A Plague of Secrets (Dismas Hardy)
by John Lescroart
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Book Summary Information
Author: John LescroartEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2009-06-30
ISBN: 0525950923
Number of pages: 432
Publisher: Dutton Adult
Book Reviews of A Plague of Secrets (Dismas Hardy)
Book Review: Still So Full of Ideas and Talent
Summary: 5 Stars
A PLAGUE OF SECRETS, John Lescroart's 20th published work, reads more like it was written by an inspired young bull, perhaps two or three books into a new career and still so full of ideas and talent that his story threatens to burst the binding of the cover.
Lescroart has done much in the past with his two primary characters, Abe Glitsky and Dismas Hardy. Glitsky, the veteran homicide lieutenant, and Hardy, the venerable defense attorney, have been an odd, though believable, pairing of friends. Set against the backdrop of his beloved San Francisco and its frequently quirky, occasionally weird culture, Lescroart has created a series of what might be called legal or courtroom thrillers shot through with the workings of a methodical police procedural, utilizing the best elements of both.
A PLAGUE OF SECRETS begins with two momentous events. The first is an accident that leaves Glitsky's three-year-old son severely injured. The circumstances of the incident haunt Glitsky throughout the book, leaving him personally and professionally functioning on a single cylinder, if at all. The second is a murder that will ripple and resonate throughout San Francisco's social and political culture. Dylan Vogler is the manager of Bay Beans West, a wildly popular independent coffee shop located in the notorious Haight-Ashbury district. When Vogler is discovered shot to death in an alley behind the establishment, with a knapsack full of carefully processed marijuana, it is clear that he has been dealing much more than caffeine.
Maya Townshend, the fabulously wealthy and politically connected owner of the store, finds herself under the scrutiny of the police and retains Hardy as counsel, if for no other reason than to provide her with legal support during the inevitable question and answer sessions. But when another of Townshend's acquaintances is also brutally murdered, the police, in what perhaps appears to be an unfortunate rush to judgment, bring their suspicions to an arguably over-eager district attorney who sees multiple opportunities to be had in Townshend's prosecution. Without Glitsky's oversight, the progress of the case spins out of control, and Townshend finds herself arrested and charged with both murders. Hardy must contend not only with the prosecutors, but also with Townshend, who harbors a secret from her past that she will not reveal to Hardy.
When it is learned that Vogler may well have been blackmailing Townshend, it causes Hardy to privately doubt his client's innocence. Hardy's difficulties are further compounded by the judge presiding over the trial, a somewhat incompetent jurist who is barely able to conceal her outright dislike of Hardy. Still, the prosecution's case is weak, and when a number of unexpected sources provide Hardy with new information, he is able to present an explosive revelation that might exonerate his client but may also leave others in terrible danger.
Lescroart wrestles with complex issues in A PLAGUE OF SECRETS, including the decriminalization of marijuana, the behavior of the homeless, due process under federal law, and seizure of assets, among others. His characters, particularly Townshend, are also multi-faceted. Townshend's misrepresentations to the police, not to mention to her own attorney, are somewhat understandable in hindsight, but ultimately constitute the major elements leading to her arrest and trial. Glitsky attempts to make amends for the errors that occurred on his watch, in a manner that may or may not cause him difficulty later. What results makes A PLAGUE OF SECRETS a riveting work that will lead readers, once they start the book, to block out sufficient time to finish it in one sitting.
--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
Summary of A Plague of Secrets (Dismas Hardy)
Dismas Hardy, Abe Glitsky, and Wyatt Hunt return in a compelling and timely legal thriller filled with blackmail, political intrigue, and multiple murder.The first victim is Dylan Vogler, a charming ex-convict who manages the Bay Beans West coffee shop in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district. When his body is found, inspectors discover that his knapsack is filled with high-grade marijuana. It soon becomes clear that San Francisco's A-list flocked to Bay Beans West not only for their caffeine fix.
But how much did Maya Townshend-the beautiful socialite niece of the city's mayor, and the absentee owner of the shop-know about what was going on inside her business? And how intimate had she really been with Dylan, her old college friend?
As another of Maya's acquaintances falls victim to murder, and as the names of the dead men's celebrity, political, and even law- enforcement customers come to light, tabloid-fueled controversy takes the investigation into the realms of conspiracy and cover-up. Prosecutors close in on Maya, who has a deep secret of her own-a secret she needs to protect at all costs during her very public trial, where not only her future but the entire political landscape of San Francisco hangs in the balance, hostage to an explosive secret that Dismas Hardy is privilege-bound to protect.
Amazon Exclusive: Steve Berry Reviews A Plague of Secrets
Steve Berry is the New York Times bestselling author of international suspense thrillers, The Venetian Betrayal, The Alexandria Link, The Amber Room, The Templar Legacy, The Romanov Prophecy and The Third Secret. His latest novel is The Charlemagne Pursuit.
John Lescroart is a master at building worlds. Over the course of his many novels, he?s created a supple, elegant theater of San Francisco, populating it with an entourage of fascinating people.
At the top of that list is former-policeman, now defense lawyer, Dismas Hardy. Next is Hardy?s close friend, Abe Glitsky, of the San Francisco Police Department. A few books back in the series (The Hunt Club) we met Wyatt Hunt, a local private detective.
A Plague of Secrets brings these three personalities together again when Dylan Vogler, the manager of a coffee shop in San Francisco?s Haight-Ashbury district, is found dead cradling a knapsack full of marijuana. When Hardy learns that Vogler is actually supplying dope to many of San Francisco?s business and political elite, the tension and turmoil ratchet up into high-stakes suspense. Add in a murder charge that Hardy is called upon to defend, and Lescroart?s feisty, devil-may-care hero is once again thrust into the epicenter of a raging legal hurricane. The book?s title says it all. There is indeed a plague of secrets, one in particular that Hardy becomes legally bound to protect.
Through tight prose, surgical plotting, and relentless pacing, Lescroart offers more of his unadorned reality, expertly exploring the seamier side of law, politics, ethics, and morality.
A Plague of Secrets is lush and lusty, fascinating and smart, told in a wry, appealing voice. I?m often asked if I will ever write a legal thriller. Maybe. Who knows? But if I ever do I hope it?s half as good as one of John Lescroart?s. He?s in the top echelon of thriller masters. I?ve been a fan for a long time (don?t tell him, okay?). Guilt is one of my all time favorite books. A Plague of Secrets is a prize to be savored?another of John Lescroart?s beguiling and entertaining romps.
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