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The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Presumed Innocent and The Last Trial returns with a riveting legal thriller in which a reckless private detective is embroiled in a fraught police scandal.
For as long as Lucia Gomez has been the police chief in the city of Highland Isle, near Kindle County, she has known that any woman in law enforcement must walk a precarious line between authority and camaraderie to gain respect. She has maintained a spotless reputation—until now. Three male police officers have accused her of soliciting sex in exchange for promotions to higher ranks. With few people left who she can trust, Chief Gomez turns to an old friend, Rik Dudek, to act as her attorney in the federal grand jury investigation, insisting to Rik that the accusations against her are part of an ugly smear campaign designed to destroy her career and empower her enemies—both outside the police force and within..
Clarice “Pinky” Granum spent most of her youth experimenting with an impressive array of drugs and failing out of various professions, including the police academy. Pinky knows that in the eyes of most people, she's nothing but a screwup—but she doesn't trust most people's opinions anyway. Moreover, she finally has a respectable-enough job as a licensed P.I. working for Rik on his roster of mostly minor cases, like workman's comp, DUIs and bar fights. Rik's shabby office and even shabbier cases are a far cry from the kinds of high-profile criminal matters Pinky became familiar with in the law office of her grandfather, Sandy Stern. But Rik and Pinky feel that Chief Gomez’s case, which has attracted national attention, is their chance to break into the legal big leagues.
Guided by her gut instinct and razor-sharp investigative skills, Pinky dives headfirst into a twisted scandal that will draw her into the deepest recesses of the city’s criminal networks, as well as the human mind. But she will need every scrap of tenacity and courage to unravel the dark secrets those closest to her are determined to keep hidden.
For as long as Lucia Gomez has been the police chief in the city of Highland Isle, near Kindle County, she has known that any woman in law enforcement must walk a precarious line between authority and camaraderie to gain respect. She has maintained a spotless reputation—until now. Three male police officers have accused her of soliciting sex in exchange for promotions to higher ranks. With few people left who she can trust, Chief Gomez turns to an old friend, Rik Dudek, to act as her attorney in the federal grand jury investigation, insisting to Rik that the accusations against her are part of an ugly smear campaign designed to destroy her career and empower her enemies—both outside the police force and within..
Clarice “Pinky” Granum spent most of her youth experimenting with an impressive array of drugs and failing out of various professions, including the police academy. Pinky knows that in the eyes of most people, she's nothing but a screwup—but she doesn't trust most people's opinions anyway. Moreover, she finally has a respectable-enough job as a licensed P.I. working for Rik on his roster of mostly minor cases, like workman's comp, DUIs and bar fights. Rik's shabby office and even shabbier cases are a far cry from the kinds of high-profile criminal matters Pinky became familiar with in the law office of her grandfather, Sandy Stern. But Rik and Pinky feel that Chief Gomez’s case, which has attracted national attention, is their chance to break into the legal big leagues.
Guided by her gut instinct and razor-sharp investigative skills, Pinky dives headfirst into a twisted scandal that will draw her into the deepest recesses of the city’s criminal networks, as well as the human mind. But she will need every scrap of tenacity and courage to unravel the dark secrets those closest to her are determined to keep hidden.
688 pages, Hardcover
First published September 20, 2022
2401 people are currently reading
15462 people want to read
About the author
Scott Turow
87 books2,596 followersScott Turow is the author of ten bestselling works of fiction, including IDENTICAL, INNOCENT, PRESUMED INNOCENT, and THE BURDEN OF PROOF, and two nonfiction books, including ONE L, about his experience as a law student. His books have been translated into more than forty languages, sold more than thirty million copies worldwide, and have been adapted into movies and television projects. He has frequently contributed essays and op-ed pieces to publications such as the New York Times, Washington Post, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, and The Atlantic.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 745 reviews
December 13, 2022
1.0 star— DNF at 33%. I have loved most Scott Turow books, but this one was just plain awful. I made myself read a third of it to give it a fair chance but unfortunately it just got more stupid. The main character, Pinky, gets the bird from me. (I know I know bad pun but worse book).
January 7, 2023
It's been a right smart amount of time since I have read Scott Turow. Although this is no Presumed Innocent, it was a thoroughly enjoyable read for me. I see the reviews are mixed. If you like Pinky, the protagonist, it will make all the difference. I liked Pinky from the outset and would happily read another Turow novel with her character front and center. She is a burgeoning PI who was dropped from the police academy for failing a drug test. Currently working for a small-time lawyer, she is still finding herself, questioning things. She comes off as a bit of a wild child, wearing a nail where one would typically find a nose ring, thoroughly inked with multitudinous tats, and wild ass hair. Do not make the mistake of discounting her on the basis of her looks. Her gut instinct and quick mind prove to be a threatening match for those with something to hide. She comes by it honestly, as she is the granddaughter of Sandy Stern. Those who have read Turow will be familiar with his character. Loved the courtroom scenes and the surveillance techniques and equipment.
June 25, 2023
I haven’t read a legal thriller in awhile and thought I would give this a go. Turns out I wasn’t thrilled by the characters portrayed and abandoned the book to move on to something better.
2 out of 5 stars
2 out of 5 stars
September 5, 2022
When last I read Scott Turow, legal favorite Sandy Stern was facing his last trial, looking back on his life as he contemplated the ravages of aging. In this novel, Turow takes readers back to Kindle County and the adventures of Sandy’s granddaughter, Pinky, a unique individual who works as a PI for a local attorney. The police chief of Highland Isle has been accused of soliciting sex from some of her subordinates in exchange for promotions and Pinky’s boss is defending her. The investigation into this case unravels a web of corruption involving a former police officer now turned real estate mogul. As a parallel, or maybe related interest, Pinky is obsessed with her mysterious new neighbor and vows to find out his secrets as well.
As always, Turow is at his best in depicting courtroom and investigative scenes. They are fast paced and engrossing. I thought Pinky’s contemplations about her love and social relationships a bit slow and repetitive. I found myself skimming a bit, something I typically have not done in past Turow novels.
The plot is interesting, the characters, many of whom are unlikable, richly drawn. I’m looking forward to more stories featuring Pinky. She is much more capable than the initial introduction to her makes her seem. I started out not liking her very much, but by the end she had endeared herself to me.
Although this is part of a loose series (The Kindle County Books), it is not at all necessary to have read any of the prior ones. Although readers who have may enjoy the brief cameo appearances by Sandy Stern.
