of which blend together effectively. With a strong plot and a few legal cases that are time sensitive, Ellis pulls the reader into the middle of the story quickly and never loses the momentum to keep the piece on track. With a mix of short and longer chapters, the reader is ready to tackle “a little more”, which ends up being a sizeable chunk. This series debut has me wanting a whole lot more, something that bodes well as I binge this series.
Kudos, Mr. Ellis, for this fabulous legal thriller. I am not sure why I waited so long to read your solo work!
Love/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/...
October 19, 2009
You have to love a guy who can prosecute the impeachment trial against Rod Blagojevich and write a crackling crime novel at the same time.
Chicago lawyer David Ellis has done that with this book, and even if the McGuffin is a little far-fetched (don't worry, you won't need spoiler alerts here), Ellis has produced a well-paced novel with good Chicago characters and a satisfying outcome.
Attorney Jason Kolarich begins the story at a low point. His wife and young daughter have died in an accident and he blames himself, even though he wasn't directly responsible. Then, a mysterious visitor promises him a bundle of money to take a case on behalf of an old childhood friend. When they were boys, Jason and Sammy Cutler lived through the abduction and disappearance of Sammy's sister. Now Sammy is accused of killing the child molestor who may have abducted her, even though there was never enough evidence to convict him. And Kolarich's visitor wants Jason to take the case, but only do what "Mr. Smith" asks him to, no more.
Well, you can write the next chapter. Jason is a contrarian, and as he delves more deeply into the case, the other side gets nervous, then angry, and suddenly, another person Jason loves is in jeopardy.
How he plays his restricted hand and how the plot unfolds drive the rest of the book, and drive it well. I'm not the kind who usually guesses the solution in the first or second chapter -- that's my wife's territory -- but I enjoyed the ride on this one.
Well worth the read.
Chicago lawyer David Ellis has done that with this book, and even if the McGuffin is a little far-fetched (don't worry, you won't need spoiler alerts here), Ellis has produced a well-paced novel with good Chicago characters and a satisfying outcome.
Attorney Jason Kolarich begins the story at a low point. His wife and young daughter have died in an accident and he blames himself, even though he wasn't directly responsible. Then, a mysterious visitor promises him a bundle of money to take a case on behalf of an old childhood friend. When they were boys, Jason and Sammy Cutler lived through the abduction and disappearance of Sammy's sister. Now Sammy is accused of killing the child molestor who may have abducted her, even though there was never enough evidence to convict him. And Kolarich's visitor wants Jason to take the case, but only do what "Mr. Smith" asks him to, no more.
Well, you can write the next chapter. Jason is a contrarian, and as he delves more deeply into the case, the other side gets nervous, then angry, and suddenly, another person Jason loves is in jeopardy.
How he plays his restricted hand and how the plot unfolds drive the rest of the book, and drive it well. I'm not the kind who usually guesses the solution in the first or second chapter -- that's my wife's territory -- but I enjoyed the ride on this one.
Well worth the read.
August 9, 2020
I read this about 10 years ago, I think, but only the first part seemed familiar, so I think I never finished it. It looked like an interesting series, so I read it again, and it was pretty good.
Jason Kolarich is a lawyer that has had a roller-coaster of a ride so far. He played football well in high school, played some in college until for some reason, he punched out the team captain, stormed off and never played again. But somehow, he still got into college and got a law degree, and worked for the prosecution side for a while, did well, got a job at a high-end firm and excelled there. Unfortunately, he was a bit too dedicated, and he kept working on a big case when everyone told him he should go with his wife and kid to drive to her mother's house. But he ended up delaying until his wife decided to drive without him. But she had waited too long, and it was dark and rainy, and you can probably guess where this is going. Jason's life almost ended with his family, but with help from his brother, he finally recovered enough to almost cause more death in the family.
