John Lescroart

The beloved New York Times bestselling Dismas Hardy series returns with this "perfect piece of entertainment from a master storyteller" (Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author) about a relentlessly twisty murder mystery. No one mourned when San Francisco DA Wes Farrell put Paul Riley in prison eleven years ago for the rape and murder of his girlfriend. And no one is particularly happy to see him again when he's released after The Exoneration Initiative uncovered evidence that pinned the crime on someone else. In fact, Riley soon turns up murdered, surrounded by the loot from his latest scam. But if Riley was really innocent all along, who wanted him dead? To the cops, it's straightforward: the still-grieving father of Riley's dead girlfriend killed the former prisoner. Farrell, now out of politics and practicing law with master attorney Dismas Hardy, agrees to represent the defendant, Doug Rush--and is left in the dust when Rush suddenly vanishes. At a loss, Farrell and Hardy ask PI Abe Glitsky to track down the potentially lethal defendant. The search takes Glitsky through an investigative hall of mirrors populated by wounded parents, crooked cops, cheating spouses, and single-minded vigilantes. As Glitsky embraces and then discards one enticing theory after another, the truth seems to recede ever farther. So far that he begins to question his own moral compass in this "superb thriller from a veteran crime writer" (Jeffery Deaver, New York Times bestselling author) that you'll savor to the last word.

Attorney Dismas Hardy is called to defend the least likely suspect of his career: his longtime, trusted assistant who is suddenly being charged as an accessory to murder in this instant New York Times bestseller from "the undisputed master of the courtroom thriller" (The Providence Journal). Dismas Hardy knows something is amiss with his trusted secretary, Phyllis. Her strange behavior and sudden disappearances concern him, especially when he learns that her convict brother--a man who had served twenty-five years in prison for armed robbery and attempted murder--has just been released. Things take a shocking turn when Phyllis is suddenly arrested for allegedly being an accessory to the murder of Hector Valdez, a coyote who'd been smuggling women into this country from El Salvador and Mexico. That is, until recently, when he was shot to death--on the very same day that Phyllis first disappeared from work. The connection between Phyllis, her brother, and Hector's murder is not something Dismas can easily understand, but if his cherished colleague has any chance of going free, he needs to put all the pieces together--and fast. A whip-smart, engrossing novel filled with shocking twists and turns, "The Rule of Law is vintage Lescroart, drawing on parallels between real-life and hot-button issues while also providing top-notch entertainment" (The Real Book Spy).

USA TODAY BESTSELLER The beloved New York Times bestselling Dismas Hardy series returns with this "perfect piece of entertainment from a master storyteller" (Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author) about a relentlessly twisty murder mystery. No one mourned when San Francisco DA Wes Farrell put Paul Riley in prison eleven years ago for the rape and murder of his girlfriend. And no one is particularly happy to see him again when he's released after The Exoneration Initiative uncovered evidence that pinned the crime on someone else. In fact, Riley soon turns up murdered, surrounded by the loot from his latest scam. But if Riley was really innocent all along, who wanted him dead? To the cops, it's straightforward: the still-grieving father of Riley's dead girlfriend killed the former prisoner. Farrell, now out of politics and practicing law with master attorney Dismas Hardy, agrees to represent the defendant, Doug Rush--and is left in the dust when Rush suddenly vanishes. At a loss, Farrell and Hardy ask PI Abe Glitsky to track down the potentially lethal defendant. The search takes Glitsky through an investigative hall of mirrors populated by wounded parents, crooked cops, cheating spouses, and single-minded vigilantes. As Glitsky embraces and then discards one enticing theory after another, the truth seems to recede ever farther. So far that he begins to question his own moral compass in this "superb thriller from a veteran crime writer" (Jeffrey Deaver, New York Times bestselling author) that you'll savor to the last word.