Thanks to @netgalley and grandcentralpublishing for the ARC
June 28, 2022
The only other book I have read by the author was his first "Presumed Innocent" which caused me to take a chance on this book. It is obvious to me that he has lost his mojo badly over the past 20 plus years. This is a mind numbing boring read. The characters are annoying and uninteresting and the plot has potential, but not with the characters he chose to use. This was an incredibly difficult book to get through.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog
November 28, 2022
Sex in the county…
Pinky Granum is working as an investigator in the law office of her step-uncle (I think), Rik Dudek. Rik has been hired to defend the local police chief who has been accused of soliciting sex from junior officers in exchange for promotions. The twist is that the police chief is female, Lucia Gomez, and her alleged victims are males. Lucia claims the allegations are being co-ordinated by an old adversary of hers, a man known as Ritz, who was once her boss until she was gradually promoted to become his boss instead. Now Ritz is a rich and successful property developer, and Lucia thinks he’s out for revenge because she had him sacked from the police force. Two of the officers who are accusing her also work part-time for Ritz, so there’s an obvious connection. Pinky takes a liking to Lucia and throws herself into trying to prove that Ritz is behind the accusations. But meantime Pinky’s also concerned about her neighbour – a newcomer who’s behaving very strangely, in her opinion, so in her spare time she sets out to investigate him too.
In the previous book in the series it became clear that the major recurring character, Sandy Stern, was making his final appearance, and in fact I assumed it would be the last of the Kindle County books. Turow has decided to continue them by making Pinky the central character in this one – Sandy’s granddaughter who has appeared in a secondary role in the last couple of books. Was this a wise decision? I’m not sure. While I never feel authors should restrict themselves to writing only about people like themselves, I feel it’s a stretch for a man in his 70s to successfully inhabit the head of a young female character in a society that has changed so dramatically since his own youth. Of course I’m also at the other end of the age scale from Pinky, so it makes it hard for me to judge how well he’s pulled it off. Personally, I found Pinky utterly tedious and stereotyped, to be honest – bi-sexual (of course), foul-mouthed, Mohawk hairdo, voraciously sexually promiscuous, ex-drug addict, thrown out of the police college, covered in tattoos (or ink, as the cool people apparently say), unable to form permanent relationships, etc., etc. Exactly the type of character, in fact, that has driven me away from contemporary fiction in recent years into the welcoming arms of vintage and the classics.
However, the Pinky character wasn’t my only problem with the book. The Lucia plotline is sordid in the extreme. While she may or may not have been forcing unwanted sex on her subordinates, she was certainly having sex with them and we hear far more about the sleazy details of that than this reader wanted to know. There have been earlier books in the series where sex played an important role in the crime or in the lives of the characters, but I don’t remember any of them being as graphic as this or as overwhelmingly consumed by the subject. (Or maybe I’ve just grown more prudish. It seems to me men, or at least male writers, of a certain age become increasingly obsessed by sex, while women of the same age grow less interested in it as a literary subject as they grow older.) I feel that Turow has tried to appear modern by making his two main female characters behave like the worst of men – one considering everyone she meets in terms of suitability as a sexual conquest and the other being the sexually predatory boss. Both are stock male characters who have merely had their genders flipped. I didn’t believe in either of them.
I considered abandoning it about a quarter of the way in but, because I’ve loved this series for so long, I decided to persevere. I wish I hadn’t. I can only hope that Turow doesn’t repeat this experiment. If he is going to continue the series, I hope he brings forward a different character to take the lead role next time, as he has done from time to time in other books, and finds a rather less salacious plot.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Swift Press.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
Pinky Granum is working as an investigator in the law office of her step-uncle (I think), Rik Dudek. Rik has been hired to defend the local police chief who has been accused of soliciting sex from junior officers in exchange for promotions. The twist is that the police chief is female, Lucia Gomez, and her alleged victims are males. Lucia claims the allegations are being co-ordinated by an old adversary of hers, a man known as Ritz, who was once her boss until she was gradually promoted to become his boss instead. Now Ritz is a rich and successful property developer, and Lucia thinks he’s out for revenge because she had him sacked from the police force. Two of the officers who are accusing her also work part-time for Ritz, so there’s an obvious connection. Pinky takes a liking to Lucia and throws herself into trying to prove that Ritz is behind the accusations. But meantime Pinky’s also concerned about her neighbour – a newcomer who’s behaving very strangely, in her opinion, so in her spare time she sets out to investigate him too.
In the previous book in the series it became clear that the major recurring character, Sandy Stern, was making his final appearance, and in fact I assumed it would be the last of the Kindle County books. Turow has decided to continue them by making Pinky the central character in this one – Sandy’s granddaughter who has appeared in a secondary role in the last couple of books. Was this a wise decision? I’m not sure. While I never feel authors should restrict themselves to writing only about people like themselves, I feel it’s a stretch for a man in his 70s to successfully inhabit the head of a young female character in a society that has changed so dramatically since his own youth. Of course I’m also at the other end of the age scale from Pinky, so it makes it hard for me to judge how well he’s pulled it off. Personally, I found Pinky utterly tedious and stereotyped, to be honest – bi-sexual (of course), foul-mouthed, Mohawk hairdo, voraciously sexually promiscuous, ex-drug addict, thrown out of the police college, covered in tattoos (or ink, as the cool people apparently say), unable to form permanent relationships, etc., etc. Exactly the type of character, in fact, that has driven me away from contemporary fiction in recent years into the welcoming arms of vintage and the classics.
However, the Pinky character wasn’t my only problem with the book. The Lucia plotline is sordid in the extreme. While she may or may not have been forcing unwanted sex on her subordinates, she was certainly having sex with them and we hear far more about the sleazy details of that than this reader wanted to know. There have been earlier books in the series where sex played an important role in the crime or in the lives of the characters, but I don’t remember any of them being as graphic as this or as overwhelmingly consumed by the subject. (Or maybe I’ve just grown more prudish. It seems to me men, or at least male writers, of a certain age become increasingly obsessed by sex, while women of the same age grow less interested in it as a literary subject as they grow older.) I feel that Turow has tried to appear modern by making his two main female characters behave like the worst of men – one considering everyone she meets in terms of suitability as a sexual conquest and the other being the sexually predatory boss. Both are stock male characters who have merely had their genders flipped. I didn’t believe in either of them.
I considered abandoning it about a quarter of the way in but, because I’ve loved this series for so long, I decided to persevere. I wish I hadn’t. I can only hope that Turow doesn’t repeat this experiment. If he is going to continue the series, I hope he brings forward a different character to take the lead role next time, as he has done from time to time in other books, and finds a rather less salacious plot.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Swift Press.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
October 19, 2022
In what I would classify as a 'Legal Thriller', Scott Turow has created a windy-twisty masterpiece worthy of a TV show! (In fact, if you liked that show The Killing with Mireille Enos and Charles Joel Nordström Kinnaman - you'll LOVE this book! This isn't the type of thriller I normally read either? I'm much more of a 'who murdered Becky with the hydrangeas on the cul-de-sac?' kind of thriller reader, so this was a great change of pace.