His problem, and probably what makes the book interesting, is his stubbornness and persistence. He'd be a good poker player. He juggles a couple of important cases, including an old unsolved murder case, with surprise endings.
The only thing I didn't like that much, and maybe this was made worse by being an audiobook, is a lot of changes in point of view. Mostly the story is from his POV, but every once in a while, he switched to third person and is talking to himself (eg, saying "you go there, and then you think this...". I suppose it's valid, and probably not so bad when reading a printed book or ebook, but I find it distracting in the audiobook.
I've started the 2nd book in the series, and I'm not sure what I think about the fact that it takes place before the first one. I guess it elaborates on parts of the first book, but I suspect it might be better reading the 2nd book 1st. But that's not important, unless you have the 2nd book and not the 1st, in which case I'd say go ahead and read it first.
Jason Kolarich is a lawyer that has had a roller-coaster of a ride so far. He played football well in high school, played some in college until for some reason, he punched out the team captain, stormed off and never played again. But somehow, he still got into college and got a law degree, and worked for the prosecution side for a while, did well, got a job at a high-end firm and excelled there. Unfortunately, he was a bit too dedicated, and he kept working on a big case when everyone told him he should go with his wife and kid to drive to her mother's house. But he ended up delaying until his wife decided to drive without him. But she had waited too long, and it was dark and rainy, and you can probably guess where this is going. Jason's life almost ended with his family, but with help from his brother, he finally recovered enough to almost cause more death in the family.
His problem, and probably what makes the book interesting, is his stubbornness and persistence. He'd be a good poker player. He juggles a couple of important cases, including an old unsolved murder case, with surprise endings.
The only thing I didn't like that much, and maybe this was made worse by being an audiobook, is a lot of changes in point of view. Mostly the story is from his POV, but every once in a while, he switched to third person and is talking to himself (eg, saying "you go there, and then you think this...". I suppose it's valid, and probably not so bad when reading a printed book or ebook, but I find it distracting in the audiobook.
I've started the 2nd book in the series, and I'm not sure what I think about the fact that it takes place before the first one. I guess it elaborates on parts of the first book, but I suspect it might be better reading the 2nd book 1st. But that's not important, unless you have the 2nd book and not the 1st, in which case I'd say go ahead and read it first.
September 1, 2009
This book is billed as “Another exhilarating thriller from Edgar Award winner David Ellis, introducing the new series protagonist Jason Kolarich.” After reading it, I concluded: One, this book is a textbook definitive exhilarating thriller. Two, if this is just another of such that Ellis’ has written, it absolutely raises my interest in getting my hands on more of Ellis’ work starting with whatever won him the Edgar Award. And finally, that Jason Kolarich is the perfect character to anchor a series.
This thriller begins with a creep eyeing a little girl in a park. The little girl then goes missing, and the police settle on a pedophile that has an obsessive collage of babies including the victim in his home. The little girl is never found. About twenty five years later, Jason Kolarich is representing the brother of the missing girl who is accused of murdering the pedophile. Suffice to say Jason must solve one case to solve the other and without a moment to spare. Any mistake could cost Jason more than his life.
The book hops around in time upping the emotional and then the physical stakes. The reader is almost as in the dark as Jason, and it isn’t until the last possible moments that Ellis finally gives it up in the masterfully climatic final pages. I am not sure that I’ve ever read a book faster. Ellis also takes the time to thoroughly set a compelling back story for Jason and the other characters. Jason for example is embroiled in both mysteries, and is recovering from the devastating loss of his wife and young daughter. He’s barely making it through the day, not only broken but bleeding heartache all over his life. A former athlete he is a force to be reckoned with and the reckless decisions stemming from his tangible pain are a stunning success of characterization. Adding to the complexity, Jason is a lawyer, so we not only get the cop and detective drama, but Jason’s thought processes add another layer of legal suspense--a winning combination reminiscent of everything that is great about Law and Order or classic John Grisham. Jason has been so marvelous crafted that I desperately want to read more about him. THE HIDDEN MAN has the potential to launch a block buster series.
