Book Review: The Motive by John Lescroart

Quick Review

The Motive by John Lescroart
Published 2005
Genre: Mystery/Legal Thriller
Bob's Thoughts: Lescroart returns to the courtroom with another solid legal tale.
Available at your local booksellers.
Bob's Grade: B

Full Review
The first John Lescroart book I read was The 13th juror. I have always been a huge legal fiction fan, and when I saw another law of a crafty defense lawyer defending a seemingly innocent client form from an unwarranted murder charge, I got excited. Here’s another series written by a lawyer about a crusading defense attorney. I expected a series of dramatic trial stories, of the good Dismas Hardy fighting against the corrupt system, aided by his good police buddy Abe. Basically, I expected the same old legal series.

Yet, I shouldn’t had assumed anything. My first bad assumption was that Mr. Lescroart was a lawyer. This isn’t true. My second assumption was he was going to write a series where the legal system was the driving force behind the stories. Also, not true. This is much more than a tale of a lawyer. This series is character study of two friend, their families and one crazy city called San Francisco. Lescroart has taking his characters across the expected sub genre lines, at times a family tale, at time a police procedural, at times a story of corruption and intrigue, at times an action thriller, this series is never scared to take the unexpected turn or change the story up in some integral way. So, when I picked up The Motive, I had finally told myself that I shouldn’t expect another The 13th Juror.

Yet, of course, I guess I had forgotten my lesson once again. With the motive, Lescroart had gone back to what drew me to him in the first place, a good old fashion Murder Trial. Not that this was your typical tale of legal maneuvering. Lescroart starts it off proving that he knows how to do his research. A fire is ravaging a home in a picturesque San Francisco neighborhood , and the firefighters are performing their trade well. During the fight of the fire, two bodies, burned beyond recognition are discovered. They may have been just unfortunate victims of the fire, except for the bullet holes in their heads and the fact that they were drenched in gasoline.

This of course sets off the series of events that drive this book.. At first, it just looks like a murder suicide, but the victim has some high powered friends, and one of them, the current mayor calls upon Hardy’s friend, and now high ranking brass Abe Glitsky to take a interest in this case. Abe’s involvement doesn’t sit to well with the investigating detective, and things turn even more sour when Abe quickly disproves the detectives murder/suicide theory. This leads, the detective on a quest to out do his rival, and he quickly focuses his attentions on the victim’s daughter in law, a women who spurned his sexual advances. To make matters even worst, the suspect just happens to be an ex-girlfriend of one Dismas Hardy.

Such a small world.

The book then takes the predictable, yet highly entertaining turn towards the impending murder trial, with Glitsky taking heat for his unofficial involvement in the case and accusations of collusion being tossed at Abe, Hardy and the mayor. Hardy, now having to defend his ex-lover, and worrying about a secret he just can’t allow to surface seems to become more and more emotionally drained. Both he and Glitsky are desperately searching for the answers.

The Motive, while at times, a predictable legal yarn, is charged with emotion and intrigue. The plot itself almost takes a back seat to the emotional roller coaster it’s main characters are on. For fans of the series, you will once again be sucked into the lives and trials of characters that you have grown to enjoy. For others, this book offers a fun legal tale.

Check Out John Lescroart's site.