Police Chief Lucia is being accused of soliciting se.xual favors in exchange for promotions, but the corruption is so much deeper than anyone realizes. Pinky, a quirky PI with sapphic leanings throughout the book, takes a deep dive into all of the strange comings and goings around the case, creating an incredibly detailed (and somewhat ridiculous) narrative.
Pinky's character is the unreliable narrator you need to keep this story interesting, and I loved how her character was the heroine in the end!
Things I Liked:
- I love stories with concurrent mysteries
- A lot of details to keep track of, and at the end of the story, you realize if you're a clever person or not for having picked up on them, lol
- Somewhat funny... one of my favorite quotes is from when one character describes another as being mentally inundated with 'PES' - Piles of Erroneous Sh.it. I about died - the book had been so serious it was a nice break!
- Explosive climactic ending (There really is nothing worse than an anti-climactic ending whilst reading a thriller!)
- I love books with morally grey characters that really make you question whether or not you like them. 'Lucy' is a character I just didn't like for various reasons, and I found myself as a whole agreeing and disagreeing with her character throughout the book!
One of my favorite quotes:
"I have noticed something throughout my years in this business....There are people who never seem to get caught. And people who always do." - Just really stuck with me because it's just the truth of the world.
Extra Notes & Tropes:
- Police intimidation & corruption/ Conspiracy Theories
- LGBTQ+ themes
**TW: Talk of Child po.rn and child se.x.ual as.sault
(I received this book as an advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.)
Police Chief Lucia is being accused of soliciting se.xual favors in exchange for promotions, but the corruption is so much deeper than anyone realizes. Pinky, a quirky PI with sapphic leanings throughout the book, takes a deep dive into all of the strange comings and goings around the case, creating an incredibly detailed (and somewhat ridiculous) narrative.
Pinky's character is the unreliable narrator you need to keep this story interesting, and I loved how her character was the heroine in the end!
Things I Liked:
- I love stories with concurrent mysteries
- A lot of details to keep track of, and at the end of the story, you realize if you're a clever person or not for having picked up on them, lol
- Somewhat funny... one of my favorite quotes is from when one character describes another as being mentally inundated with 'PES' - Piles of Erroneous Sh.it. I about died - the book had been so serious it was a nice break!
- Explosive climactic ending (There really is nothing worse than an anti-climactic ending whilst reading a thriller!)
- I love books with morally grey characters that really make you question whether or not you like them. 'Lucy' is a character I just didn't like for various reasons, and I found myself as a whole agreeing and disagreeing with her character throughout the book!
One of my favorite quotes:
"I have noticed something throughout my years in this business....There are people who never seem to get caught. And people who always do." - Just really stuck with me because it's just the truth of the world.
Extra Notes & Tropes:
- Police intimidation & corruption/ Conspiracy Theories
- LGBTQ+ themes
**TW: Talk of Child po.rn and child se.x.ual as.sault
(I received this book as an advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.)
October 21, 2022
I really liked the original premise of the book. A chief of police is charged with abuse of power for allegedly sexually harassing/ assaulting three police officers. The twist here is that the chief is Lucia Gomez-Barreram, a woman, and the accusers are all men on her force. She hires an old high school friend Rik Dudek as her defense attorney. Dudek is a rather low rent attorney but in his employ is Pinky Granum, the granddaughter of Alejandro "Sandy" Stern, the lawyer who defended Rusty Sabich in Turow's Presumed Innocent (a killer of a book - imho). The plot ducks and weaves as it follows Pinky who is charged with investigating and assisting the defense of the chief. She gets help from former lover Tonya, takes on a lover (in a plot twist that seemed unrealistic), and her sharp witted investigative skills ultimately save the day, of course.
Although some of the story was borderline implausible, that does not phase me when it's a well-written taut legal/ police thriller. This book is just that for the most part. But there were two things that dulled my overall enthusiasm for the book: 1) Pinky is a caricature of the young brash rebellious female protagonist - spiky majenta hair, bisexual, nail through her nose, tats all over - she is interesting (maybe) but in a way that feels like an overused trope; and 2) the graphic details around another character, which is a total turn off.
Although some of the story was borderline implausible, that does not phase me when it's a well-written taut legal/ police thriller. This book is just that for the most part. But there were two things that dulled my overall enthusiasm for the book: 1) Pinky is a caricature of the young brash rebellious female protagonist - spiky majenta hair, bisexual, nail through her nose, tats all over - she is interesting (maybe) but in a way that feels like an overused trope; and 2) the graphic details around another character, which is a total turn off.
January 2, 2023
A Good Story
I really enjoyed this. Scott Touro story. It mixed up different types of police activity in there crooked actions as well.
I was impressed you women in strong characters and it was really easy to follow.
I really enjoyed this. Scott Touro story. It mixed up different types of police activity in there crooked actions as well.
I was impressed you women in strong characters and it was really easy to follow.
July 30, 2022
I’ve been a big fan of Scott Turow since I read Presumed Innocent back in in the 1980s when I was working in a public library. His stories are generally set in “Kindle County,” and familiar characters recur throughout the books. This time, the PI is Picky, granddaughter of renowned attorney Sandy Stern.
Pinky spent many years floundering professionally (including flunking out of the police academy) and personally, devouring various drugs before finally settling into a fairly respectable job working for Rik, dealing mostly with cases like workman’s comp, DUIs and bar fights. Rik’s shabby office and even shabbier cases are a big downfall from the kind of high-profile criminal matters Pinky became familiar with in Sandy Stern’s law office. Lucia Gomez, the female chief of police in the town of Highland Isle, has been accused of trading sex for promotions by three male officers under her supervision. Lucia is an old friend of Rik’s, so she comes to him for help.
Between the feisty young PI and the successful female police chief, the book is both fun reading and thought-provoking as it looks at issues around gender, policing, and journalism (as the case attracts national attention).
I still love Scott Turow. Five stars.
Pinky spent many years floundering professionally (including flunking out of the police academy) and personally, devouring various drugs before finally settling into a fairly respectable job working for Rik, dealing mostly with cases like workman’s comp, DUIs and bar fights. Rik’s shabby office and even shabbier cases are a big downfall from the kind of high-profile criminal matters Pinky became familiar with in Sandy Stern’s law office. Lucia Gomez, the female chief of police in the town of Highland Isle, has been accused of trading sex for promotions by three male officers under her supervision. Lucia is an old friend of Rik’s, so she comes to him for help.
Between the feisty young PI and the successful female police chief, the book is both fun reading and thought-provoking as it looks at issues around gender, policing, and journalism (as the case attracts national attention).
I still love Scott Turow. Five stars.
June 17, 2022
Thanks to Netgalley and Swift Press for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.
DNF at 74%.
Pinky is an investigator for Rik, a lawyer, who is defending the Chief of Police, who is accused of forcing men to sleep with her in exchange for promotions. Pinky not only investigates this case but also investigates her suspicious neighbor.