This thriller begins with a creep eyeing a little girl in a park. The little girl then goes missing, and the police settle on a pedophile that has an obsessive collage of babies including the victim in his home. The little girl is never found. About twenty five years later, Jason Kolarich is representing the brother of the missing girl who is accused of murdering the pedophile. Suffice to say Jason must solve one case to solve the other and without a moment to spare. Any mistake could cost Jason more than his life.
The book hops around in time upping the emotional and then the physical stakes. The reader is almost as in the dark as Jason, and it isn’t until the last possible moments that Ellis finally gives it up in the masterfully climatic final pages. I am not sure that I’ve ever read a book faster. Ellis also takes the time to thoroughly set a compelling back story for Jason and the other characters. Jason for example is embroiled in both mysteries, and is recovering from the devastating loss of his wife and young daughter. He’s barely making it through the day, not only broken but bleeding heartache all over his life. A former athlete he is a force to be reckoned with and the reckless decisions stemming from his tangible pain are a stunning success of characterization. Adding to the complexity, Jason is a lawyer, so we not only get the cop and detective drama, but Jason’s thought processes add another layer of legal suspense--a winning combination reminiscent of everything that is great about Law and Order or classic John Grisham. Jason has been so marvelous crafted that I desperately want to read more about him. THE HIDDEN MAN has the potential to launch a block buster series.
September 25, 2009
3 1/2 stars
Interesting, exciting story. Held my interest. The ending was a bit weak in a couple of aspects, otherwise I would have gone with 4 stars.
Jason Kolarich is an attorney hired to defend Sammy Cutler, a childhood friend accused of murder. Many years ago, Sammy's two-year-old sister Audrey was abducted and presumed dead, although no body was found. The current murder charges and the long-ago abduction are connected, but Kolarich can't get anyone to talk. Meanwhile, the shady character who hired Jason to defend Sammy has his own unrevealed agenda. He uses threats against Jason's brother to control the outcome. All of the plot threads weave in and out very nicely.
I like David Ellis. He's a practicing attorney, so it's a mystery to me how he finds the time to write novels! In fact, he was prosecutor in a fairly recent conviction of some Midwestern politician whose name now escapes me. Anyway, I liked two of his other books,"Jury of One" and "In the Company of Liars" best, but "The Hidden Man" was very enjoyable.
Interesting, exciting story. Held my interest. The ending was a bit weak in a couple of aspects, otherwise I would have gone with 4 stars.
Jason Kolarich is an attorney hired to defend Sammy Cutler, a childhood friend accused of murder. Many years ago, Sammy's two-year-old sister Audrey was abducted and presumed dead, although no body was found. The current murder charges and the long-ago abduction are connected, but Kolarich can't get anyone to talk. Meanwhile, the shady character who hired Jason to defend Sammy has his own unrevealed agenda. He uses threats against Jason's brother to control the outcome. All of the plot threads weave in and out very nicely.
I like David Ellis. He's a practicing attorney, so it's a mystery to me how he finds the time to write novels! In fact, he was prosecutor in a fairly recent conviction of some Midwestern politician whose name now escapes me. Anyway, I liked two of his other books,"Jury of One" and "In the Company of Liars" best, but "The Hidden Man" was very enjoyable.
November 8, 2014
This book gives an insight into what guilt can do to you and what you would do for the sake of loyalty and, indeed, love. The plot was a bit convoluted and the Jason Kolarich character got himself into a lot of hot water, although I'm not sure he could have done much differently. The book provided a lot context for the lead character and I expect the next one to gallop along a bit more. very entertaining.
June 5, 2018
The main character of Jason Kolarich is the beginning of a great character and on that alone I will read the rest of the series. Some of the sub characters, like the girl who he shares his law office with, are good too. There are 5 or so other main sub characters that need work, as the reader you weren't really rooting for them, just Jason. The end had a nice twist to it. Probably could have trimmed about 100 pages. Overall a good read for the first book in a series.
