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Dismas Hardy #13
A Plague of Secrets
Dismas Hardy, Abe Glitsky, and Wyatt Hunt return When high-grade marijuana is found on a coffee-shop manager murdered in San Francisco, it suggests that the shop's owner, Maya Townshend, may be behind more than a caffeine fix. But when another murder exposes a drug-buying A-list celebrity and political clientele, a tabloid-fueled controversy takes the investigation into the realms of conspiracy and cover up.
444 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 30, 2009
227 people are currently reading
1625 people want to read
About the author
John Lescroart
141 books1,300 followersJohn Lescroart (born January 14, 1948) is an American author best known for two series of legal and crime thriller novels featuring the characters Dismas Hardy and Abe Glitsky.
Lescroart was born in Houston, Texas, and graduated from Junípero Serra High School, San Mateo, California (Class of 1966). He then went on to earn a B.A. in English with Honors at UC Berkeley in 1970. In addition to his novels, Lescroart has written several screenplays.
Lescroart was born in Houston, Texas, and graduated from Junípero Serra High School, San Mateo, California (Class of 1966). He then went on to earn a B.A. in English with Honors at UC Berkeley in 1970. In addition to his novels, Lescroart has written several screenplays.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 314 reviews
March 24, 2014
John Lescroart writes some of the best courtroom novels out there, and this is one of them. However, this novel also deals with a serious problem in the American justice system, and I expect Mr. Lescroart feels very strongly about it, as do I.
In "A Plague of Secrets," prosecutors and police, in their zeal for a conviction in a high profile case, violate their obligation to seek justice by ignoring evidence, or the lack of it, as they proceed against their target defendant. Combine that with a judge whose ignorance is exceeded only by her desire to wield power, and you have a scenario that should strike terror in every American heart. Not because it happens in a novel, but because it happens, over and over, in real life.
I wrote about prosecutorial misconduct in my novel A Good Conviction, where a young man awakes in Sing Sing, convicted of a murder he did not commit by a prosecutor who came to know he was innocent and convicted him anyway.
In "A Plague of Secrets," prosecutors and police, in their zeal for a conviction in a high profile case, violate their obligation to seek justice by ignoring evidence, or the lack of it, as they proceed against their target defendant. Combine that with a judge whose ignorance is exceeded only by her desire to wield power, and you have a scenario that should strike terror in every American heart. Not because it happens in a novel, but because it happens, over and over, in real life.
I wrote about prosecutorial misconduct in my novel A Good Conviction, where a young man awakes in Sing Sing, convicted of a murder he did not commit by a prosecutor who came to know he was innocent and convicted him anyway.
January 24, 2012
I’m not a criminal attorney, so this may not be right. What are the three essentials for a murder case? Are they motive, means, and opportunity? Theoretically, one doesn’t even need definitive physical evidence to point to a defendant’s guilt provided these three factors are demonstrated convincingly enough. In A Plague of Secrets, my latest foray into the San Francisco world of erstwhile cop and assistant D.A. turned defense attorney Dismas Hardy and erstwhile social worker turned private investigator Wyatt Hunt, John Lescroart ties the three factors to the defendant in a masterful way. Yet, while the physical evidence is inconclusive, the unfolding investigation and trial leaves the reader uncertain as to whether to root for Hardy getting a dismissal on the basis of the prosecution’s shoddy case or on grounds of actual innocence. Indeed, one isn’t sure, at points, whether to root for Hardy to win or lose this case. And one certainly isn’t expecting some of Lescroart’s cast of supporting characters to die—much less in the way that they buy it in this novel.
In many of Lescroart’s novels, I’ve been relatively sure of the perpetrator from early on in the book, as well as of the client’s innocence. In A Plague of Secrets, I had neither assurance. I was in suspense as to what was going to be revealed next throughout the entire novel. When I did discover the answer (and not a moment before the author wanted me to do so), I found that the subtle psychological clues had been in front of me throughout the story, but it was still unexpected to me when I read it. I jumped at two “red herrings” early in the book, but still wasn’t ready for the resolution. That’s all I can say about why I rated this “5 stars” without giving too much away.
I can talk about the bare beans plot, however (pun intended). The story centers on an independent coffee shop at the corner of Haight & Ashbury in San Francisco. (What? One of the head shops went out of business?) This particular coffee shop (shock of all shocks) had a manager dealing weed to the tune of about ten grand per month (dollars, not ounces). When the manager is murdered in the alley behind the shop, it looks like blackmail and money-laundering are the biggest factors. Indeed, blackmail is a powerful and important motive in the case.
But merely telling the story isn’t enough for Lescroart. As always, the reformer within the author has led him to consider abuse of power, questionable prosecutorial practices, the case (very balanced, actually) for and against the legalization of marijuana, (indirectly) the war on drugs as practiced by the federal government, procedural carelessness and obstinance, as well as unethical and irresponsible media malfeasance. As usual, Hardy’s cross-examinations offer ample chances for Lescroart to stick pins in the voodoo dolls of “expert” witnesses. If I wasn’t lecturing today, I would have finished this novel in the wee hours of morning. As it was, I couldn’t wait to get on my commuter train in order to finish it on the way to my office, this morning. My experiences with this author just keep getting better and better.