He was hoping for a little peace, but is propelled back into all the things he was trying to escape... John Lescroart introduces Dismas Hardy for the first time in Dead Irish, the gripping crime thriller. Perfect for fans of John Grisham and Scott Turow.'With John Lescroart's polished writing, Dead Irish becomes more than a mystery novel with a bartender as detective. With razor precision, characters stand out, flawed and human... Chilling in its intensity, this is an ingenious tale of many different kinds of people' - Pasadena Star-NewsAn ex-policeman, ex-husband and ex-lawyer, Dismas Hardy is now a barman wondering what to do with the rest of his life. Then he hears that one of his friends, Eddie Cochran, has just lost his. It seems that Eddie killed himself but, recently married to Frannie McGuire, the sister of Dismas' boss Moses, Eddie had a lot to live for. Reluctantly, Dismas agrees to use his long-neglected skills to investigate the death, if only to rescue Frannie from the agony of believing her husband killed himself. At first it appears Eddie was silenced when he stumbled on a drug deal. But Dismas gets to know Eddie's family and starts to uncover a reservoir of anger rotting the fabric that binds the generations. And then another member of the Cochran clan goes missing... What readers are saying about Dead Irish:'Nail-biting''[This] book is a joy to read''Intricate and fraught with complications, nuanced characters, and believable relationships'

He is obsessed with her innocence. He will be destroyed by her guilt... John Lescroart writes a gripping courtroom thriller delving deep into the life and mind of the suspect in The Thirteenth Juror, the fourth novel in the Dismas Hardy series. Perfect for fans of J. J. Miller and John Sandford.'I double-dare you to begin reading John T. Lescroart's new suspense trial novel and put it down... This one is on the money' - Larry King, USA TodayDismas Hardy, lawyer/investigator, undertakes the defence 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 defence 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. The 13th Juror is a stunning and suspenseful novel of moral ambiguity, of good intentions, bad judgements and the tortuous path to ultimate justice. What readers are saying about The Thirteenth Juror:'Intricate, multi-layered story that goes way beyond the basics''It was hard to put this book down!''Keeps you on the edge of your seat until the end'

A brutal murder rocks a city. An innocent man stands accused. And justice is the next to die. A novel that examines the nature of justice - and injustice - follows an ordinary man who, through no fault of his own, is hounded, hunted, and almost destroyed for a crime he did not commit. Perfect for fans of Michael Connelly and Mark Nolan.'Catapults Lescroart into the top ranks of crime writers' - PlayboyIn San Francisco--a city of tolerance and hope--everything came apart. One man died at the hands of another. The next victim was killed by a mob. Now fires burn in the night, helicopters throb through the air, and politicians, lawyers and cops vie for the remnants of power. Somewhere in the once-placid streets of San Francisco, a young man is on the run, charged by the media with a crime he didn't commit, hounded by demagogues, hunted by a desperate police department. One cop knows that Kevin Shea is innocent of a brutal racial murder. An ambitious politician will use Shea for her own ends. And a down-and-out lawyer is all that stands between Kevin Shea and an even more atrocious crime. For when there's no law left, justice is the only hope. What readers are saying about A Certain Justice:'A mystery thriller with twists and turns as fast as a bullet''You'll not be able to put the book down until you've read the last word''Compelling story of how justice can be manipulated by people in high places'

Dismas Hardy is plunged into San Francisco's murder trial of the century... The third novel in John Lescroart's Dismas Hardy series, Hard Evidence, unpicks every last clue in this gripping murder mystery. Perfect for fans of Sheldon Sigel and Michael Connelly.'A blockbuster courtroom drama' - Kirkus ReviewWhen the bullet-ridden body of a Silicon Valley billionaire washes up on shore, assistant D. A. Dismas Hardy finds himself the prosecutor in San Francisco's murder trial of the century. The suspect: a Japanese call girl with a long list of prominent clients. But when a bizarre series of events blows the case wide open, Hardy finds himself on the other side of the law--as a lawyer for the defence.... What readers are saying about the Hard Evidence:'There are enough twists in the trail to make it an interesting guessing game''A real page turner''Draws you in and doesn't let go until the final paragraphs'

The later you pay, the steeper the price... Dismas Hardy returns in The Vig, the second instalment in John Lescroart's stirring series. Perfect for fans of Michael Connelly and Scott Turow.'The plot twists and turns... Hardy is one of the more real and engaging characters in... crime solving' - Los Angeles TimesPayback is murder. A beautiful woman paid it with her body. A seedy lawyer used somebody else's money. It's the vig - the exorbitant interest mob loan sharks take on their money. Now everyone has to pay... Down-and-out lawyer Rusty Ingraham left behind a murdered woman and a houseboat splattered with blood. All the evidence said Ingraham was in San Francisco Bay. Dead. But a friend of Ingraham's, former cop and prosecutor Dismas Hardy, isn't so sure. And Hardy has to find out, because a stone-cold killer, now paroled, once threatened to kill Ingraham and Dismas Hardy both. To save his own skin, Hardy must face down liars and killers on both sides of the law. From mob foot soldiers to broken-hearted lovers to renegade cops, a dozen lives are tied to the fate of Rusty Ingraham - and the payback has only just begun. What readers are saying about John Lescroart:'[John Lescroart] develops characters and storylines like no other author I have read''Lescroart is a very talented and imaginative crime writer''I am never disappointed by any books from John Lescroart'