July 16, 2009
I was lucky enough to win this book, and so I would like to share my thoughts.
One of the reasons I was interested in this book was that it was said to be the type of story that John Grisham might write. I admire Grisham, but was getting tired of his formulated stories and wordiness. This book had none of that. Ellis' characters were real, with just enough background to build personality, and to help the reader understand character motive.
The story moved quickly without seeming to bog down anywhere. It is easily a one sitting read.
However, when I finished I had a lot of questions about the logic of the story. Hopefully, this review will not have too many spoilers, but it's the story of an attorney who is hired by a mysterious stranger to defend the attorney's childhood friend from a murder charge. The man killed was the alleged killer of the childhood friend's baby sister 30/40 years before. Simple yes? It is what motivates this very powerful and rich stranger that is the mystery.
Again, spoilers,but with all the problems the "stranger" had controlling the attorney, why didn't he simply frame the judge or DA to get the guy off? Why use someone with an obvious criminal background to be the eyewitness when the "stranger" could have bought a third party innocent as the eyewitness. There are other logic problems that would make Perry Mason shake his head in confusion.
But, the story on a whole was well written, the characters human enough to empathize with, and (if you read through the illogic) is a very good read.
Thank you Goodreads.
One of the reasons I was interested in this book was that it was said to be the type of story that John Grisham might write. I admire Grisham, but was getting tired of his formulated stories and wordiness. This book had none of that. Ellis' characters were real, with just enough background to build personality, and to help the reader understand character motive.
The story moved quickly without seeming to bog down anywhere. It is easily a one sitting read.
However, when I finished I had a lot of questions about the logic of the story. Hopefully, this review will not have too many spoilers, but it's the story of an attorney who is hired by a mysterious stranger to defend the attorney's childhood friend from a murder charge. The man killed was the alleged killer of the childhood friend's baby sister 30/40 years before. Simple yes? It is what motivates this very powerful and rich stranger that is the mystery.
Again, spoilers,but with all the problems the "stranger" had controlling the attorney, why didn't he simply frame the judge or DA to get the guy off? Why use someone with an obvious criminal background to be the eyewitness when the "stranger" could have bought a third party innocent as the eyewitness. There are other logic problems that would make Perry Mason shake his head in confusion.
But, the story on a whole was well written, the characters human enough to empathize with, and (if you read through the illogic) is a very good read.
Thank you Goodreads.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2016
3-1/2 stars. A decent thriller with the main character Jason "Coke" Kolarich, lawyer, friend of Sammy, father, and husband. His world turns upside down and he has to deal with serious family issues as well as the arrest of his best friend. Clever, quick witted and a fun read.
May 25, 2025
Jason is a lawyer going through a difficult time. He is approached by a man named Smith asked to be the lawyer for his childhood friend Sammy who has been arrested for murder. He is accused of killing the man believed to have abducted and murdered his little sister over two decades ago. When Jason does not want to play by Smith’s rules he puts himself in danger. Jason is determined to find the truth but it will come at a cost.
This is the first book in the series and it was good and kept you guessing the entire time. There is a lot of legal talk that was hard to get used to but still a good thriller read.
This is the first book in the series and it was good and kept you guessing the entire time. There is a lot of legal talk that was hard to get used to but still a good thriller read.
May 22, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up!
May 15, 2024
What a wild ride! Grabbed me from page one and never let go. Couldn’t put this down, and can’t wait to read next in series.
June 24, 2012
I decided to read some of David Ellis' books after finishing Guilty Wives, a James Patterson book which he corroborated on. So I admit that I had high expectations.