In many of Lescroart’s novels, I’ve been relatively sure of the perpetrator from early on in the book, as well as of the client’s innocence. In A Plague of Secrets, I had neither assurance. I was in suspense as to what was going to be revealed next throughout the entire novel. When I did discover the answer (and not a moment before the author wanted me to do so), I found that the subtle psychological clues had been in front of me throughout the story, but it was still unexpected to me when I read it. I jumped at two “red herrings” early in the book, but still wasn’t ready for the resolution. That’s all I can say about why I rated this “5 stars” without giving too much away.
I can talk about the bare beans plot, however (pun intended). The story centers on an independent coffee shop at the corner of Haight & Ashbury in San Francisco. (What? One of the head shops went out of business?) This particular coffee shop (shock of all shocks) had a manager dealing weed to the tune of about ten grand per month (dollars, not ounces). When the manager is murdered in the alley behind the shop, it looks like blackmail and money-laundering are the biggest factors. Indeed, blackmail is a powerful and important motive in the case.
But merely telling the story isn’t enough for Lescroart. As always, the reformer within the author has led him to consider abuse of power, questionable prosecutorial practices, the case (very balanced, actually) for and against the legalization of marijuana, (indirectly) the war on drugs as practiced by the federal government, procedural carelessness and obstinance, as well as unethical and irresponsible media malfeasance. As usual, Hardy’s cross-examinations offer ample chances for Lescroart to stick pins in the voodoo dolls of “expert” witnesses. If I wasn’t lecturing today, I would have finished this novel in the wee hours of morning. As it was, I couldn’t wait to get on my commuter train in order to finish it on the way to my office, this morning. My experiences with this author just keep getting better and better.
November 4, 2010
A Plague of Secrets reunites John Lescroart's main series characters, Dismas Hardy, Abe Glitsky and Wyatt Hunt, along with the cast of minor characters that populates this very engaging series. The book opens with a personal tragedy that afflicts Glitsky, Hardy's best friend and the head of the San Francisco Homicide unit. Not surprisingly, the tragedy will distract Glitsky's attention from his duties in the department, and it probably goes without saying that this will not be a good thing.
Immediately thereafter, Dylan Vogler, the manager of a very popular coffee shop, is found shot to death at the back door of the shop. Vogler is wearing a backpack filled with high quality weed that he's also selling out of the coffee shop. His client list, which includes some very prominent names quickly becomes public, causing no end of embarrassment for a number of people.
Suspicion falls almost immediately upon the coffee shop's absentee owner, wealthy socialite Maya Townshend, who knew Vogler in college. Townshend claims she felt sorry for her former classmate when he finished a stint in prison and needed a job. Thus she made him the manager of her coffee shop at the rather astonishing salary of $90,000 a year.
Townshend is well connected politically and the case provides the opportunity for a number of ambitious and very scary politicians and others to advance their own careers and agendas by prosecuting her. Maya retains Dismas Hardy to defend her, and the game is on.
Last week, I reviewed one of the very early Perry Mason mysteries, and I always think of Mason and his creator, Erle Stanley Gardner, when I read one of Lescroart's Dismas Hardy books. As fond as I am of the Mason books, it always strikes me that Dismas Hardy is a defense lawyer for grown-ups. Reading Lescroart, you get an excellent impression of what a defense lawyer's life is really like and how a murder trial really works, especially with a high profile client. Not surprisingly, I suppose, it doesn't look much like a Perry Mason novel.
Lescroart's court room scenes are always enormously compelling, and once one of his cases gets to trial you know you're in for a long night because from that point on, it's always impossible to put one of these books down. Certainly, that's the case here.
As the title suggests, this is a book in which an awful lot of people have buried secrets, and Dismas Hardy is forced to uncover and understand the meaning of any number of them if he's going to have any chance at all of saving his client. Watching him attempt to do so is a great treat.
Immediately thereafter, Dylan Vogler, the manager of a very popular coffee shop, is found shot to death at the back door of the shop. Vogler is wearing a backpack filled with high quality weed that he's also selling out of the coffee shop. His client list, which includes some very prominent names quickly becomes public, causing no end of embarrassment for a number of people.
Suspicion falls almost immediately upon the coffee shop's absentee owner, wealthy socialite Maya Townshend, who knew Vogler in college. Townshend claims she felt sorry for her former classmate when he finished a stint in prison and needed a job. Thus she made him the manager of her coffee shop at the rather astonishing salary of $90,000 a year.
Townshend is well connected politically and the case provides the opportunity for a number of ambitious and very scary politicians and others to advance their own careers and agendas by prosecuting her. Maya retains Dismas Hardy to defend her, and the game is on.
Last week, I reviewed one of the very early Perry Mason mysteries, and I always think of Mason and his creator, Erle Stanley Gardner, when I read one of Lescroart's Dismas Hardy books. As fond as I am of the Mason books, it always strikes me that Dismas Hardy is a defense lawyer for grown-ups. Reading Lescroart, you get an excellent impression of what a defense lawyer's life is really like and how a murder trial really works, especially with a high profile client. Not surprisingly, I suppose, it doesn't look much like a Perry Mason novel.
