'A superb sexy sequel to Presumed Innocent' Sunday Times 'A legend of suspense fiction' Steve
Cavanagh 'The master of the courtroom drama' Daniel Silva 'A writer with few peers in any
genre' David Baldacci Daily Mail Books to Watch 2025 The Times Best Thrillers of 2025 So Far
In a sequel to Presumed Innocent the book that redefined the legal thriller judge and lawyer
Rusty Sabich returns to the courtroom to defend his step-son against a racially-charged murder
indictment as the boy's life - and perhaps Rusty's last chance at happiness - hang in the
balance. Rusty is a retired judge attempting a third act in life with a loving soon-to-be wife
Bea with whom he shares both a restful home on an idyllic lake in the rural Midwest and a
plaintive hope that this marriage will be his best and his last. But the peace that's taken
Rusty so long to find evaporates when Bea's young adult son Aaron living under their
supervision while on probation for drug possession disappears. If Aaron doesn't return soon
he will be sent back to jail. Aaron eventually turns up with a vague story about a camping trip
with his troubled girlfriend Mae that ended in a fight and a long hitchhike home. Days later
when she still hasn't returned suspicion falls on Aaron and when Mae is subsequently
discovered dead Aaron is arrested and set for trial on charges of first degree murder. Faced
with few choices and even fewer hopes Bea begs Rusty to return to court one last time to
defend her son and to save their last best hope for happiness. For Rusty the question is not
whether to defend Aaron or whether the boy is in fact innocent - it's whether the system to
which he has devoted his life can ever provide true justice for those who are presumed guilty.
5* READER REVIEWS 'Absolutely brilliant' 'Scott Turow at his very best' 'A great legal thriller
... Kept me riveted' 'Fantastic. It will draw you in from the first page' 'Scott Turow is the
master of the legal court room drama' 'A masterpiece - one of the best legal thrillers I have
read' 'This is what you call a proper legal thriller'
