Presumed Innocent

Intriguing characters, not all likeable, but interesting, and suddenly not what I expected.

I always wanted to be a writer, but after university and a year of traveling and trying to write a book, I went to law school. A fish out of water there, all I did was criminal law. To me, this novel was a beacon. Turow was a criminal lawyer and a novelist—I could do the same one day. 

I loved everything about the book, from the first line to the complex and ambiguous ending. In my first novel, I ended it in the same way. One of the wonderful things about being a published author is meeting writers whose… show more.

This one will always have a special place in my heart because it inspired me to try my hand at writing fiction. In my mind, it stands alone at the top of this genre. Why?

First, the premise: the tables are turned on a prosecutor when he finds himself charged with murder. Second, the story is told in the first person present. This gives the narration a sense of both intimacy and immediacy. Third, the prosecutor is the narrator and never reveals whether he is guilty, letting the reader weigh the evidence to reach his or her own conclusion. Fourth,… show more.

This is the best courtroom murder/whodunnit ever!

It is so educative about the players in a criminal trial and what makes them tick: from the defendant to the prosecutor, to the defense lawyer, and the judge. It’s got sex, drama, and jealousy and keeps you on your toes until the completely unexpected twist at the very end.

I love this book even more, knowing that Scott Turow, a Chicago attorney like me, wrote it on his way to and from work at his law office! And he endorsed my new book!

Authors who have walked the walk always grab my attention. Turow qualifies since he’s been a lawyer for many years and knows the inner workings of the legal system. The story he weaves in his first novel shows this knowledge, but more importantly, the author lets the reader into interpersonal relationships that make the tale intriguing on multiple levels. For me, good mysteries keep me guessing to the very end, and this effort succeeds. You might not like everything about the protagonist, Rusty Sabitch, and that’s okay, too. There’s enough to like about him as he works through what really… show more.

I’ve read most of his work and as I’m a writer who tries to write complex psychological, character-driven thrillers, Turow is my touchstone. He consistently sets a very high standard. He’s not only an excellent writer, he crafts complicated storylines skillfully, without deceiving you or tricking you. You’re often fooled, but never disappointed. His characters are carefully conceived and multifaceted. Without drawing attention to it, he successfully elevated middlebrow legal mystery thrillers into high-quality literature.

The book that practically created the courtroom thriller and inspired a million lawyers (including me) to dream about writing fiction. It has everything you could want from a thriller and a legal procedural in one—a grisly murder, a narrator you root for but don’t entirely trust, a smooth defense attorney, a (maybe) corrupt legal system, and a shocking twist at the end.

If you haven’t read it—read it. If you have read it, read it again. I read it almost every year.