Lescroart's court room scenes are always enormously compelling, and once one of his cases gets to trial you know you're in for a long night because from that point on, it's always impossible to put one of these books down. Certainly, that's the case here.
As the title suggests, this is a book in which an awful lot of people have buried secrets, and Dismas Hardy is forced to uncover and understand the meaning of any number of them if he's going to have any chance at all of saving his client. Watching him attempt to do so is a great treat.
July 15, 2009
Being a huge fan, and having read most of his earlier books, I found this book which is four-hundred-thirteen pages long, at times to be moving at an excruciatingly slow pace that I actually thought about putting it down. There is more action in the last thirty pages than in the entire three-hundred-eighty-three previous pages put together. There are a number of mini-plots that are set up... but never culminated. This is not one of Lescroart's best works. "A Plague of Secrets" lacks the freshness, character development, and thought-provoking themes that have made Lescroart so popular in recent years. Keeps readers guessing, this novel lacks the electricity and originality that we have come to expect from the talented John Lescroart.
August 19, 2019
The Manager of a popular coffee house is murdered and a backpack of weed beside his body. The suspect - the store's owner and a college friend of the victim. So as the police pursue her, she hires Dismas Hardy to defend her. Major political forces get involved and special Grand Jury is called, and then another man is murdered, and she is charged with that too.
Very entertaining trial procedure and strong interesting characters.
The mystery well crafted, though the real killer is a surprise twist I didn't see coming.
Quite enjoyable
Very entertaining trial procedure and strong interesting characters.
The mystery well crafted, though the real killer is a surprise twist I didn't see coming.
Quite enjoyable
September 24, 2017
Another interesting story with a good mix of humor and outrage. Maybe it could use more T-shirts, but it had a few good ones. OK, lest you think I'm crazy, I'm talking about his partner who likes to wear humorous T-shirts a lot, seemingly only once for each one. For example, there was one good one in this book that said "Haikus can be easy./But sometimes they don’t make sense./Refrigerator."
This book was similar to many other ones in that an innocent person becomes entangled with the police and arrested; things begin to look really bad, and there is danger that they might be found guilty. Then Hardy pulls one out of his hat and gets them off. It also demonstrates a problem I've seen in a lot of books, which probably happens in real life too. Once the police find someone they like for a crime, they stop looking for alternative suspects or facts. They start using a faulty logic where they start with a false premise: this person is guilty. Therefore, they interpret all new information in that context, and ignore anything that doesn't fit. At worst, they start leading witnesses by coloring their testimony to match their view of the facts, until an innocent person becomes a monster. This is one of the reasons I oppose the death penalty.
This book was similar to many other ones in that an innocent person becomes entangled with the police and arrested; things begin to look really bad, and there is danger that they might be found guilty. Then Hardy pulls one out of his hat and gets them off. It also demonstrates a problem I've seen in a lot of books, which probably happens in real life too. Once the police find someone they like for a crime, they stop looking for alternative suspects or facts. They start using a faulty logic where they start with a false premise: this person is guilty. Therefore, they interpret all new information in that context, and ignore anything that doesn't fit. At worst, they start leading witnesses by coloring their testimony to match their view of the facts, until an innocent person becomes a monster. This is one of the reasons I oppose the death penalty.
October 23, 2009
In the world of legal thrillers John Grisham usually gets all the hype, but John Lescroart and Robert Tannenbaum are much better writers. A Plague of Secrets is Lescroart's twentieth book in his Dismas Hardy series; that's pretty impressive.
I like this series, set in San Francisco, partly because it's set in San Francisco, but also because the recurring characters & their lives are interesting. After twenty books in the series, I really care about these people, they feel fleshed out and real to me. Additionally, Lescroart has avoided the trap of making his series character massively irritating (Patricia Cornwell, I'm looking at you). I don't know why so many series writers turn their characters into people I wouldn't want to spend ten minutes waiting on a bus with, but they often do. I'm glad Lescroart hasn't.
This isn't the best in the series, but it's a good read - tightly plotted, good character development, lots of suspense & a surprise ending. What more could you want from a thriller?
I like this series, set in San Francisco, partly because it's set in San Francisco, but also because the recurring characters & their lives are interesting. After twenty books in the series, I really care about these people, they feel fleshed out and real to me. Additionally, Lescroart has avoided the trap of making his series character massively irritating (Patricia Cornwell, I'm looking at you). I don't know why so many series writers turn their characters into people I wouldn't want to spend ten minutes waiting on a bus with, but they often do. I'm glad Lescroart hasn't.
This isn't the best in the series, but it's a good read - tightly plotted, good character development, lots of suspense & a surprise ending. What more could you want from a thriller?
October 25, 2020
Dismas gets a call from his friend and the city Supervisor to meet him for lunch, where he asks him to be the lawyer for his sister, who has been visited by the Police after an employee of hers was killed in an alley behind her shop. He asks if she was a suspect? No, his friend says, but I think she needs a lawyer present when talking to the Police, Hardy agrees whole heartedly, and says have her call and make an appointment at his office. When He gets back from lunch, his secretary is upset and wants to know why she was not told he had an appointment, there in the office is a woman, Hardy has not seen before, it is his friends sister, there without an appointment. Hmmm, and so it begins. Fast paced and interesting crime novel. Love the old and the new characters, and especially Dismas Hardy and his friend, Abe.
