Innocent

By: Scott Turow

Narrated by: Edward Herrmann

The "unputdownable courtroom drama" (Stephen King) and riveting sequel to the landmark bestseller Presumed Innocent, in which Tommy Molto and Rusty Sabich come head-to-head in a second murder trial.
The sequel to the genre-defining, landmark bestseller Presumed Innocent, INNOCENT continues the story of Rusty Sabich and Tommy Molto who are, once again, twenty years later, pitted against each other in a riveting psychological match after the mysterious death of Rusty's wife.

If you loved Presumed Innocent, I have no doubt you’ll love Innocent. Jump. It will satiate you.

For all those who say Innocent is not as good as Presumed Innocent, it’s too easy to forget what a high bar that is for almost everyone reading this book. Nonetheless, I disagree with that assessment. It is a different book. It has four narrators: Rusty, his son Nat, Tommy Molto – who gets a whole new, humanizing, look – and Anna, a likable, sympathetic character with a complex role. Sandy Stern still plays a lead role, but he is less of a star than in Presumed. (This fact alone might have discouraged me from reading this book, but I’m glad it didn’t.) Yes, Rusty is older, but he is the exact same character you knew. The writing, something perhaps too easily overlooked in such a good story, is such a pleasure to read that it astonishes. Turow’s prose is as good or better than in PI, but either way is immediately familiar in the best sense. And I found the ending unquestionably more satisfying than the ending in Presumed Innocent. While Turow is never going to wrap things up in an (unrealistic and unbelievable) Happily-Ever-After-Walk-Into-the-Sunset ending, the ending of Innocent left me far more settled than Presumed Innocent did. Like I had finished a really excellent nine course meal, down to the perfectly rich desert and lulling after-dinner drink, and could walk away perfectly sated; a feeling I did not come close to having after Presumed.

I don’t feel the hesitation some seem to have in recommending this book wholeheartedly. So again, if you loved Presumed Innocent, don’t hesitate. You won’t mourn that the characters have gotten older. They haven’t fundamentally changed. If you loved Presumed Innocent, I have no doubt you’ll love Innocent. Jump. It will satiate you.
**I must note that some reviews suggest that the mystery or twist is how the death of Barbara occurred, but that is not the twist, so do not be put off by thinking that’s much of an issue, or that you’ve somehow tripped on a spoiler.

Great story

What made the experience of listening to Innocent the most enjoyable?

Ed Hermann is great but don't like Orlagh Cassidy trying to turn a good book into a chick story. Too much deep love thoughts.

What did you like best about this story?

Good plot with familiar cast of characters.

Have you listened to any of Edward Hermann and Orlagh Cassidy ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Ed Hermann is great.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

no

Wonderful book

As with all of Scott Turow books. An elegant stylist, Turow tells an excellent story with a driving narrative pace. Highly recommended.

An interesting follow up to Presumed Innocent

What did you love best about Innocent?

The internal debates between characters who are unreliable narrators of their own presumed understandings of the people in the world around them.

understanding the trial

having been in the trial business for more than 40 years, and having tried criminal civil and (i will put it
in yet a third category)divorces-- it was unreal how this author captures the essence of a trial and
of course weaves an outstanding story as well, a truly fascinating adventure