I read and really enjoyed Presumed Innocent 20 years ago and never picked up another Scott Turow novel until this one. I don’t know what my specific problem was with this book but it just never grabbed my attention. I never cared about Pinky or her neighbor or the chief. I wanted to DNF early but I reminded myself that I like legal thrillers and this was certain to get better but by 74% I didn’t care enough to even skim to the end. I guess it just wasn’t my thing even though it should have been.
DNF at 74%.
Pinky is an investigator for Rik, a lawyer, who is defending the Chief of Police, who is accused of forcing men to sleep with her in exchange for promotions. Pinky not only investigates this case but also investigates her suspicious neighbor.
I read and really enjoyed Presumed Innocent 20 years ago and never picked up another Scott Turow novel until this one. I don’t know what my specific problem was with this book but it just never grabbed my attention. I never cared about Pinky or her neighbor or the chief. I wanted to DNF early but I reminded myself that I like legal thrillers and this was certain to get better but by 74% I didn’t care enough to even skim to the end. I guess it just wasn’t my thing even though it should have been.
July 31, 2025
Possibly Turow's best yet. Here the balance between character-driven and plot-driven shifts a bit toward plot: something is going on in Highland Isle, across the river from Kindle County. Three seedy male police officers have accused the HI chief of extorting sexual favors, and Pinky, the chief's attorney's investigator, is on the case. Meanwhile, a secretive man has moved into the apartment next to Pinky. He is up to something, but she can't figure out what. Until she sees him meet with the Ritz, the wealthy developer linked to the chief's accusers.
As always, Turow's characters pop, his accurate portrayal of the judges, attorneys, cops, and defendants is spot-on, and the thriller-esque plot sizzles to the end. Literally to the end; I wondered if my audiobook ended a chapter or two early; the book ended the moment the dramatic confrontation was over. No wrap-up, no victory dance, no final meeting to discuss future plans. Huh. I can't think of anything important unresolved, so not important, but a little odd.
As always, Turow's characters pop, his accurate portrayal of the judges, attorneys, cops, and defendants is spot-on, and the thriller-esque plot sizzles to the end. Literally to the end; I wondered if my audiobook ended a chapter or two early; the book ended the moment the dramatic confrontation was over. No wrap-up, no victory dance, no final meeting to discuss future plans. Huh. I can't think of anything important unresolved, so not important, but a little odd.
June 9, 2022
Scott Turow’s Suspect is a fast-flowing suspense/thriller/crime story of Pinky Granum, her lawyer boss Rik Dudek and their client, Lucy Gomez, Chief of Highland Isle’s Police Department who is on trial for soliciting sex in exchange for supporting three male staff members’ promotions. The charges against her, the Chief maintains, are an attempt to tarnish her reputation and get her sacked.
Pinky is Rik Dudek’s unconventional private investigator with a drug-fueled history and anail through her nose. Rik's isn’t quite in the same league as Pinky’s lawyer grandfather until the Chief Lucia Gomez's high profile case comes along.
Just as the case attracts Rik’s and then Pinky’s attention, an intriguing neighbor, Koob, moves into Pinky’s building. Being a work in progress private investigator, Pinky sees the unusually secretive Koob as a worthy subject for investigation and eventually she makes a link between him and ‘The Ritz’, the town’s top-level property tycoon, crook, drug-dealer, ex-cop, and ex-partner of Lucy Gomez.
Lucy Gomez’ trial proceeds and two of the three litigants are exposed as liars. The third though, Blanco, proves more resilient to cross-examination and the evidence linking him to Lucy, a lurid photo, is compelling. The case suddenly collapses when Blanco’s dead body is found in a near-empty apartment. Pinky is allowed in on the case because she has gathered damning information from Koob against The Ritz. As the FBI move in on The Ritz, Lucy Gomez goes missing. And because this is a suspense as well as a thriller, I should stop there.
I’ve enjoyed all of Turow’s books so far and this one did not disappoint although at times I thought there was too much ‘Pinky introspection’ and perhaps luck/intuition played too great a part in the investigation meaning the reader was less capable of beating the writer to the end. Nonetheless the story was well constructed and well written, the main characters were reasonably well developed and their relationships were suitably inter-twined to generate some intrigue. The high-tempo ending was certainly satisfying.
Peter
www.books-and-beans.com
Please visit and follow my blog
Pinky is Rik Dudek’s unconventional private investigator with a drug-fueled history and anail through her nose. Rik's isn’t quite in the same league as Pinky’s lawyer grandfather until the Chief Lucia Gomez's high profile case comes along.
Just as the case attracts Rik’s and then Pinky’s attention, an intriguing neighbor, Koob, moves into Pinky’s building. Being a work in progress private investigator, Pinky sees the unusually secretive Koob as a worthy subject for investigation and eventually she makes a link between him and ‘The Ritz’, the town’s top-level property tycoon, crook, drug-dealer, ex-cop, and ex-partner of Lucy Gomez.
Lucy Gomez’ trial proceeds and two of the three litigants are exposed as liars. The third though, Blanco, proves more resilient to cross-examination and the evidence linking him to Lucy, a lurid photo, is compelling. The case suddenly collapses when Blanco’s dead body is found in a near-empty apartment. Pinky is allowed in on the case because she has gathered damning information from Koob against The Ritz. As the FBI move in on The Ritz, Lucy Gomez goes missing. And because this is a suspense as well as a thriller, I should stop there.
I’ve enjoyed all of Turow’s books so far and this one did not disappoint although at times I thought there was too much ‘Pinky introspection’ and perhaps luck/intuition played too great a part in the investigation meaning the reader was less capable of beating the writer to the end. Nonetheless the story was well constructed and well written, the main characters were reasonably well developed and their relationships were suitably inter-twined to generate some intrigue. The high-tempo ending was certainly satisfying.
Peter
www.books-and-beans.com
Please visit and follow my blog
September 19, 2022
Characters that are several degrees off center can go either way in my book - either I can't relate to them at all or I want to hug them when I've finished. Clarice "Pinky" Granum, happily, falls into the latter category; parts of her mind and body are a little bit nuts, but clearly there's more than a little sharp cookie mixed in.
This is the twelfth in the Kindle County Legal series, and while this isn't the first book I've read by this talented author, it's my series first. For the record, I had no trouble following the story, so it stands alone well (and I definitely plan to read more). Ever her own person, self-described bisexual Pinky lives alone and prefers the formally unattached life as she works for attorney Rik Dudek as a licensed private investigator. They just got a new case defending Highland Isle Police Chief Lucia Gomez, who's been accused of demanding sex from her staff in exchange for promotions.
Meanwhile, Pinky is curious, to say the least, about her next-door neighbor - a mysterious and (to her) weird guy she dubs TWO. He comes and goes at strange hours wearing strange clothing; when he's home, no sounds can be heard inside his apartment save the occasional sneeze. As the trial for Chief Gomez begins, Pinky begins to follow her building mate to see what he's up to. Finally, she reaches a conclusion as to what he's doing, but the question now is why and on behalf of whom. Since he's not the most sociable of guys, she's got her work cut out for her; but then, she never been known as a shrinking violet.