March 26, 2024
Really enjoyed this one; it was great to read a “legal thriller” that actually takes place in a courtroom again.
This is only the second John Lescroart/Dismas Hardy book I’ve read; and in the previous one, Betrayal, Dismas only shows up in the last hundred pages or so.
I’ll definitely be searching Friends of the Library sales/stores, Goodwills, and garage sales for any previous or more recent books in the series.
This is only the second John Lescroart/Dismas Hardy book I’ve read; and in the previous one, Betrayal, Dismas only shows up in the last hundred pages or so.
I’ll definitely be searching Friends of the Library sales/stores, Goodwills, and garage sales for any previous or more recent books in the series.
May 15, 2019
What a wild and twisted tale but ultimately satisfying as are all the books in the Dismas Hardy series.
August 9, 2010
The most important thing I learned from this book was how to pronounce the author's name.. (in the about the author section in side the back cover)..
I have been a fan of the Dismas Hardy series from early on. Lescroart has always done a powerful job of weaving a number of elements into each story.
1) A clever mystery chocked with adequate misdirection (i.e. red herrings)
This time around, the author plays a little three card monte, offering three (or four) other possible suspects. Sadly, he does it in a way that breaks the rythmn of the novel, offering a sidebar look at possible suspects in order to implicate them to the reader... Sadly, because he is unable to sell any of them as the bad guy until he telegraphs the actual killer well in advance of the conclusion. Very disappointing.
2) Personal Characterization
As I've read this series, I had grown to care about them. In previous novels, watching Hardy interact with friends and colleagues through various crisis have endeared the characters to me and managed to evoke a powerful emotional response. This time, the author presents a serious crisis with emotional punch (Abe's son is seriously injured and maybe brain damaged) but the characters all seem to dance around it.. Oh, there's some discusssion and dialogue, but the emotional impact is sorely lacking. The whole issue is presented for the Deus Ex Machina to allow Abe to have adequate and reasonable cause for not overseeing his homocide investigators properly, as he is distracted by this personal trauma. However, I never got the impression Abe was truly concerned for his injured son, but instead was concerned about his own personal responsibility in the accident and aftermath.
Dismas does pull out the famous skillet, but only once and he doesn't get all that creative. One of the fun things about this series is when Dismas is thinking about a serious case he will often forget to eat, then pull the cast iron skillet out, drop some butter and pretty much whatever he can find in the refigerator into the pan, making for some creative skillet meals.
However, the Asian-Greek food at the downtown diner remains a source of humor and interest.
3) Legal Wrangling
Most of the time, Dismas is a modern day Perry Mason. He uses clever legal rules lawyering to prevent/allow evidence. He uses tactics designed to upset the judge or to get the judge on his side about an issue.
On top of that, Dismas often is faced with some sort of legal conundrum. A damned-if-you-do, etc. scenario or ethical conflict. For example, in previous cases he could not put his client on the stand because he knew that the client would lie and that would violate judicial ethics.. this time, there is no legal worry. Dismas plods through the case in a methodical and effective manner. However, I want to see some of those courtroom tricks and fancy strategy, and this novel offered very little of that.
Still, the novel was worth reading for me. (I picked it up for .25 cents at a library sale and definitely got my money's worth.)
I have been a fan of the Dismas Hardy series from early on. Lescroart has always done a powerful job of weaving a number of elements into each story.
1) A clever mystery chocked with adequate misdirection (i.e. red herrings)
This time around, the author plays a little three card monte, offering three (or four) other possible suspects. Sadly, he does it in a way that breaks the rythmn of the novel, offering a sidebar look at possible suspects in order to implicate them to the reader... Sadly, because he is unable to sell any of them as the bad guy until he telegraphs the actual killer well in advance of the conclusion. Very disappointing.
2) Personal Characterization
As I've read this series, I had grown to care about them. In previous novels, watching Hardy interact with friends and colleagues through various crisis have endeared the characters to me and managed to evoke a powerful emotional response. This time, the author presents a serious crisis with emotional punch (Abe's son is seriously injured and maybe brain damaged) but the characters all seem to dance around it.. Oh, there's some discusssion and dialogue, but the emotional impact is sorely lacking. The whole issue is presented for the Deus Ex Machina to allow Abe to have adequate and reasonable cause for not overseeing his homocide investigators properly, as he is distracted by this personal trauma. However, I never got the impression Abe was truly concerned for his injured son, but instead was concerned about his own personal responsibility in the accident and aftermath.
Dismas does pull out the famous skillet, but only once and he doesn't get all that creative. One of the fun things about this series is when Dismas is thinking about a serious case he will often forget to eat, then pull the cast iron skillet out, drop some butter and pretty much whatever he can find in the refigerator into the pan, making for some creative skillet meals.
However, the Asian-Greek food at the downtown diner remains a source of humor and interest.
