Early and often during their legal education, attorneys are reminded of Abraham Lincoln’s aphorism that “[a] lawyer who represents himself in court has a fool for a client.” In his 14th novel, PRESUMED GUILTY, Scott Turow adds some ingredients to Lincoln’s observation. Rusty Sabich returns to the courtroom to defend a client with whom he has a close personal connection.

In 1987, Turow published his first legal thriller, PRESUMED INNOCENT, which introduced readers to Rusty and Kindle County. As he notes in his acknowledgements, this setting is a fictional midwestern community that combines aspects of Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota. This legal Never Never Land has served as the locale for nearly all of Turow’s books.

"It is safe to say that this latest chapter in the life of Rusty Sabich is complex and page-turning. Few writers are as good as Turow, and PRESUMED GUILTY is another in a long list of outstanding novels."

PRESUMED INNOCENT became a bestseller and was notable for its insights into the politics of criminal prosecution. Additionally, Rusty’s trial included some of the most authentic courtroom scenes ever written. The book became a feature film starring Harrison Ford and most recently was a series on Apple TV+. In 2010, Rusty was once more the subject of a criminal investigation and prosecution on the pages of INNOCENT.

Turow brings unique qualifications to his work. He had an extensive legal career as a federal prosecutor and practicing attorney. Other novelists working in this field have had similar backgrounds, but Turow seems to have the ability to translate his experience to the pages of his novels. The attorneys and judges in a Turow courtroom are the most realistic I have encountered. He doesn't simply paint a picture of justice in his writing; his pictures are vibrant, powerful and authentic.

While many are familiar with Rusty Sabich, I will not disclose his portrayal in previous Turow novels and spoil those stories. It is sufficient to repeat what Turow presents to readers of PRESUMED GUILTY early in the story. Rusty labels his own life as a “dutiful and generally successful existence that collapsed under a series of numbing calamities.” If you’re a Turow fan, you know what this means. If not, you may want to read PRESUMED INNOCENT and INNOCENT before diving into this latest effort.

Now reaching the conclusion of his legal career, Rusty is living away from Kindle County and contemplating marriage to a younger woman. The relationship is somewhat complicated by Bea’s adult son, Aaron. In the opening pages of PRESUMED GUILTY, Aaron’s own problems with a souring relationship, as well as lingering issues with drugs, eventually result in his being charged with murder. After much discussion, consideration and trepidation, Rusty agrees to take on Aaron’s defense.

All of this occurs in the first quarter of the story, and then Turow moves into the portion of the book where he truly excels: recreating the trial. Focused on securing a conviction, the police operate under what is known as confirmation bias. Every new piece of evidence is viewed as supporting the already established view of the defendant’s guilt. But Rusty and his investigator continue digging until the picture is completely developed. The prosecutor is intent on winning regardless of guilt or innocence. Turow does a fine job of identifying many of the outside pressures that often impact criminal prosecutions: “It’s called the criminal justice system…. It’s a slaughterhouse and just about everybody who gets close ends up splattered with blood.”

In the end, the trial concludes as readers knew it would. But Turow has one more twist up his sleeve that I thought might occur. I cannot elaborate any further. It is safe to say that this latest chapter in the life of Rusty Sabich is complex and page-turning. Few writers are as good as Turow, and PRESUMED GUILTY is another in a long list of outstanding novels.