The Hidden Man is book one in a series of three about defense attorney Jason Kolarich. In this book, Kolarich, having just lost his wife and baby daughter three months earlier to a tragic car accident, is just trying to cope and get out of bed each day, and Ellis does a good job at making us feel Jason's paralyzing grief. In the midst of this, Jason is approached with an entreaty to represent his childhood best friend, who is charged in the murder of his sister's abductor. There are a lot of twists and turns and sub-plots, and the whole thing is rather far-fetched. There is a surprise ending which I never saw coming (but maybe should have).
The book never really gripped me, however I kept on with it. Ellis' style in this book, at least, is to jump back and forth between the present and the past within the same chapter, a technique employed by other authors a bit more successfully. Sometimes, this is just confusing until you read a few sentences and realize what time period he's talking about. There is also a ton of legalise, but beyond that, legal slang, that is exchanged between attorneys or between attorneys and cops. Sometimes, this is explained in plain English, often it is not.
I wouldn't call it a bad read, but I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it to others, either. Let's see what the next book in the series, Breach of Trust, is like as I have that one, too.
The Hidden Man is book one in a series of three about defense attorney Jason Kolarich. In this book, Kolarich, having just lost his wife and baby daughter three months earlier to a tragic car accident, is just trying to cope and get out of bed each day, and Ellis does a good job at making us feel Jason's paralyzing grief. In the midst of this, Jason is approached with an entreaty to represent his childhood best friend, who is charged in the murder of his sister's abductor. There are a lot of twists and turns and sub-plots, and the whole thing is rather far-fetched. There is a surprise ending which I never saw coming (but maybe should have).
The book never really gripped me, however I kept on with it. Ellis' style in this book, at least, is to jump back and forth between the present and the past within the same chapter, a technique employed by other authors a bit more successfully. Sometimes, this is just confusing until you read a few sentences and realize what time period he's talking about. There is also a ton of legalise, but beyond that, legal slang, that is exchanged between attorneys or between attorneys and cops. Sometimes, this is explained in plain English, often it is not.
I wouldn't call it a bad read, but I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it to others, either. Let's see what the next book in the series, Breach of Trust, is like as I have that one, too.
January 7, 2010
The story starts when young toddler Audrey Cutler is taken from her bedroom in the middle of the night. Cops later find convicted sex offender Griffin Perlini in the neighborhood, and find pictures of the girl in his house. Without further evidence though, they are unable to convict. Audrey's brother Sammy watches his family fall apart. His sister is presumed murdered, his father disappears, and a few years later his mother dies.
Jason Kolarich was Sammy's best friend when they were young. But Jason discovered a talent for football and got a scholarship to college. Now he's the defense attorney being paid by a mysterious stranger to defend Sammy from the murder of Griffin Perlini.
I was completely engaged with this story, watching Jason struggle to recover from the accidental death of his wife and young daughter, and being forced out of his despair by a debt to an old friend. And who is Smith, the mysterious man who insists Jason defend Sammy and clear him of all charges without any delays? And how far will Smith go to ensure Sammy's release, and why? All questions are brought to a satisfying conclusion. A very nice start to a new series. The main character of Jason is completely and sympathetically drawn, with enough of the secondary characters to make me look forward to reading the next in the series.
Jason Kolarich was Sammy's best friend when they were young. But Jason discovered a talent for football and got a scholarship to college. Now he's the defense attorney being paid by a mysterious stranger to defend Sammy from the murder of Griffin Perlini.
I was completely engaged with this story, watching Jason struggle to recover from the accidental death of his wife and young daughter, and being forced out of his despair by a debt to an old friend. And who is Smith, the mysterious man who insists Jason defend Sammy and clear him of all charges without any delays? And how far will Smith go to ensure Sammy's release, and why? All questions are brought to a satisfying conclusion. A very nice start to a new series. The main character of Jason is completely and sympathetically drawn, with enough of the secondary characters to make me look forward to reading the next in the series.
December 15, 2010
This is a slightly above average book that could have been a lot better.