3) Legal Wrangling
Most of the time, Dismas is a modern day Perry Mason. He uses clever legal rules lawyering to prevent/allow evidence. He uses tactics designed to upset the judge or to get the judge on his side about an issue.
On top of that, Dismas often is faced with some sort of legal conundrum. A damned-if-you-do, etc. scenario or ethical conflict. For example, in previous cases he could not put his client on the stand because he knew that the client would lie and that would violate judicial ethics.. this time, there is no legal worry. Dismas plods through the case in a methodical and effective manner. However, I want to see some of those courtroom tricks and fancy strategy, and this novel offered very little of that.
Still, the novel was worth reading for me. (I picked it up for .25 cents at a library sale and definitely got my money's worth.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2021
Move over Scott Turow.
I'm a fan of John Lescroart. He bats a home run with every novel. This one is no exception.
I recently found my copy of A Plague at a Habitat for Humanity thrift store for $1.
I was surprised and pleased to find I hadn't read it. I was also pleased to see a sticker on the dust jacket saying it was an autographed copy.
For you aspiring novelists reading this, if you get the chance to sit in on a workshop given by Lescroart, do so. He is one of the few fiction writers who not only knows his craft but is able to teach it.
Buy this book.
July 12, 2010
Lescroat's latest book is a full of action and suspense. Being from California, I love reading the mysteries that take place in places that I am familiar with, and San Francisco is one of those places. This book contains mystery, suspense and good characterization, though not as deep as many of his novels. San Francisco is a great place for this adventure, especially as Lescroat weaves in the local color with different food offerings, the scenery and with hilly and curved streets, bayside scenes and some history of the area.
Dismas Hardy is the prominent lawyer working with Abe Glitsky who is the head of San Francisco's homicide department. He becomes the attorney for Maya Townsend, a wife and mother that comes from a well to do family who is accused of not one but two murders, along with the using and selling of pot. Her weapon is found at one of the scenes and some blackmail is involved.
There are several sub plots that never seem to connect well for me but I do like following the antics and the way Hardy gets involved in his investigations. Although this is not one of the strongest of Lescroat’s books, it is worth reading if you are at all acquainted with is characters.
Dismas Hardy is the prominent lawyer working with Abe Glitsky who is the head of San Francisco's homicide department. He becomes the attorney for Maya Townsend, a wife and mother that comes from a well to do family who is accused of not one but two murders, along with the using and selling of pot. Her weapon is found at one of the scenes and some blackmail is involved.
There are several sub plots that never seem to connect well for me but I do like following the antics and the way Hardy gets involved in his investigations. Although this is not one of the strongest of Lescroat’s books, it is worth reading if you are at all acquainted with is characters.
October 16, 2011
Lescroart tells a convoluted tale full of lies, deception and secrets going back decades. Maya Townshend, owner of a popular coffee shop in san Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district is charged with the murder of her manager who is found with his knapsack full of high grade marijuana.
Maya and her husband enlist lawyer Dismas Hardy to defend her before a judge with a axe to grind about Hardy. Throughout the book, Hardy's investigative team uncovers secret after secret. The end reveals one final, and unpredictable mystery.
Much takes place in court. Lescroart gives us a insider's view of law enforcement and court system in that jurisdiction.
I read it through and admit that it got better as I went, but still found it somewhat plodding. Hence a 3 of 5.
Maya and her husband enlist lawyer Dismas Hardy to defend her before a judge with a axe to grind about Hardy. Throughout the book, Hardy's investigative team uncovers secret after secret. The end reveals one final, and unpredictable mystery.
Much takes place in court. Lescroart gives us a insider's view of law enforcement and court system in that jurisdiction.
I read it through and admit that it got better as I went, but still found it somewhat plodding. Hence a 3 of 5.
February 5, 2019
Great as always. I haven't read a Dismas Hardy book in a while and I need to catch up. I love any series...it's like catching up with old friends. I think for courtroom drama John Lescroart is the tops. I like that the character seem like regular humans instead of being unbelievable characters. In this book a dark history of a prominent family threatens to come to light, but like all of us, no one is tougher on us...than us. Great story!
May 6, 2022
Apart from a slow start, Dismas Hardy's courtroom drama is on point. Avery entertainingly fun legal thriller.
December 16, 2024
Read years ago
April 25, 2018
I feel we will never know the true killer. Just a fantastic book as always. I consumed this book 7 days that’s says it all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2024
All in all, an interesting read. Admittedly, the first half was slow and there were a lot of characters to remember. The second half more than made up for it though, and was hard to put down. A surprise ending was just right, leaving you sort of stunned and amazed at where the story ultimately led.
June 6, 2018
This one grabbed me from the very beginning and didn't let go until the end! For me, the strongest parts of these novels can be found in the courtroom trials. Dismas is a genius at turning things around when there appears to be zero hope! There was a lot covered in this book: Police moving too quickly when there was no evidence, and then refusing to accept said lack of evidence, blackmail, murder, as well as the legalization of marijuana issue. Great book!
June 21, 2021
It's good having Dismas Hardy back. He gets better with age. It also feels good to read a story that harks back to San Francisco in the 60s and 70s, years I remember with great affection as chaotic as they were.
