"great legal thriller"
In San Francisco, Laura Wright and her drama teacher Mr.
Mooney are killed in his apartment. Laura's lover, Andrew
Bartlett, the father of her unborn child is arrested two
months after the double homicide and charged with special
circumstances murder. Amy Wu, an associate in the law
firm in which Dismas Hardy is the managing partner, takes
the case even though she believes her client is guilty. With his parents' permission, Amy plea bargains for her
seventeen year old client so that he will plead guilty if
he's charged as a minor. She explains to Andrew that he
will be remanded to a juvenile youth facility for eight
years and then would be a free man. Andrew agrees to
Amy's suggestion since the evidence against him is so
overwhelming, but at the last minute he declares his
innocence. Dismas takes a more active role in the case,
seeking evidence, interviewing witnesses and acting as THE
SECOND CHAIR in Andrew's upcoming hearing. No doubt about it, Dismas Hardy is the twenty-first
century's Perry Mason only more personable since the
audience sees his interactions with his employees,
friends, wife and children. THE SECOND CHAIR is a great
legal thriller with a cast of characters easy to like.
The intrinsic workings of the California judicial system
especially when it comes to the rights of a juvenile is
fascinating to observe. John Lescroart's latest work, THE
FIRST CHAIR is definitely heading to the New York Times
bestseller list. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted December 8, 2003
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