As details of the charges against the chief come to light, it appears a maniacal former police colleague and now wealthy real estate mogul may be trying to settle a score. And could it be there's a connection to what Pinky's building mate is up to? Whatever that is, it can't be good for Pinky's mental or physical health. In the end, it's a fast-paced romp that's strong on relationships and kept me turning the pages all the way to the end. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with a pre-release copy to read and review. Recommended!
This is the twelfth in the Kindle County Legal series, and while this isn't the first book I've read by this talented author, it's my series first. For the record, I had no trouble following the story, so it stands alone well (and I definitely plan to read more). Ever her own person, self-described bisexual Pinky lives alone and prefers the formally unattached life as she works for attorney Rik Dudek as a licensed private investigator. They just got a new case defending Highland Isle Police Chief Lucia Gomez, who's been accused of demanding sex from her staff in exchange for promotions.
Meanwhile, Pinky is curious, to say the least, about her next-door neighbor - a mysterious and (to her) weird guy she dubs TWO. He comes and goes at strange hours wearing strange clothing; when he's home, no sounds can be heard inside his apartment save the occasional sneeze. As the trial for Chief Gomez begins, Pinky begins to follow her building mate to see what he's up to. Finally, she reaches a conclusion as to what he's doing, but the question now is why and on behalf of whom. Since he's not the most sociable of guys, she's got her work cut out for her; but then, she never been known as a shrinking violet.
As details of the charges against the chief come to light, it appears a maniacal former police colleague and now wealthy real estate mogul may be trying to settle a score. And could it be there's a connection to what Pinky's building mate is up to? Whatever that is, it can't be good for Pinky's mental or physical health. In the end, it's a fast-paced romp that's strong on relationships and kept me turning the pages all the way to the end. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with a pre-release copy to read and review. Recommended!
May 27, 2022
For as long as Lucia Gomez has been the police chief in the city of Highland Isle, near Kindle County, she has known that any woman in law enforcement must walk a precarious line between authority and camaraderie to gain respect. She has maintained a spotless reputation – until now. Three male police officers have accused her of soliciting sex in exchange for promotions to higher ranks. With few people left who she can trust, Chief Gomez turns to an old friend, Rik Dudek, to act as her attorney in the federal grand jury investigation, insisting to Rik that the accusations against her are part of an ugly smear campaign designed to destroy her career and empower her enemies – both outside the police force and within.
I have read other books in this series and really enjoyed them but this one not so much. I really can't even put my finger on why but I know it is partly as the characters as they did nothing for me and I really didn't care what happened to them which then lead me to care less about the story and what the outcome would be. This was a slow burn and although it picked up 60% into the book, the whole story had lost my attention by then.
I would not say do not read this book, we are all different and many of you may enjoy it. Many thanks to Netgalley , the author and publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest unbiased review.
I have read other books in this series and really enjoyed them but this one not so much. I really can't even put my finger on why but I know it is partly as the characters as they did nothing for me and I really didn't care what happened to them which then lead me to care less about the story and what the outcome would be. This was a slow burn and although it picked up 60% into the book, the whole story had lost my attention by then.
I would not say do not read this book, we are all different and many of you may enjoy it. Many thanks to Netgalley , the author and publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest unbiased review.
October 9, 2022
This is one of my top authors. This is the only book I've ever read of his that was a complete misfire from beginning to end. I kept waiting for it to get better, which is always a bad sign. He's done an ok job writing women before. He is much better at writing men, however. This woman character was just too far out of his own zone. He made her young with tats, a colored Mohawk hairdo, bisexual. Her attitude towards sex and relationships was a man's viewpoint. In each of her new forays, Turow feels as if he is trying it out, seeing if he can be quite that hip. Turow is a Harvard grad, a former federal prosecutor and a top notch legal thriller writer. He makes the woman also someone who has trouble getting anything in life right, no matter how minor. She is a private investigator who was formerly a paralegal. Before that she was thrown out of the police academy. Turow "knows" Sandy Stern and Rusty Sabitch, his best characters. He thinks he knows this young woman. I disagree. This was so bad that I exercised my return right at Audible. I've only used it once before in over a decade and that return had a technical flaw. Put this in your must miss pile.
May 19, 2025
3 Stars. OK, but not as good as Turow's classic 'Presumed Innocent.' I couldn't get into the narrator, Pinky Granum, who answers to Clarice if you want to be formal! A PI, she's "inked from neck to ankle [and has] a magenta Mohawk." Pinky is the granddaughter of Sandy Stern, the defence lawyer in that 1987 best seller. The book is much more about her than Highland Isle Police Chief Lucia Gomez who's up in front of the Police and Fire Commission for "demanding sex for promotion." A public scandal for the ages. Pinky works for her lawyer stepbrother, Ric Dudek, who has the task of defending the Chief plus the far more difficult one of ensuring she doesn't lose her job regardless of the outcome. Three male officers are the complainants. When graphic photos emerge, that task begins to look impossible. It's Pinky's job to find cracks in the evidence and explain to all and sundry, how the Chief got into such a situation. Is it a set-up? Soon two possible suspects emerge - Pinky's weird neighbour Koob who may be a PI himself, and a developer and former cop with a bad rep, Moritz Vojczek aka The Ritz. My conclusion? To like this novel, you'd better like Pinky. (Jul2024/May2025)
September 25, 2022
So I didn’t realize before I started this that it’s the 12th book I’m a series 😳 I’m not sure that it really mattered in the end, it didn’t seem like I was missing anything but I could be wrong because how would I know what I missed haha?? This is told by Pinky who is a PI working for a lawyer. I tend to enjoy a PI as a protagonist since they’re not bound by the law and can push the boundaries more than a cop and Pinky was quite the character. She’s super quirky, which I liked but at times she almost felt too much like a caricature of “quirky female character” for me. This was billed as a legal thriller and it really was more of a mystery detective type of story, which is fine but my expectations were off. In the end this was a run of the mill, typical kind of story for me and was missing something to make it fresh and exciting. I would try the author again though and Helen Laser as the audiobook narrator was fantastic.
August 18, 2022
This was okay…and in making that selection, I am being generous to author Scott Turow’s ability to construct an interesting narrative around even a stinker of plot like this one. The primary character, PI Pinky, seems SO contrived and predictable it is almost painful to read the portions devoted to her (of which most of the book revolves). There is little that is likable about her and not too much that is agreeable about her story overall, including her thin ties to other Turow characters.
The other characters fare equally poorly in terms of development. The ‘bad guy’ is a broadly drawn “crooked cop” turned drug addict and successful local investor. The female police chief, central to the story, gets a lot of text but little real development and Pinky’s lover and ex-lover are both muddled and unengaging characters. On the subject of which - unengaging - the sex in this book is beyond boring and mostly exploitive.