The story begins at Bay Beans West, a coffee shop in the center of the Haight-Ashbury district, the epicenter of the now vanished hippie culture. It's very popular and its manager, Dylan Vogler, can take credit for a lot of its success. Problem is, he's found shot to death behind the shop with a backpack full of pot-stuffed baggies. As the investigation proceeds, it's discovered that he makes $90,000 a year, about double what might be expected. This fact casts some suspicion on what the shop's real business is and what part its owner, married, wealthy, devoutly Catholic, Maya Townshend has in it. She's also a niece of the City's mayor. Maya doesn't look like a typical drug dealer or murderer, for that matter, but the murder weapon is hers and she has a bad habit of hiding secrets from, Dismas, her lawyer.
The core of the book is Maya's trial and the atmosphere and legal maneuvering is fascinating. There are a couple of subplots. One is a brain injury suffered by Homicide Head Abe Glitsky's son. Abe is Disnmas' best friend. In addition, the U.S. Attorney is on a mission to make a name for himself by bringing down Maya's husband and confiscating all his assets.
The characters as in all Lescroart's work are believable and interesting. The plotting is very well done and a welcome departure from some of the convoluted, hard to believe, situations found in a few of the previous books in the series.
I recommend the book and look forward to more of Lescroart's efforts in the future.
The story begins at Bay Beans West, a coffee shop in the center of the Haight-Ashbury district, the epicenter of the now vanished hippie culture. It's very popular and its manager, Dylan Vogler, can take credit for a lot of its success. Problem is, he's found shot to death behind the shop with a backpack full of pot-stuffed baggies. As the investigation proceeds, it's discovered that he makes $90,000 a year, about double what might be expected. This fact casts some suspicion on what the shop's real business is and what part its owner, married, wealthy, devoutly Catholic, Maya Townshend has in it. She's also a niece of the City's mayor. Maya doesn't look like a typical drug dealer or murderer, for that matter, but the murder weapon is hers and she has a bad habit of hiding secrets from, Dismas, her lawyer.
The core of the book is Maya's trial and the atmosphere and legal maneuvering is fascinating. There are a couple of subplots. One is a brain injury suffered by Homicide Head Abe Glitsky's son. Abe is Disnmas' best friend. In addition, the U.S. Attorney is on a mission to make a name for himself by bringing down Maya's husband and confiscating all his assets.
The characters as in all Lescroart's work are believable and interesting. The plotting is very well done and a welcome departure from some of the convoluted, hard to believe, situations found in a few of the previous books in the series.
I recommend the book and look forward to more of Lescroart's efforts in the future.
July 27, 2013
Bummer I just wrote a review, but it slipped away when I mistyped. Whenever that happens, my second version of the review is shorter.
BEWARE OF SPOILERS. I DON'T HIDE OR PROMOTE MY REVIEWS.
Yes, I enjoy Lescroart's novels about Dismas Hardy, who, we're always reminded, was named after the good thief who hung on a cross next to Jesus' cross. (It makes for a good nickname -- Diz.)
But this installment is not a favorite.
Yes, it was interesting to see Abe Glitsky - head of the police homicide squad, and Diz' best bud - on the opposite side of the equation from Dismas, who is representing a well-to-do coffee shop owner accused of two murders.
I also liked seeing Abe, who's normally all competent and level-headed, sinking into guilt over a serious accidental injury suffered by his 5-year-old son.
Lescroart is good, too, at intermittently dangling a clue before the reader -- the two gun shots, in this story -- but not dropping it into place in the puzzle till near the last moment.
I guess the white-collar layer to the crimes (that massive money-laundering was taking place through the coffee shop) was an interesting counter-point to the physical crimes.
But what I didn't like is this: It stretched the bounds of plausibility that the culprit for the murders would turn out to be someone so close to Dismas. This aspect reminded me of those TV series in which all the big actions are taken by one of the principal actors because the show was too cheap to write in a secondary character for a one-shot appearance.
I assume Lescroart thought it would be cool for the far-ranging search for the do-er to end up so close to home. It just didn't work for me.
BEWARE OF SPOILERS. I DON'T HIDE OR PROMOTE MY REVIEWS.
Yes, I enjoy Lescroart's novels about Dismas Hardy, who, we're always reminded, was named after the good thief who hung on a cross next to Jesus' cross. (It makes for a good nickname -- Diz.)
But this installment is not a favorite.
Yes, it was interesting to see Abe Glitsky - head of the police homicide squad, and Diz' best bud - on the opposite side of the equation from Dismas, who is representing a well-to-do coffee shop owner accused of two murders.
I also liked seeing Abe, who's normally all competent and level-headed, sinking into guilt over a serious accidental injury suffered by his 5-year-old son.
Lescroart is good, too, at intermittently dangling a clue before the reader -- the two gun shots, in this story -- but not dropping it into place in the puzzle till near the last moment.
I guess the white-collar layer to the crimes (that massive money-laundering was taking place through the coffee shop) was an interesting counter-point to the physical crimes.
But what I didn't like is this: It stretched the bounds of plausibility that the culprit for the murders would turn out to be someone so close to Dismas. This aspect reminded me of those TV series in which all the big actions are taken by one of the principal actors because the show was too cheap to write in a secondary character for a one-shot appearance.
