Review of "The Rule of Law: A Dismas Hardy Novel" by John Lescroart

In this 18th book in the 'Dismas Hardy' series, John Lescroart ties up hanging elements from previous books. Thus the author revisits crimes that occurred in 'The First Law' - where Russian mobsters were implicated in mass murder and 'Fatal' - where infidelity had dire consequences. Though this book could be read as a standalone, familiarity with the series is beneficial.

*****

Dismas Hardy's genteel secretary Phyllis McGowan has worked in his San Francisco law firm for nearly forty years, and considers it her sacred duty to monitor visitors to his office.



Thus Hardy is shocked when Phyllis disappears from her desk for several days without explanation. Hardy is even more flabbergasted when Phyllis returns and is arrested for being an accessory to murder. Moreover, the arrest is rough and humiliating, and results in Phyllis having a dislocated shoulder.



Hardy is certain this harsh treatment was instigated by District Attorney Ron Jameson, a power hungry egomaniac who has a grudge against Hardy.



Hardy not only campaigned against Jameson in the last election, he made Jameson's rival Wes Farrell a partner in his law firm.

When Hardy gets a chance to speak to Phyllis, he learns that her ex-convict brother Adam asked her to assist an illegal immigrant named Celia Montoya. Phyllis agreed, with dire consequences. Celia has now been arrested for murdering Hector Valdez, the brutal pimp who forced her into prostitution - and Phyllis is accused of helping Celia flee.

Hardy, who's furious about Phyllis's harsh treatment, files official complaints against Jameson and engineers a scathing newspaper column about him. Jameson is furious and embarrassed, especially when his teenage children take him to task. As retribution, Jameson starts an investigation into a ten-year-old crime that involved Hardy's client John Holiday. The case was closed, but Jameson believes that Hardy and his friend - former Head of Homicide Abe Glitsky - were implicated somehow.

The situation is even more complicated because SFPD Homicide Inspectors Beth Tully and Ike McCaffrey believe that District Attorney Jameson LITERALLY committed a felony several years ago, and pinned the crime on someone else. With the encouragement of Hardy and Glitsky, the Inspectors are quietly reopening the case.



All this sets up a complex 'cat and mouse' scenario where Hardy wants to take Jameson down, and Jameson hopes to get Hardy indicted.

To say more would be a spoiler.

Other important characters in the story include Jameson's wife Kate - who feels his new job as District Attorney is driving a wedge between them; Jameson's secretary Andrea - a beautiful woman who catches his eye; and District Attorney's investigator Chet Greene - who's determined to 'find the dirt' on Hardy and Glitsky.



The novel held my attention, but it's not one of Lescroart's best books. The plot feels repetitious since Investigator Greene questions one person after another about the same thing, with no new answers. On top of that, the story's climax is too much like a deus ex machina, and left me feeling unsatisfied.

Still, I'd recommend the book to Dismas Hardy fans who want to keep up with the lives of favorite recurring characters.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author (John Lescroart) and the publisher (Atria) for a copy of the book.

Rating: 3 stars