Barb's Book Reviews: Review of "Presumed Guilty: Presumed Innocent #3" by Scott Turow

Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Review of "Presumed Guilty: Presumed Innocent #3" by Scott Turow

This is Scott Turow's third book featuring Rusty Sabich, the first two being Presumed Innocent and Innocent. It's not necessary to read the previous books to enjoy 'Presumed Guilty'.

****

Seventy-seven year old Rožat "Rusty" Sabich was a long-time prosecutor, and then a judge, in Kindle County [think Chicago]. For the past fourteen years Rusty has been living in a town called Mirror, 100 miles north of Kindle County, where he moved after 'his life collapsed under the impact of a series of calamities that began with the death of his wife and culminated in a prison sentence for him, which ended when the prosecutor suddenly conceded he was innocent.'

Rusty slowly rebuilt his life in Mirror, and now works as a mediator and arbitrator.

In addition to reviving his career, Rusty is happily engaged to a clever grade school principal called Bea;

and Rusty enjoys spending time with his best friend Mansfield "Mansy" Potter, a retired judge.

Rusty and Bea currently share their comfortable home on Mirror Lake with Bea's 22-year-old son Aaron, who's had his share of problems.

Bea and her then husband Lloyd adopted African-American Aaron when he was a baby, and the boy grew up in the almost all White environs of Mirror. In junior high school, Aaron fell in love with a beautiful blonde girl called Mae Potter....

.....and the twosome, both of whom became troublemakers and drug users, have had a tumultuous on-off relationship ever since.

Aaron's current difficulties arise from his latest arrest over a year ago, which landed him in jail for four months. Aaron was holding drugs Mae had purchased....

....and since Mae's father, Harrison "Hardy" Potter, is the local Prosecuting Attorney, Aaron got ALL the blame.

Aaron is now on probation, with the following stipulations: he must live with Bea and Rusty; he must inform them of his whereabouts at all times; he must not drive; he must not leave the county; and he must not associate with drug users, which means he can't hang out with Mae. Of course Aaron doesn't always follow the rules.

As the novel opens, Aaron has 'gone dark': he hasn't been home for several days and he's turned off his phone and voicemail. If the situation continues Rusty will be REQUIRED to inform the court, and Aaron will go back to prison. Rusty and Bea keep trying to call and text Aaron, and they become increasingly worried when Aaron doesn't respond.

Rusty is about to phone the judge when Aaron finally returns to Mirror, his explanation being that he and Mae traveled up north to go camping and discuss a possible future together. According to Aaron, the trip went badly because Mae - who has the notion of being an influencer on Insta and TikTok - was more interested in taking selfies than talking.

After a couple of days Aaron got fed up; grabbed Mae's phone; said he was through with her for good; and left to hitchhike home. The trip back took several days because 'most people up there don't pick up Black men'. Meanwhile, Mae had the car and plenty of cash, and Aaron expected her to get home before him.....but she hasn't returned.

The days pass, Mae doesn't show up, and her family grows more and more frantic. When Mae's body is found, apparently strangled to death, Mae's father Hardy Potter - who's VERY influential in the area - makes sure Aaron is charged with murder. The prosecuting attorney will be Hiram Jackdorp, a bulldog lawyer who almost never loses.

Bea asks Rusty to defend Aaron, despite the fact that Rusty isn't a defense lawyer. Conversely, Rusty's best friend Mansy, who's Mae's grandfather, implores Rusty NOT to take the case, insisting it will ruin their friendship. To cut to the chase, Rusty agrees to defend Aaron, against his better judgment.

The book is largely a legal drama, with extensive descriptions of trial preparation and many courtroom scenes. The issues that arise include a rush to judgment; bias; racism; Brady violations (when the prosecution fails to disclose evidence favorable to the defense); reluctant witnesses; expert witnesses; etc.

Meanwhile, Aaron remains locked up during the trial, which is very hard on Bea and other family members.

It's fascinating to follow the examination and cross-examination of witnesses, and the book highlights some 'tricks of the trade' (i.e. So, you were once convicted of a crime. You're a criminal. How can we believe anything you say?) Author Scott Turow, who's a lawyer himself, is among the best writers for this kind of story.

Of course the truth comes out at the end, but I felt the denouement wasn't quite credible.

Legal thrillers are among my favorite genres and I enjoyed the book. That said, one plot point that arose mid-book struck me as an unnecessary 'add-on' that doesn't work. (Just my opinion.) On the upside, Turow includes wonderful descriptions of the upper Midwest, with the lakes and trees and wildlife and leisurely pace of life.

All in all this is a very good book, highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley, Scott Turow, and Grand Central Publishing for a copy of the book.

Rating: 4 stars

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Barb's Book Reviews

Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Review of "Presumed Guilty: Presumed Innocent #3" by Scott Turow

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