I assume Lescroart thought it would be cool for the far-ranging search for the do-er to end up so close to home. It just didn't work for me.
January 6, 2013
This is a Dismas Hardy legal thriller with blackmail, political intrigue, and multiple murder.
The first victim is Dylan Vogler, a charming ex-convict who manages the Bay Beans West coffee shop in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district. When his body is found, inspectors discover that his knapsack is filled with high-grade marijuana. It soon becomes clear that San Francisco's A-list flocked to Bay Beans West not only for their caffeine fix.
But how much did Maya Townshend-the socialite niece of the city's mayor, and the absentee owner of the shop-know about what was going on inside her business? And how intimate had she really been with Dylan, her old college friend?
As another of Maya's acquaintances falls victim to murder, and as the names of the dead men's celebrity, political, and even law- enforcement customers come to light, tabloid-fueled controversy takes the investigation into the realms of conspiracy and cover-up. Prosecutors close in on Maya, who has a deep secret of her own-a secret she needs to protect at all costs during her very public trial.
This was pretty good with lots of twists. The character Maya was a little annoying though - kind of melodramatic.
The first victim is Dylan Vogler, a charming ex-convict who manages the Bay Beans West coffee shop in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district. When his body is found, inspectors discover that his knapsack is filled with high-grade marijuana. It soon becomes clear that San Francisco's A-list flocked to Bay Beans West not only for their caffeine fix.
But how much did Maya Townshend-the socialite niece of the city's mayor, and the absentee owner of the shop-know about what was going on inside her business? And how intimate had she really been with Dylan, her old college friend?
As another of Maya's acquaintances falls victim to murder, and as the names of the dead men's celebrity, political, and even law- enforcement customers come to light, tabloid-fueled controversy takes the investigation into the realms of conspiracy and cover-up. Prosecutors close in on Maya, who has a deep secret of her own-a secret she needs to protect at all costs during her very public trial.
This was pretty good with lots of twists. The character Maya was a little annoying though - kind of melodramatic.
November 23, 2014
This is a Dismas Hardy legal thriller with blackmail, political intrigue, and multiple murder.
The first victim is Dylan Vogler, a charming ex-convict who manages the Bay Beans West coffee shop in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district. When his body is found, inspectors discover that his knapsack is filled with high-grade marijuana. It soon becomes clear that San Francisco's A-list flocked to Bay Beans West not only for their caffeine fix.
But how much did Maya Townshend-the socialite niece of the city's mayor, and the absentee owner of the shop-know about what was going on inside her business? And how intimate had she really been with Dylan, her old college friend?
As another of Maya's acquaintances falls victim to murder, and as the names of the dead men's celebrity, political, and even law- enforcement customers come to light, tabloid-fueled controversy takes the investigation into the realms of conspiracy and cover-up. Prosecutors close in on Maya, who has a deep secret of her own-a secret she needs to protect at all costs during her very public trial.
This was pretty good with lots of twists. The character Maya was a little annoying though - kind of melodramatic
The first victim is Dylan Vogler, a charming ex-convict who manages the Bay Beans West coffee shop in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district. When his body is found, inspectors discover that his knapsack is filled with high-grade marijuana. It soon becomes clear that San Francisco's A-list flocked to Bay Beans West not only for their caffeine fix.
But how much did Maya Townshend-the socialite niece of the city's mayor, and the absentee owner of the shop-know about what was going on inside her business? And how intimate had she really been with Dylan, her old college friend?
As another of Maya's acquaintances falls victim to murder, and as the names of the dead men's celebrity, political, and even law- enforcement customers come to light, tabloid-fueled controversy takes the investigation into the realms of conspiracy and cover-up. Prosecutors close in on Maya, who has a deep secret of her own-a secret she needs to protect at all costs during her very public trial.
This was pretty good with lots of twists. The character Maya was a little annoying though - kind of melodramatic
February 2, 2010
Loved this book! Of course, I always love Lescroart's work (especially the Dismas Hardy series), but this book was better than usual. From the jacket copy, I wasn't sure I would like it, but it got off the ground quickly and it kept me reading nearly straight through.
The manager of a successful Bay Area coffee shop is murdered, and it's soon discovered that he was using the coffee shop to sell marijuana to numerous customers. One thing leads to another and soon enough, the owner of the shop is Hardy's client.
Meanwhile, Glitsky's youngest son has been in an accident, while affects how the Homicide Division has been performing. Because of this, the case takes twists and turns that it might not had Glitsky been on his A-game.
As is usual, Hardy soon discovers that his client is harbouring secrets, secrets that I certainly never suspected and it gave the plot an extra jolt.
As a side note for regular readers of the Hardy series, I got a kick out of seeing Vincent and The Beck all grown up. :)
The manager of a successful Bay Area coffee shop is murdered, and it's soon discovered that he was using the coffee shop to sell marijuana to numerous customers. One thing leads to another and soon enough, the owner of the shop is Hardy's client.
Meanwhile, Glitsky's youngest son has been in an accident, while affects how the Homicide Division has been performing. Because of this, the case takes twists and turns that it might not had Glitsky been on his A-game.
