Guilt

By: John Lescroart

Narrated by: David Colacci

Length: 18 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

Mark Dooher is a prosperous San Francisco attorney and a prominent Catholic, the last person anyone would suspect of a brutal crime. But Dooher, a paragon of success and a master of all he touches, is about to be indicted for murder.

Charged with savagely killing his own wife, Dooher is fighting for his reputation and his life in a high-profile case that is drawing dozens of lives into its wake - from former spouses to former friends, from a beautiful, naïve young attorney to a defense lawyer whose own salvation depends on getting his client off.

Now, as the trial builds to a crescendo, as evidence is sifted and witnesses discredited, as a good cop tries to pick up the pieces of his shattered life and a D.A. risks her career, the truth about Mark Dooher is about to explode. For in a trial that will change the lives of everyone it touches, there is one thing that no one knows - until it is much too late...

©2009 John Lescroart (P)2009 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

an exceptionally good read

I've always enjoyed Lescroart's books -- but this one is at the top of my list. All the characters are interestingly and insightfuly developed. The author's portrayal of a psychopathic/narcissistic character is especially well written.

the reader was also outstanding.

I couldn't stop listening once I started and wished it would keep on going, even though the ending was gratifying.

Out of Sequence

When I first started listening to "Guilt," I thought that this novel, despite the copyright dates, must come chronologically before "A Certain Justice," Lescroart's previous novel. But, actually, Lescroart here has used the risky technique of filling in the back-story missing from "A Certain Justice." I don't think the technique quite works with "Guilt," since it leaves the listener feeling a bit confused until the end, where the story jumps to events after "A Certain Justice." For this reason, I have docked one star from my rating of "Guilt." Otherwise, Lescroart gives us his usual excellent writing, and David Colacci gives us his usual excellent narration. Perhaps, to vent another slight criticism of "Guilt," Lescroart paints the bad guy -- Mark Dooher -- with a bit of cartoonist's brush: portraying a villain so good and likable on the outside that nobody can see the evil on the inside. But we like our bad guys bad, and our good guys good, don't we? We already know, from "A Certain Justice," that Mark Dooher is a bad guy, so we have inside knowledge that the other characters don't have; and we keep wondering when the other characters are going to wake up to Dooher's inner wickedness. Of course, he gets his just deserts in the end. I would recommend "Guilt" to Lescroart fans, suspense fans, and legal thriller fans who have patience for good character development and intricate plotting. Only I might recommend that they listen to "Guilt" before listening to "A Certain Justice," since these two novels seem to have been published out of sequence in Lescroart's San Francisco series.

Interesting Twists

This was the first Lescroart book I have read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Mark Dooher is an attorney who has made it to the top. At first glance he has it all, but Lescroart, through other characters, gives very subtle indicators of Dooher's darker side. Dooher ends up indicted for murder of his long-time wife and Wes Farrell, his best friend as well as Christine, the new girlfriend, stand steadfastly by his side. The court room drama begins to unravel all that the characters have held to be true and the reader wants to jump in and save them all - but can't. If there is one criticism of the book it's the rather cardboard relationship between Sam and Wes, which actually continues on into other books (which I started to read after reading this one). But there is little doubt that Lescroart is a master of courtroom drama. Good read and credible narrator.

Enthralling!

To me, Lescroart is the king of the legal thrillers and I have read/listened to almost all of his novels. And, in my opinion, this is his best. It wrapped me up from beginning to end. HIghly recommended!

Thoroughly Disappointing

What disappointed you about Guilt?

The story was flat and predictable. I suppose even a writer as reliable as Lescroat has to drop the ball once in a while. However, this book is an aberration in Lescroat's otherwise satisfying efforts.

Another thriller in the Abe Glitsky series.

Actually, this novel is more about attorney Wes Farrell than Abe Glitsky. It provides background on Wes that I had not appreciated from reading the Dismas Hardy series. (Dismas and his wife are only mentioned in passing at one point in the story.) I found it hard to put down, although it took longer than necessary to wrap the story up. The novel is more of a thriller than a mystery but, although I prefer the latter style, I found it hard to stop listening, even after knowing who the antagonist was and what his likely comeuppance would be. (That is a tribute to Lescroart's suspence-filled writing.) As always, David Colacci does a terrific job narrating the action.

Great plot - really interesting book

This was my first John Lescroart book but it won't be my last! He develops interesting plotlines and characters and the book describes San Franscisco beautifully. It is a long book, but it kept my attention all the way through. I thought the narrator was excellent.

Too many words

Good story but way too many words. I understand the character development of Dooher and it was well done. But I do not want to believe people can be that gullible.

Dissapointing

Another story with a good rich characters that plummet at the end. If the author had taken another direction or ending then perhaps it would have been worth the time and money. I would not recommend this book. Maybe I have high expectations but this book just didn't have the substance to sustain it.

Only if you are truly bored...

A bit flat. A bit didactic, a bit single-dimensional. The story is not believable and the characters are also strange and not realistic. All and all, I will not buy this author again

Good listen

This is the first of Lescroart's books I have listened to. Really enjoyed it. I too was bit put off by narrator to start but soon settled in and you have to admire narrators as you instantly recognise which voice belongs to which character. Apparently not one of Lescroart's most popular novels but I found myself listening to each word despite the length. Yes somewhat predictable but did not detract from story. You do form likes/dislike of charachters. Will definitely try another.

A good listen!

I was'nt sue about the narrator on this book at first and found it a little slow to start with but once I got into it I really enjoyed it. A great listen!