What is good about this book? The too few courtroom scenes are excellent. They move with speed and interest and demonstrate where Turow’s skills are best suited. I would gladly read more about lawyer Rik, not so much Private Investigator Pinky.
June 2, 2022
Suspect, the latest novel by Scott Turow, is by far the best book he has written since Presumed Innocent. This novel deals with “sextortion” wherein the female chief of police is accused of soliciting sex from 3 of her police officers in exchange for promotions. She hires Rik Dudek as her lawyer to represent her before the Police and Fire Commission in misdemeanor proceedings. The courtroom scenes are masterfully written and expertly crafted.
There are several intriguing subplots involving Pinky - Rik’s private investigator - and her weird Asian neighbor, and another involving a former police officer who is now a wealthy man suspected of nefarious activities and a third about Pinky and a former romantic interest. Mr. Turow ties all of these together in an extremely satisfying manner.
I thank NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read and review a book destined to become a talked about best seller.
There are several intriguing subplots involving Pinky - Rik’s private investigator - and her weird Asian neighbor, and another involving a former police officer who is now a wealthy man suspected of nefarious activities and a third about Pinky and a former romantic interest. Mr. Turow ties all of these together in an extremely satisfying manner.
I thank NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read and review a book destined to become a talked about best seller.
August 5, 2022
This is a very interesting novel, narrated by a quirky investigator, Clarice, known as Pinky. Working in the family law office (readers of Turow will catch up on family members who have appeared before). Pinky and Rick are defending the police chief against a sex abuse case brought by department members….the big switch is that Lucy is female, accused of forcing male officers to have sex with her. The villain who orchestrated this scheme is THE RITZ. There are many twists and turns, but this book will hold the reader’s interest. Most of all, you will love Pinky!
Thank you Netgalley for this very enjoyable, not predictable novel!
Thank you Netgalley for this very enjoyable, not predictable novel!
May 8, 2023
This is told in the first person by "Pinky" who is Sandy Stern's granddaughter. I have read the first two in the series where Sandy was a main character, but have now read this one out of order. I think this is a series that can be read out of order, but this makes me anxious to go back and read the earlier installments.
Pinky got her name from her father who thought her real name, Clarice, didn't fit. Further, Clarice was the name of his mother-in-law who he didn't like. So she became Pinky forever. Pinky is unusual, to say the least. Even today, many police brass have no taste for people like me, inked from neck to ankle and with a magenta Mohawk (and a blue undercut on one side). She also has a nail in her nose. She is a PI working for a lawyer, Rik. They are preparing for trial representing the female Chief of Police who has been accused of sexual harrassment by three male staff.
While they are preparing for trial, out of the blue Pinky announces that her next door neighbor is weird. You've got to like a woman with a magenta mohawk and a nail in her nose suggesting anyone else is weird. And I was happy to follow her lead through this novel.
It is fine to read now, but I think it is likely to become dated, perhaps even very soon. There are references to COVID and 2nd shots which I think is less likely to be appreciated in even 5 years. I enjoyed my time with it anyway and is certainly worthy of a very high 3 stars.
Pinky got her name from her father who thought her real name, Clarice, didn't fit. Further, Clarice was the name of his mother-in-law who he didn't like. So she became Pinky forever. Pinky is unusual, to say the least. Even today, many police brass have no taste for people like me, inked from neck to ankle and with a magenta Mohawk (and a blue undercut on one side). She also has a nail in her nose. She is a PI working for a lawyer, Rik. They are preparing for trial representing the female Chief of Police who has been accused of sexual harrassment by three male staff.
While they are preparing for trial, out of the blue Pinky announces that her next door neighbor is weird. You've got to like a woman with a magenta mohawk and a nail in her nose suggesting anyone else is weird. And I was happy to follow her lead through this novel.
It is fine to read now, but I think it is likely to become dated, perhaps even very soon. There are references to COVID and 2nd shots which I think is less likely to be appreciated in even 5 years. I enjoyed my time with it anyway and is certainly worthy of a very high 3 stars.
January 21, 2023
SUSPECT
Scott Turow
One of my favorite authors, actually he might be my actual favorite. Maybe..
I love Turow's writing style and that he seems to allow his characters to move, grow and age in their own way. In this book, he includes a real-to-life transparent as hell (she holds nothing back about her life) millennial who is tatted up, pink-haired, and has a nail through her nose. Did I mention that if you have been a long-time fan of Turow, Pinky is Sandy's granddaughter and he makes a cameo appearance in this one? He is enjoying retirement and has a girlfriend. So we move from one generation to the next and times are a changing.
I liked the look at women's sexuality when they are involved in a male-dominated profession, it does change you in many ways. Clearly, when you lay with dogs you are going to get up with some fleas. Lucia Gomez-Barrera, the now Chief of Police of Highland Isle started in the ranks and faced the "fit-in issues" that hit everyone when you have to depend on people to back you up when things go wrong. In this male-dominated world, it is ok for men to have side pieces, be dominant and sleep around, but there is no word that defines a man like slut, defines a woman. The mere mention changes the way one is addressed or thought about. So when three officers accuse the Chief of demanding sex in exchange for their promotions, she is on the chopping block.
The Chief calls Pinky's boss, Dudek to defend her. Dudek is a great character, strong on the law, Sandy-like in that respect but not a guy out to set the world on fire for big-time crooks. He is on the edge of chasing ambulances.
Pinky has some issues focusing as she is always concerned with what her neighbor is doing, she calls him TWO. So while she is half focused on the case at hand she is also focused on TWO, you have to wonder why? Eventually, things pull together.
One thing I will say about PINKY is that she is more like Erin Brockovich than a millennial who asks if she really has to work on her birthday. Instead of dropping into stagnant water and picking up dead things, Pinky is carefully picking her way behind a tech building and hiding under an overpass to watch the building on a hunch. This chick shows that being perfect doesn't always make you the best, sometimes having flaws is a good thing, but being smart is better.
I mean who wouldn't love a PI who learned her best tricks from youtube?
I can't wait to see what happens next. My biggest grip is the abrupt ending that just stopped. There I was panting and sweating waiting for the ambulance, and it ended. JUST LIKE THAT.. Darn you Turow!
5 stars
Happy Reading!
PS.. I liked the change to the first person in this book, it somehow fit Pinky well. I think we are done with Kindle County.
Scott Turow
One of my favorite authors, actually he might be my actual favorite. Maybe..
I love Turow's writing style and that he seems to allow his characters to move, grow and age in their own way. In this book, he includes a real-to-life transparent as hell (she holds nothing back about her life) millennial who is tatted up, pink-haired, and has a nail through her nose. Did I mention that if you have been a long-time fan of Turow, Pinky is Sandy's granddaughter and he makes a cameo appearance in this one? He is enjoying retirement and has a girlfriend. So we move from one generation to the next and times are a changing.
