The 13th Juror

Dismas Hardy, Book 4

By: John Lescroart

Narrated by: David Colacci

Length: 18 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

In The 13th Juror, Dismas Hardy, lawyer/investigator, undertakes the defense of Jennifer Witt, accused of murdering her husband and their eight-year-old son as well as her first husband, who had died nine years earlier from an apparent drug overdose. While preparing his case, Hardy learns that both of Jennifer's husbands had physically abused her. But Jennifer refuses to allow a defense that presumes her guilt. She is not guilty, she claims.

Hardy is now driven to seek an alternative truth a jury can believe. As the trial progresses, the complex truth itself begins to change, to bend, to fade in and out of focus as the clock keeps ticking on Jennifer's fate, until there seems only one person left to convince, and she is "the 13th juror" - the judge.

Check out more titles in the Dismas Hardy series.

©2008 John Lescroart; 2008 Brilliance Audio

Mistake fixed by Audible

My compliments to Audible for listening to prior reviews and fixing the problem. I had initially wrote a bad rexiew but now applaud Audible for quickly fixing it. GREAT SEVICE-THANK YOU

Caveat to lawyers

Interesting story and well read by David Colacci, one of my favorite narrators, BUT, if you are a lawyer and are bothered by books with fundamental legal errors (just a few here), then you must be able to ignore them in order to enjoy the book.

Another first rate author-reader collaboration

Again Lescroart has produced a legal thriller (written in 1994) that works on many levels.

For one thing, it's a well crafted book whose title enhances and cements the plot. And the narrator, David Colacci: what a reader! Those voices, that well timed drawl, the enjoyment of the humour. I hope that the Lesocraut-Colacci collaborations keep coming.

The characters. Lawyer, Dismas Hardy: as always, endearing in his humanity, his single mindedness, his capacity for friendship and creative, lateral thinking. Franny: his wife -- Franny, I thought you were a bit rough on Dismas this time, sending confused messages about his family obligations and at the same time, huge concern for his client. There's Freeman: reassuringly his own man, and a brilliant lawyer. And the judge: that was a strong portrayal.

And finally, the plot: satisfying, clever, smooth, twists and turns that weren't gratuitous but interesting side travels. A mix of arresting dialogue, dramatic high moments and, as always, the background of San Francisco's beauty and lifestyle (I enjoy Lew the Greeks!) As a person who is part of a society with gun control and where capital punishment has been abolished since 1967, I was riveted by the way the issues of capital punishment and gun ownership were presented.

Heart rending and rewarding 5 stars Straight

I served as court clerk for 7 years and find this story very believable and deeply entertaining.

Finally Fixed

When this audiobook was initially released it was missing the last 25 chapters (31-55) -- that's why it seems to leave the listener hanging. That's been corrected and the book is now available in a single 18 hour download (as opposed to the original 8 hours). Mine was fixed "automatically" by Audible with an update to my library. The fix took about a month to complete, but now the whole audiobook is available. My rating of the audiobook is based on the initial screwup, not on Lescroart's, as always, enjoyable writing.

Good - with a GREAT narrator

David Colacci could read me a technical manual and I'd keep pressing play. But Lescroart is solid if not spectacular at times. This book does not disappoint.

whining voice for female characters

whining voice for Female characters just about to made me crazy. Audibles biggest weaknesses are the reader s attempting to sound male or female. Better just to use nuteral voice and let listeners supply the interpretation.

Awesome narrator

I liked the story very much and loved the narrator. He's one of the absolute best! However, I found that the story dragged on in certain areas. If I had been reading the book, I'd have put it down. But the narrator saved it for me and the ending was great! Definitely worth the purchase. Highly recommended.

Intelligent and fun read

The story was highly entertaining. Insightful dialgue showed accurate picture of the abusive relationship. Lescroart also managed to accomplish what few writers can -- a gripping read but still highly plausible.

Much better this time

When I originally downloaded this book, I didn't get it all. This time I did. Well, it was long, but it kept going and really picked up to a fast pace at the end. Unexpected twist at the end. Great read.