The good: characterization, beginning with the protagonist, a competent solo practitioner / criminal defense lawyer who is failing to cope with recent personal tragedy while also defending a murder case involving a childhood friend on very short notice. The nuances of a lawyer navigating through a case was also very good - both the procedural hurdles you have to go through by code as well as the unwritten charm and political maneuvers one can make.
The bad: hokey plot twists, inconsistencies, and cheap action - oh, and unbelievable divine intervention too. Also, leaving the midwestern city in which the story takes places unnamed was annoying and generic when it was perfectly clear the only city it could have possibly been was Chicago (at one point there is a sarcastic reference to the other 2 million middle-aged men fitting a certain description in the city - well, there is only one midwestern city that big). Why not just say it?
I thought this book ended very poorly - it would have been 4 stars based upon the characterization and story-telling if not for the ridiculous twists and turns at the end which really cheapened what could have been an otherwise good lawyer/detective yarn.
The good: characterization, beginning with the protagonist, a competent solo practitioner / criminal defense lawyer who is failing to cope with recent personal tragedy while also defending a murder case involving a childhood friend on very short notice. The nuances of a lawyer navigating through a case was also very good - both the procedural hurdles you have to go through by code as well as the unwritten charm and political maneuvers one can make.
The bad: hokey plot twists, inconsistencies, and cheap action - oh, and unbelievable divine intervention too. Also, leaving the midwestern city in which the story takes places unnamed was annoying and generic when it was perfectly clear the only city it could have possibly been was Chicago (at one point there is a sarcastic reference to the other 2 million middle-aged men fitting a certain description in the city - well, there is only one midwestern city that big). Why not just say it?
I thought this book ended very poorly - it would have been 4 stars based upon the characterization and story-telling if not for the ridiculous twists and turns at the end which really cheapened what could have been an otherwise good lawyer/detective yarn.
July 24, 2011
I've read a lot of legal thrillers and some of them great, some of them not so great. This one belongs in the latter category. I really tried to like this book but as I got further and further into it the more I ended up hating it. Everything seemed so unrealistic and outlandish. I didn't even like any of the characters. The author even tried to make it more interesting by going back and forth from present to past with the main character, Jack. While it does work quite a bit for other authors, it didn't with this one. In fact it made it seem like the author was trying too hard to give the reader a better insight into Jack's character. What was more bothersome was that for an author who also practices law, I couldn't believe how many conflicts of interest and ethical violations occurred that no one was held accountable for them. As for the ending, the who, what and why was a total joke. So unbelievable and far-fetched.
Skip this one as there are way better legal thrillers out there.
Skip this one as there are way better legal thrillers out there.
August 10, 2009
Jason Kolarich is a midwestern lawyer who is contacted by a mysterious Smith to prevent a childhood friend from being sent to prison for murder. Sammy is accused of murdering a pedophile who is suspected of kidnapping and killing his baby sister Audrey 20+ years ago. Jason remembers the crime vividly and how it destroyed Sammy's family. He also remembers that the pedophile was not found guilty. As he prepares for Sammy's trail, which he had taken because he feels he owes a teen debt, he uncovers much more than he bargains for. He soon learns he is expected to do exactly what the mysterious Smith says, or he will pay high consequences.
This is a book I really enjoyed reading. It kept me riveted and it took a long time to determine "whodunit." And when I did, it was the last thing I suspected. Good, concise writing; good plot.
This is a book I really enjoyed reading. It kept me riveted and it took a long time to determine "whodunit." And when I did, it was the last thing I suspected. Good, concise writing; good plot.
March 16, 2018
I have had this book in my collection for a while, and I really can't remember why I purchased it. So, I started it (to determine why I purchased it) and I was unable to put it down until I finished it.
Jason Kolarich had just lost his wife, daughter and unborn child in a car accident. Unable to function for several months, he quit from a high profile law firm, and started his own single lawyer law firm. As he is still struggling from his tremendous loss, a childhood best friend has been arrested for murder.
