Presumed Guilty - (Presumed Innocent) by Scott Turow (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Scott Turow's "unputdownable" courtroom drama from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Presumed Innocent, the phenomenon that redefined the legal thriller and is the basis for Apple TV+'s most-watched drama series ever (Kristin Hannah, #1 NYT bestselling author).

"No one does it better."―David Baldacci, #1 NYT Bestselling Author
"The truth is, Turow is just better at this than the rest of us."―Greg Iles, #1 NYT Bestselling Author
"This is manna for legal-thriller fans."―Booklist, starred review
"This easily ranks among Turow's best."―Publishers Weekly, starred review
"An absorbing and entertaining read." ―Kirkus

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.

Review Quotes

"Presumed Guilty takes you out of your comfort zone and challenges you to think long and hard about the most important issues we face as a country. Every time I pick up a new Scott Turow book, I am reminded what a national treasure he is. Few novelists are his peer when it comes to prose, plot, and character. No one does it better."--David Baldacci, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

"A compelling, unputdownable legal thriller that explores the dark side of justice in a small town and on a fractured family. Scott Turow is at the top of his game with this complex, emotionally charged courtroom drama that will keep you turning the pages as fast as you can."--Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

"A new installment in the life and times of Rusty Sabich arrives just in time for recent converts coming over from the splashy adaptation of Presumed Innocent. Turow is still at the top of his game and writes a first-class legal thriller."--Crimereads

"Every gift that made Scott Turow a phenomenon is on display in Presumed Guilty. Deep-focus plotting, implacable pace, lapidary prose, stunning climax. But above all... insight. The truth is, Turow is just better at this than the rest of us."--Greg Iles, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

"His experience shows in the courtroom scenes that effortlessly incorporate tricky legal matters and breathtaking reversals, exactly like Law and Order reruns do. Presumed Guilty has a lot to do with the specifics of a murder trial -- particularly the decision whether to have Aaron testify on his own behalf -- and Turow makes all of that convincing and gripping."--Minnesota Star Tribune

"No one stages courtroom scenes better than this celebrated Chicago attorney. An absorbing and entertaining read." --Kirkus

"The trial that follows is a master class in legal suspense as Turow weaves together the devastation of Aaron and Bea's families, simmering racial prejudice, and the impact of smalltown politics within a framework of deliciously tense courtroom dynamics. This is manna for legal-thriller fans."--Booklist, starred review

"Turow keeps readers guessing... This easily ranks among Turow's best."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Turow's penchant for twists that at first seem odd but are totally believable, and his intimate knowledge of the law, show how the author remains at the top of his writing skills in Presumed Guilty."--South Florida Sun Sentinel

About the Author

Scott Turow, a writer and former practicing lawyer, is the author of thirteen bestselling works of fiction, including Presumed Innocent and most recently, Suspect. Mr. Turow has also published two nonfiction books, including One L, about his experience as a law student. His books have been translated into more than forty languages, sold more than thirty million copies worldwide, and have been adapted into movies and television projects. He has frequently contributed essays and op-ed pieces to publications such as the New York Times, Washington Post, Vanity Fair, the New Yorker, and the Atlantic.