The Mercy Rule

Rating:
Summary: This is an overly long and predictable novel.
Review: "The Mercy Rule" has its strengths. Lescroart writes dialogue that sounds natural and his depiction of courtroom drama is exciting and realistic. However where was the editor when Lescroart submitted this manuscript? There was no reason for this book to go on for over four hundred pages. It would have been better had the novel been more tightly written. The ending was predictable and anticlimactic. "The Mercy Rule" could have been a first rate legal thriller. However, unlike Dismas Hardy, who always seems to throw his darts on the mark, Lescroart just missed the mark with this one.

Rating:
Summary: Thumbs down for Dismas this time around...
Review: "The Mercy Rule". Although I am an avid fan ofLescroart novels and especially so of the Dismas Hardy character, Ifelt this book let me down somewhat. Slow courtroom drama, and a lot of surrounding "fluff" for a lack of a better word. Still not a bad read (since I just finished reading one of the worst books ever prior to this one), but still not the exciting page turner that I was expecting from this author. Hope the next one doesn't disappoint.

Rating:
Summary: Thumbs down for Dismas this time around...
Review: "The Mercy Rule". Although I am an avid fan ofLescroart novels and especially so of the Dismas Hardy character, Ifelt this book let me down somewhat. Slow courtroom drama, and a lot of surrounding "fluff" for a lack of a better word. Still not a bad read (since I just finished reading one of the worst books ever prior to this one), but still not the exciting page turner that I was expecting from this author. Hope the next one doesn't disappoint.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointed
Review: As a fan of John Lescroart's previous works I read The Mercy Rule with great anticipation. This book had great potential--an interesting and intruiging story line, engagable characters, and a great geographical setting--however, it disappoints almost from the beginning. I kept reading hoping it would get better but unfortunately it did not. This book lacked the energy and spirit of Lescroart's previous works. I kept reading the book ever hopeful that the writing of the real Lescroart would surface--unfortunately it did not.

Rating:
Summary: A Terrific and Utterly Enthralling Book
Review: As a fan of Lescroart, I would say he has lived up to his usual exceedingly high standard. Graham Russo, a former baseball star, has been charged with the murder of his ailing father, Sal. Graham proclaims his innocence, but it seems like an open and shut case. Sal had Alzheimers, as well as $50000 and some valuable baseball cards, hidden in his home. The prosecution contends that Graham, a paramedic, incapacitated Sal and gave him a fatal injection of morphine, which led to his death. The money and cards are the motive. Meanwhile, the whole of San Francisco believes that Sal was in great pain, and that his dutiful son helped him die out of mercy. As the media decends upon the trial, it is up to Dismas Hardy to get his client a fair trial. Full of surprising twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Although some elements of the story are hard to believe, (such as the Defendant's affair with a hot cop), Lescroart's brilliantly detailed imagery makes it all come alive. Every piece of the puzzle is intricately layed out as Lescroart weaves his tale, leading to a magnificently stunning conclusion

Rating:
Summary: Lord have mercy.
Review: As a lawyer, I have always been fascinated by the works of Turow, Grisham, Martini and others. I have been an avid LesCroart fan, and I have enjoyed getting to know Dismas, Frannie, Glitsky and the various other characters in his books! While I found Guilt to be a particular enthralling novel, Lescroart's latest, The Mercy Rule, left me begging for mercy. Logging in at 611 pages, this book had literally ZERO thrilling plot twists that I have found in Lescroart's other books. The story itself was not particularly interesting, the courtroom scenes were mild (especially when comparing them to his previous works) and the relationships between the various characters was brutally overdone (the policewoman falling in love with the murder suspect - cmon!). The book was a VERY slow read, and I found myself excited as I reached the end of each chapter just because I knew that the book was that much closer to being finished. As I neared the end, I anticipated a stunning conclusion to help make up for the agony I endured just to reach the 611th page. Needless to say, my diligence was NOT rewarded. Overall, I was extremely disappointed in the quality of this book. While I hesitate to ever dissuade anyone from purchasing any book, let me leave you with one thought. I believe the rating system needs a category for "less than one star."

Rating:
Summary: Skip it
Review: Beyond reasonable doubt, JL was paid by the word. The best way to read this book is to read the first part and go straight to part five. Don't worry, nothing happens in between but repeating the same arguments in various places over and over. Besides, the plot is artificial and the characters are particularly dumb. For instance, DH wakes up only in part five to follow a track any cop or any efficient lawyer would have followed right away... And all solves by itself. Believe me, there is more action in a chapter by Clancy or by Grisham than in this 600-page book.

Rating:
Summary: I enjoyed this book immensely.
Review: I discovered an error though. On the bottom of page 45l, the character is saying "one of my children is diabetic, I know how to put it in a vein" Insulin would never be administered intravenously in a home situation. Check it out.

Rating:
Summary: Boring? NOT
Review: I don't know how anyone could call this boring. I found it very good with twists and turns right to the end. It is a little long, but very entertaining.

Rating:
Summary: Who Done It and Why?
Review: I enjoy John Lescroart and especially his depiction of SF. The book was well-written and had characters all over the place. And it fit well with maybe this person is responsible or maybe not and it reflected the real life chaos that people encounter everyday. Decision making, lost opportunities. So I was startled to read a book that depicted all of the swirling emotions that are conflicting. John did a great job!