The Keeper by John Lescroart

Review by The Mole

When Hal Chase's wife goes missing then the police are quick to start a murder investigation despite there being little or no evidence that she is dead. Hal is quick to get Dismas Hardy to represent him as his lawyer and, in turn, Dismas engages Abe Glitsky, a retired police officer, to find Katie (Hal's wife). Hal gets taken into custody and put in the jail where he works, but as a warder he is afforded almost hotel style accommodation.

Abe sets out looking for Katie or at least another suspect - and therein lies the problem, who but Hal would benefit from her death?

This is the second Dismas Hardy story I have read and while I knew some of the back story, that itself was not at all important in this book.

Abe is now faced with the difficult task of proving a suspect is innocent whereas his career as a police officer was focused on finding someone who is guilty and this shift in thinking is brought out well by the author.

Towards the end when things start to wrap up you are left with a feeling that this is a very scrappy ending but it's not done yet and Lescroart pulls a rabbit or two out of the hat that really left me thinking "Yes, that makes sense - and it's not a 'how convenient ending' either".

I did enjoy The Ophelia Cut but The Keeper is an even better read with a better ending and a better melding of the characters. A really good crime thriller that isn't burdened with too much procedure or blind alleys but still springs surprises throughout.

Publisher - Headline
Genre - Adult crime thriller

The Ophelia Cut by John Lescroart

Review by The Mole

Moses McGuire is a bit of a loose cannon - particularly when he's had a drink or two - and he has secrets in his head that must not be revealed. When his daughter is attacked and then raped he turns to the bottle for a bit of solace. But the rapist is found dead and the prime and only suspect is Moses. Dismas Hardy, Moses' friend and lawyer, steps in to defend him and try to make sure that Moses' secret - THEIR secret - is kept buried. Is Moses guilty? That is the least most important thing on Hardy's agenda - that secret must be kept quiet.

This is one of a series of books featuring Dismas Hardy although it's the first I have read and there is a lot of back story (including the secret) that I was unaware of - intrigued by it though - that is alluded to throughout the book. Despite coming late to the series this book stood well on it's own and, apart from who's alive and kicking at the start, gives no real spoilers to the earlier books. At nearly 500 pages it may seem a little daunting but it reads easily, moves fast and doesn't really waste any words. My only problem was keeping track of who knew who, from when, what their relationship was before this book and were they 'good' guys or 'not so good' guys - I felt a chart would have helped at times! It's probably because I came late to the series. The characters were a little bit 'weird' in a way because there wasn't one that I would want to share a bus ride with - I would sooner walk!

Despite everything I really enjoyed ths book which flew by all too quickly. It's a courtroom drama that doesn't really look for suspects or worry about innocence - only an innocent verdict.

Publisher - Headline
Genre - Adult courtroom thriller/drama

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