I liked the look at women's sexuality when they are involved in a male-dominated profession, it does change you in many ways. Clearly, when you lay with dogs you are going to get up with some fleas. Lucia Gomez-Barrera, the now Chief of Police of Highland Isle started in the ranks and faced the "fit-in issues" that hit everyone when you have to depend on people to back you up when things go wrong. In this male-dominated world, it is ok for men to have side pieces, be dominant and sleep around, but there is no word that defines a man like slut, defines a woman. The mere mention changes the way one is addressed or thought about. So when three officers accuse the Chief of demanding sex in exchange for their promotions, she is on the chopping block.
The Chief calls Pinky's boss, Dudek to defend her. Dudek is a great character, strong on the law, Sandy-like in that respect but not a guy out to set the world on fire for big-time crooks. He is on the edge of chasing ambulances.
Pinky has some issues focusing as she is always concerned with what her neighbor is doing, she calls him TWO. So while she is half focused on the case at hand she is also focused on TWO, you have to wonder why? Eventually, things pull together.
One thing I will say about PINKY is that she is more like Erin Brockovich than a millennial who asks if she really has to work on her birthday. Instead of dropping into stagnant water and picking up dead things, Pinky is carefully picking her way behind a tech building and hiding under an overpass to watch the building on a hunch. This chick shows that being perfect doesn't always make you the best, sometimes having flaws is a good thing, but being smart is better.
I mean who wouldn't love a PI who learned her best tricks from youtube?
I can't wait to see what happens next. My biggest grip is the abrupt ending that just stopped. There I was panting and sweating waiting for the ambulance, and it ended. JUST LIKE THAT.. Darn you Turow!
5 stars
Happy Reading!
PS.. I liked the change to the first person in this book, it somehow fit Pinky well. I think we are done with Kindle County.
March 16, 2023
Questo è il primo romanzo di Turow che leggo. Mi aveva già attratta la copertina e poi sono stata invogliata a leggerlo dall’appuntamento mancato a Testo, a Firenze (il suo intervento era alle 19 e noi avevamo il treno alle 18:50).
Un thriller ben costruito in cui l’autore tiene attaccato il lettore alle pagine e la cui soluzione si inizia a intravedere solo alla fine.
Chi ha incastrato il capo della polizia di una città della Kindle County, Lucia Gomez? E perché lo ha fatto?
Ho apprezzato molto che Turow ambienti il romanzo durante la pandemia.
“Non sono sicura di essere mai stata innamorata. Certo, ho incontrato persone che all’inizio sembravano meglio dei supereroi, e qualche volta ho azzardato anche la convivenza – con due donne e con un uomo –, ma a ogni occasione ho trovato la scusa buona per chiudere il rapporto. E sì, di tanto in tanto mi chiedo che cosa ci sia di sbagliato in me. A volte, quando penso all’amore, sono convinta che arriverà, ma quasi sempre non ci credo nemmeno io. E, certo, come tutti gli altri mi capita di provare quel genere di desiderio tanto intenso che ti sembra di camminare sulle nuvole, la potenza del sogno di qualcuno che mi desideri, mi abbracci, mi accetti e tutto il resto. Poi rinsavisco, torno sulla terra e mi rendo conto che non succederà. Semplicemente, accettare quanto possa diventare irritante un’altra persona nel lungo periodo non fa per me. La maggior parte della gente non ha il fegato di affrontare il fatto di essere sola e anela all’amore pur di non restare per sempre con se stessa. Quanto a me, spesso starmene per conto mio è un sollievo. Il culmine della pandemia, quando non ho dovuto affrontare nessuno faccia a faccia per un po’, è stato un periodo fantastico. Poi le cose stanno come stanno: siamo soli. Molti trovano deludente l’amore perché la parte che più desiderano non si realizza mai.”
Un thriller ben costruito in cui l’autore tiene attaccato il lettore alle pagine e la cui soluzione si inizia a intravedere solo alla fine.
Chi ha incastrato il capo della polizia di una città della Kindle County, Lucia Gomez? E perché lo ha fatto?
Ho apprezzato molto che Turow ambienti il romanzo durante la pandemia.
“Non sono sicura di essere mai stata innamorata. Certo, ho incontrato persone che all’inizio sembravano meglio dei supereroi, e qualche volta ho azzardato anche la convivenza – con due donne e con un uomo –, ma a ogni occasione ho trovato la scusa buona per chiudere il rapporto. E sì, di tanto in tanto mi chiedo che cosa ci sia di sbagliato in me. A volte, quando penso all’amore, sono convinta che arriverà, ma quasi sempre non ci credo nemmeno io. E, certo, come tutti gli altri mi capita di provare quel genere di desiderio tanto intenso che ti sembra di camminare sulle nuvole, la potenza del sogno di qualcuno che mi desideri, mi abbracci, mi accetti e tutto il resto. Poi rinsavisco, torno sulla terra e mi rendo conto che non succederà. Semplicemente, accettare quanto possa diventare irritante un’altra persona nel lungo periodo non fa per me. La maggior parte della gente non ha il fegato di affrontare il fatto di essere sola e anela all’amore pur di non restare per sempre con se stessa. Quanto a me, spesso starmene per conto mio è un sollievo. Il culmine della pandemia, quando non ho dovuto affrontare nessuno faccia a faccia per un po’, è stato un periodo fantastico. Poi le cose stanno come stanno: siamo soli. Molti trovano deludente l’amore perché la parte che più desiderano non si realizza mai.”
February 4, 2023
This was a tough read for me. Started to get into the groove with the cadence and all the acronyms and then the last 100 pages devolved into a lesson on audio equipment and I’m not sure what else. Very disappointing when I think back to the “Presumed Innocent” days.
January 9, 2024
I love this series!! This 1 is a little different though as Pinky is very different then the previous first person narrators. It worked for me, but I see from the reviews that that’s the line in the sand. If you “get” Pinky, you’ll appreciate the story. If a few chapters in you’re rolling your eyes, it probably won’t get better. As usual though I really enjoyed the courtroom scenes, the investigations, & the intriguing characters. Hope there’s another 1 coming!
February 15, 2023
I hadn't read anything by Scott Turow for years and expected "Suspect" to be a 'legal thriller' mainly because that's what the blurbs called it. Turns out there's a little courtroom stuff in it, but mostly it's a competent crime thriller.