As is usual, Hardy soon discovers that his client is harbouring secrets, secrets that I certainly never suspected and it gave the plot an extra jolt.
As a side note for regular readers of the Hardy series, I got a kick out of seeing Vincent and The Beck all grown up. :)
December 19, 2015
OK, so I'm jumping into the author without having read his prior 19 books which could be part of the problem. I had some issues trying to follow the characters (wait...who's wife is she?) and since I was reading it on my kindle, didn't have the patience to backtrack and figure it out. I remember thinking at one point that I should map everyone out with their relationships and jobs, but decided that this was more effort than I wanted to exert for a mystery/thriller novel. Historical fiction, maybe...but not mystery/thriller.
Also, I was listening to the new Jonathan Kellerman audiobook in the car, so there was some confusion at times as to which clues went with which murder. Note to self: if reading/listening to more than one book at a time, do not have two of the same genre.
Overall, I enjoyed it but think maybe I need to backtrack and follow the characters in order to avoid confusion in the future. Also, I think I'll read the dead tree versions just in case I need to refer back to earlier pages.
Also, I was listening to the new Jonathan Kellerman audiobook in the car, so there was some confusion at times as to which clues went with which murder. Note to self: if reading/listening to more than one book at a time, do not have two of the same genre.
Overall, I enjoyed it but think maybe I need to backtrack and follow the characters in order to avoid confusion in the future. Also, I think I'll read the dead tree versions just in case I need to refer back to earlier pages.
June 23, 2014
A Plague of Secrets by John Lescroart.
Maya Townsend is a wealthy (very wealthy) owner of a coffee shop.
Why she needs to be an owner of the Bay Beans coffee Shop did not become apparent.
Maya becomes Hardy's client after a murder takes place close to the store. It does becomes apparent that Maya tells half truths to any of Hardy's questions, if that.
Then another murder occurs and this victim is also an acquaintance of Maya's. Does Maya have something going on that she's been hiding? Is the Bay Beans coffee Shop selling something else besides coffee?
Playing throughout this story is Abe Glitsky's personality or rather personality change. Glitsky has serious problems in his family life that seem to interfere with his work and relationships. the serious problem is his son's health.
I found while reading that this story either had me with every page/word or I lost interest completely. Needlessly long.
Maya Townsend is a wealthy (very wealthy) owner of a coffee shop.
Why she needs to be an owner of the Bay Beans coffee Shop did not become apparent.
Maya becomes Hardy's client after a murder takes place close to the store. It does becomes apparent that Maya tells half truths to any of Hardy's questions, if that.
Then another murder occurs and this victim is also an acquaintance of Maya's. Does Maya have something going on that she's been hiding? Is the Bay Beans coffee Shop selling something else besides coffee?
Playing throughout this story is Abe Glitsky's personality or rather personality change. Glitsky has serious problems in his family life that seem to interfere with his work and relationships. the serious problem is his son's health.
I found while reading that this story either had me with every page/word or I lost interest completely. Needlessly long.
October 23, 2012
The manager of a popular San Francisco coffee shop is found dead in the back alley. It soon becomes apparent that he was selling more than lattes. One of the suspects is the shop owner, Maya Townshend, who is running a sort of hobby business. When another of her former acquaintances is murdered, she's indicted.
Dismas Hardy agrees to defend Maya, whether she committed these crimes or not, and he has to admit that she seems to be guilty. Her maddening refusal to discuss her relationship to the two victims only complicates things, but Diz is nothing if not persistent. As usual, Lescroart is at his best in the courtroom scenes, which overflow with tensions and surprises, and the truth never becomes clear until the final few chapters. Compelling mystery and courtroom drama, intelligently portrayed.
Dismas Hardy agrees to defend Maya, whether she committed these crimes or not, and he has to admit that she seems to be guilty. Her maddening refusal to discuss her relationship to the two victims only complicates things, but Diz is nothing if not persistent. As usual, Lescroart is at his best in the courtroom scenes, which overflow with tensions and surprises, and the truth never becomes clear until the final few chapters. Compelling mystery and courtroom drama, intelligently portrayed.
July 30, 2010
I have sworn off legal thrillers for awhile but I was forced into the emergency book stash and came up with this one. I learned that this is one of a series but it stands alone very nicely. It features Dismas Hardy, a criminal defense attorney, who takes on as a client a woman who owns a trendy coffee shop. She is accused of a double murder one victim of whom is the manager of her coffee shop. I suggest that you just read and enjoy the ride because any attempt to figure it out on your own will surely fail.
March 14, 2017
Repetitive
Well I have now read 1-13 of Dismas Hardy. I need to take a break; they are getting to be repetitive. same SODIT theme each time, Perry Mason win in the courtroom at the end, lots repetitive fill. Fun reading and entertaining,b it reading them all I. A row just a little too much. Gave it 4 stars, as it is entertaining
Well I have now read 1-13 of Dismas Hardy. I need to take a break; they are getting to be repetitive. same SODIT theme each time, Perry Mason win in the courtroom at the end, lots repetitive fill. Fun reading and entertaining,b it reading them all I. A row just a little too much. Gave it 4 stars, as it is entertaining
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