Although there were places where I had to suspend belief, it was a great story.
Jason Kolarich had just lost his wife, daughter and unborn child in a car accident. Unable to function for several months, he quit from a high profile law firm, and started his own single lawyer law firm. As he is still struggling from his tremendous loss, a childhood best friend has been arrested for murder.
Although there were places where I had to suspend belief, it was a great story.
June 30, 2023
When something happens in a story that is so unbelievable it tends to taint the rest of the story, I have to acknowledge it. That is why I gave this book 2 stars, come on, unless you are writing a fantasy or futuristic story you need to keep it somewhat real. I am okay with stretching boundaries, but to decide to go so far beyond those boundaries to make the story more exciting isn't acceptable.
I respect what it takes to write a book, I hope the author respects that I am not so gullible to go along with anything that is a million to one happening.
I respect what it takes to write a book, I hope the author respects that I am not so gullible to go along with anything that is a million to one happening.
July 20, 2009
This was a proof copy - so I don't know what might have changed in the final. It was interesting and I didn't figure out the final outcome untlil almost the end! The only thing that really bothered me (don't finish reading if you are going to read the book) was a third member of the main character's family was introduced in one very short scene and then nothing else was ever said. All in all, it was avery enjoyable crime story!
December 15, 2011
Engaging story. A lawyer from grieving the loss of his wife and child, is sucked into a murder trial. His client: His best friend from childhood. The victim: The man who molested and murdered his friends young sister decades before. The catch: Someone else is paying for the defense, and they have their own evil and mysterious motives.
The constant flashbacks to our hero's wife and kids became annoying, and added little to the story.
Unexpected ending.
The constant flashbacks to our hero's wife and kids became annoying, and added little to the story.
Unexpected ending.
September 10, 2014
My first standalone David Ellis novel, (and definitely not my last), after having previously encountered Mr. Ellis as a James Patterson co-author. The main protagonist, lawyer Jason Kolarich, is definitely a character to build a series around, and this is an engaging and absorbing legal thriller in the same vein as a John Grisham classic. Great work David Ellis!
January 30, 2011
a good story that kept me guessing right up until the end. looking forward to reading breach of trust.
May 28, 2016
Very slow start, maybe trying to pump up suspense. However, almost lost me. And an improbable ending. Ellis needs to stay with the "Patterson Writing Cabal".
September 5, 2021
A complex yet easy to follow thriller! Jason is an intriguing character, and this is one great story!
October 17, 2024
An Entertaining Mystery But "Its Glue Took Too Long To Dry" Before Its Many Puzzle Pieces Fit Together!
Without going into detail, the plot involves lawyer, Jason Kolarich, needing to put together a competent defense in a short amount of time when a long-estranged friend is charged with murder. However, as the trial looms near, it becomes evident to Kolarich that he will have to unearth some unsettling events from their childhood in order to solve not only this case, but also a mysteriously connected crime that went unsolved over thirty years ago.
The Hidden Man is a mystery (I wouldn't call it a thriller, even though the publisher does) whose first quarter and last quarter are both entertaining and fast-paced, although they at times strain credibility. However, the middle half of the book was a bit of a let-down for me. That's because it dangles so many seemingly unconnected pieces of its puzzle in front of the reader for so long a time without much excitement that by the time the author applied "the glue" needed to make all of the pieces fit together, I sometimes found myself, instead of engrossed, being lulled into sort of a "reader's daze." This unevenness in the story made The Hidden Man an "okay" read but not a book I'd recommend you rush out to read.
Now, in fairness to David Ellis (typical of his standalone books I’ve read) his character devlopment skills are well above average, and so I found myself strongly interested in what happens to the various characters involved in The Hidden Man -- even the bad guys! Further, the main character, lawyer Jason Kolarich, is one I enjoyed and expect to read to more about in future books by Ellis, and I think that could be a good thing.
