by Scott Turow
First published 2010
Rusty Sabich sits as chief appellate judge in Kindle County, Illinois, twenty-two years after beating murder charges in his first trial. When his wife Barbara dies in their bedroom, the death looks natural. Rusty keeps the news quiet for nearly a day, telling no one, not even their son Nat. His silence raises questions. Acting prosecutor Tommy Molto, the same man who failed to convict Rusty decades ago for killing his mistress, suspects poison. Deputy prosecutor Jim Brand pushes the case forward. The timing creates problems for Rusty. He faces an upcoming election for higher court. He recently conducted a secret affair with Anna Vostic, his law clerk. He also committed judicial ethics violations. Tommy Molto sees his chance for revenge. Rusty must defend himself again, this time for his wife's death. The case threatens to destroy everything he built since his first acquittal. The judge who once escaped justice now confronts the same legal system he serves.
Genres: fiction, mystery, crime, legal-thriller
Vibes: dark, emotional, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Illinois, Kindle County
Period: 22 Years After First Trial
407 pages · Hardcover · Grand Central Publishing
Content warnings: death, murder