Suspect begins with Lucia Gomez, the female police chief of Highland Isle (near Kindle County, of course) being accused of sextortion by 3 of her male subordinates. In the subsequent hearing, their stories are torn apart and the case against her disintegrates, but somebody obviously wants her out of her position. Gomez' lawyer's PI, Pinky Granum, gets involved in the investigation into leaked evidence from the hearing among other things, and leverages her prior sexual relationship with one of Gomez' female detectives to stay in the loop. Pinky's quite a character: ex-druggie, police academy flunk-out, sexually/bisexually voracious, and the granddaughter of a famous trial lawyer. She's found her niche as a PI. The main suspect thought to have orchestrated the sextortion effort is nicknamed "the Ritz"- he's a brilliant ex-cop who seems to be the kingpin of Highland Isle crime. One of the original 3 accusers is found dead under suspicious circumstances and the investigation kicks into high gear as the FBI makes its entrance.
Turow's writing is solid and the dialogue is very credible throughout. The action moves quickly until the conclusion, which seemed to be not only abrupt but also a little too much of the "made for TV" variety. One thing I had always appreciated with Turow's writing was how much he was able to teach me about the legal process and criminal justice system and Suspect performed well in that regard. All-in-all, a nice thriller by the Bard of Kindle County.
Suspect begins with Lucia Gomez, the female police chief of Highland Isle (near Kindle County, of course) being accused of sextortion by 3 of her male subordinates. In the subsequent hearing, their stories are torn apart and the case against her disintegrates, but somebody obviously wants her out of her position. Gomez' lawyer's PI, Pinky Granum, gets involved in the investigation into leaked evidence from the hearing among other things, and leverages her prior sexual relationship with one of Gomez' female detectives to stay in the loop. Pinky's quite a character: ex-druggie, police academy flunk-out, sexually/bisexually voracious, and the granddaughter of a famous trial lawyer. She's found her niche as a PI. The main suspect thought to have orchestrated the sextortion effort is nicknamed "the Ritz"- he's a brilliant ex-cop who seems to be the kingpin of Highland Isle crime. One of the original 3 accusers is found dead under suspicious circumstances and the investigation kicks into high gear as the FBI makes its entrance.
Turow's writing is solid and the dialogue is very credible throughout. The action moves quickly until the conclusion, which seemed to be not only abrupt but also a little too much of the "made for TV" variety. One thing I had always appreciated with Turow's writing was how much he was able to teach me about the legal process and criminal justice system and Suspect performed well in that regard. All-in-all, a nice thriller by the Bard of Kindle County.
October 2, 2022
Legal drama and high stakes investigation into a scandal involving a police chief.
Lucia Gomez has just been forced to a hearing because 3 male police officers have accused her of forcing them to have intimate relations in order to be promoted within the Highland Isle PD. Her friend, attorney Rik Dudek, is helping her navigate the federal grand jury investigation and Chief Gomez is insistent that these fake allegations are hiding part of a bigger issue within the community. Clarice "Pinky" Granum (granddaughter of Sandy Stern to those familiar with this series) is a bit of an outlier but she is working with Rik as they build a defense and response to the situation facing Chief Gomez. But, the accusations against the Chief are just the tip of an iceberg that is meant to cover up much more serious criminal activities.
I do not remember having ever read a book by this author before, and certainly none of the Kindle Country series, so I had no preconceived notions going in and it seemed to work fine as a standalone. I enjoy good legal drama and this case was complicated with lots of interesting details and side schemes that gave the whole plot a lot more substance. I enjoyed the writing style and the characters who were quite contemporary and diverse. It did seem to be a little bit too long and slow moving at different points along the way, but the narrative flowed well and came to quite an abrupt conclusion that left some questions. I may check out a follow up to this one if only to find my answers if they will be forthcoming in another novel.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this e-book ARC to read and review.
Lucia Gomez has just been forced to a hearing because 3 male police officers have accused her of forcing them to have intimate relations in order to be promoted within the Highland Isle PD. Her friend, attorney Rik Dudek, is helping her navigate the federal grand jury investigation and Chief Gomez is insistent that these fake allegations are hiding part of a bigger issue within the community. Clarice "Pinky" Granum (granddaughter of Sandy Stern to those familiar with this series) is a bit of an outlier but she is working with Rik as they build a defense and response to the situation facing Chief Gomez. But, the accusations against the Chief are just the tip of an iceberg that is meant to cover up much more serious criminal activities.
I do not remember having ever read a book by this author before, and certainly none of the Kindle Country series, so I had no preconceived notions going in and it seemed to work fine as a standalone. I enjoy good legal drama and this case was complicated with lots of interesting details and side schemes that gave the whole plot a lot more substance. I enjoyed the writing style and the characters who were quite contemporary and diverse. It did seem to be a little bit too long and slow moving at different points along the way, but the narrative flowed well and came to quite an abrupt conclusion that left some questions. I may check out a follow up to this one if only to find my answers if they will be forthcoming in another novel.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this e-book ARC to read and review.
September 11, 2022
Many thanks to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing and Hachette Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest legal thriller by Scott Turow - a long time favorite - and wonderfully narrated by Helen Laser. 5 stars!
Lucia Gomez has always had a spotless reputation as police chief of Highland Isle near Kindle County. But now 3 patrol officers have accused her of extorting them for sex in exchange for promotions. Chief Gomez hires local attorney Rik Dudek to help fight the charges. Rik is a small town guy, with the shabby office and clients to prove it. His PI is Pinky Granum, Sandy Stern's granddaughter. Pinky flunked out of the police academy and relishes her new role in helping to prove the Chief's innocence. She's also intrigued with her mysterious next-door neighbor and his nighttime activities, which leads her to investigate a former police officer turned real estate magnate.
I loved the latest edition to the Kindle County legal series, although if you haven't read any of them, they are all stand alones as well. Pinky is a great character and I hope we get more of her in the future. Turow is the master at the legal thriller genre and this one is no exception. There's a lot going on in this book but everything comes to a great conclusion. I switched between the audio and digital versions and the narration was wonderful as well. Highly recommended!
Lucia Gomez has always had a spotless reputation as police chief of Highland Isle near Kindle County. But now 3 patrol officers have accused her of extorting them for sex in exchange for promotions. Chief Gomez hires local attorney Rik Dudek to help fight the charges. Rik is a small town guy, with the shabby office and clients to prove it. His PI is Pinky Granum, Sandy Stern's granddaughter. Pinky flunked out of the police academy and relishes her new role in helping to prove the Chief's innocence. She's also intrigued with her mysterious next-door neighbor and his nighttime activities, which leads her to investigate a former police officer turned real estate magnate.
I loved the latest edition to the Kindle County legal series, although if you haven't read any of them, they are all stand alones as well. Pinky is a great character and I hope we get more of her in the future. Turow is the master at the legal thriller genre and this one is no exception. There's a lot going on in this book but everything comes to a great conclusion. I switched between the audio and digital versions and the narration was wonderful as well. Highly recommended!
August 21, 2022
It was my first Scott Turow and I can say he's a master storyteller and this complex thriller kept me hooked.
Great characters, tightly knit and solid plot.
An excellent read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Great characters, tightly knit and solid plot.
An excellent read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
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