3 1/2 stars rounded up to 4 stars.
Without going into detail, the plot involves lawyer, Jason Kolarich, needing to put together a competent defense in a short amount of time when a long-estranged friend is charged with murder. However, as the trial looms near, it becomes evident to Kolarich that he will have to unearth some unsettling events from their childhood in order to solve not only this case, but also a mysteriously connected crime that went unsolved over thirty years ago.
The Hidden Man is a mystery (I wouldn't call it a thriller, even though the publisher does) whose first quarter and last quarter are both entertaining and fast-paced, although they at times strain credibility. However, the middle half of the book was a bit of a let-down for me. That's because it dangles so many seemingly unconnected pieces of its puzzle in front of the reader for so long a time without much excitement that by the time the author applied "the glue" needed to make all of the pieces fit together, I sometimes found myself, instead of engrossed, being lulled into sort of a "reader's daze." This unevenness in the story made The Hidden Man an "okay" read but not a book I'd recommend you rush out to read.
Now, in fairness to David Ellis (typical of his standalone books I’ve read) his character devlopment skills are well above average, and so I found myself strongly interested in what happens to the various characters involved in The Hidden Man -- even the bad guys! Further, the main character, lawyer Jason Kolarich, is one I enjoyed and expect to read to more about in future books by Ellis, and I think that could be a good thing.
3 1/2 stars rounded up to 4 stars.
December 29, 2024
3.5 stars but im inclined to round up because it’s david ellis and i like the technical jargon he threw in. pretty engaging plot but overall i think this book suffered from being a bit slow but when it picked up it def picked up! however idk if i like jason enough to see myself reading the rest of this series
May 20, 2025
stayed up late with this one & loved the ride! my first legal thriller & i was hooked from the first page. sharp writing, layered twists and a good mix of law & order grit and sopranos drama 🤌🏼 the main character’s inner monologue was everything. a little complex for me at times, but it all came together in the end!!
October 28, 2022
I love David Ellis. Cough, Look Closer, and Line of Vision, both of which are 5-star reads for me. This was a solid read but didn't make that 5-star rating a trilogy for him, unfortunately.
Writing: 4/5 - Plot: 4/5 - Ending: 4.5/5
A very strong first introduction to a series with a new protagonist who I really like, a badass lawyer called Jason Kolarich, or "Koke" as his friends call him. The writing was solid but lacked the "cleverness" of Look Closer and Line of Vision, in my opinion.
The plot was juicy and a classic setup for a legal thriller, and I really enjoyed how the plot unravelled and how we worked alongside Jason, who was putting it together. I will say it felt a little slow at times but I wasn't necessarily bored at any given point. At one point or two, it got darker than I expected, which I appreciated!
The ending is what saved it for me, picking up to a level where I expected the book to be far earlier. I felt the twist was good, maybe a tad predictable, but I quite liked it.
I'm excited to read book 2 in this series and see what else Jason is up to.
TW: Violence, Murder, Drug-use, Racism
Instagram @mattydafsshelf
Writing: 4/5 - Plot: 4/5 - Ending: 4.5/5
A very strong first introduction to a series with a new protagonist who I really like, a badass lawyer called Jason Kolarich, or "Koke" as his friends call him. The writing was solid but lacked the "cleverness" of Look Closer and Line of Vision, in my opinion.
The plot was juicy and a classic setup for a legal thriller, and I really enjoyed how the plot unravelled and how we worked alongside Jason, who was putting it together. I will say it felt a little slow at times but I wasn't necessarily bored at any given point. At one point or two, it got darker than I expected, which I appreciated!
The ending is what saved it for me, picking up to a level where I expected the book to be far earlier. I felt the twist was good, maybe a tad predictable, but I quite liked it.
I'm excited to read book 2 in this series and see what else Jason is up to.
TW: Violence, Murder, Drug-use, Racism
Instagram @mattydafsshelf
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