The sun sets. The moon takes its place, illuminating the most evil corners of the planet. What twisted fear dwells in that blackness? What legends attach to those of sound mind and make them go crazy in the bright light of day? Only Suspense Magazine knows... Teaming up with New York Times bestselling author Jeffery Deaver, Suspense Magazine offers up a nail-biting anthology titled: "Nothing Good Happens After Midnight." This thrilling collection consists of thirteen original short stories representing the genres of suspense/thriller, mystery, sci-fi/fantasy, and more. Readers' favorites come together to explore the mystery of midnight. The 'best of the best' presenting these memorable tales, include: Joseph Badal, Linwood Barclay, Rhys Bowen, Heather Graham, Alan Jacobson, Paul Kemprecos, Shannon Kirk, Jon Land, John Lescroart, D. P. Lyle, Kevin O'Brien, and Hank Phillippi Ryan. Take their hands...walk into their worlds...but be prepared to leave the light on when you're through. After all, this incredible gathering of authors, who will delight fans of all genres, not only utilized their award-winning imaginations to answer that age-old question of why "Nothing Good Happens After Midnight"-they also made sure to pen stories that will leave you...speechless.

The sun sets. The moon takes its place, illuminating the most evil corners of the planet. What twisted fear dwells in that blackness? What legends attach to those of sound mind and make them go crazy in the bright light of day? Only Suspense Magazine knows... Teaming up with New York Times bestselling author Jeffery Deaver, Suspense Magazine offers up a nail-biting anthology titled: "Nothing Good Happens After Midnight." This thrilling collection consists of thirteen original short stories representing the genres of suspense/thriller, mystery, sci-fi/fantasy, and more. Readers' favorites come together to explore the mystery of midnight. The 'best of the best' presenting these memorable tales, include: Joseph Badal, Linwood Barclay, Rhys Bowen, Heather Graham, Alan Jacobson, Paul Kemprecos, Shannon Kirk, Jon Land, John Lescroart, D. P. Lyle, Kevin O'Brien, and Hank Phillippi Ryan. Take their hands...walk into their worlds...but be prepared to leave the light on when you're through. After all, this incredible gathering of authors, who will delight fans of all genres, not only utilized their award-winning imaginations to answer that age-old question of why "Nothing Good Happens After Midnight"-they also made sure to pen stories that will leave you...speechless.

In "master of the legal thriller" (Chicago Sun-Times) John Lescroart's electrifying novel, attorney Dismas Hardy is called to defend the least likely suspect of his career: his trusted assistant who is suddenly being charged as an accessory to murder. Dismas Hardy knows something is amiss with his secretary, Phyllis. Her out-of-character behavior and sudden disappearances concern Hardy, especially when he learns that her convict brother--a man who had served twenty-five years in prison for armed robbery and attempted murder--has just been released. Things take a shocking turn when Phyllis is suddenly arrested for allegedly abetting the murder of Hector Valdez, a coyote who'd been smuggling women from El Salvador and Mexico until he was shot to death on the very same day that Phyllis first disappeared from work. Hardy realizes that if his cherished colleague has any chance of going free, he must figure out how all these strands connect--and fast. Proving that he is a "certifiable A-Lister" (Booklist), John Lescroart crafts yet another whip-smart, roller coaster of a novel that will keep you on your toes until the very last page.

From the bestselling author whose prose "matches the best of John Grisham and Scott Turow" (Providence Journal) comes a gripping thriller featuring attorney Dismas Hardy as he investigates the murder of a wealthy man whose heirs are all potential suspects. Finally recovered from two gunshot wounds, Dismas Hardy is looking forward to easing into retirement and reconnecting with his family. But he is pulled back into the courtroom when Grant Wagner, the steely owner of a successful family business, is murdered. The prime suspect is Wagner's bookkeeper Abby Jarvis, a former client of Hardy's, who had been receiving large sums of cash under-the-table from the company--but she insists that she's innocent. Preparing for trial, Dismas investigates the Wagner clan and discovers dark, twisted secrets, jealous siblings, gold-digging girlfriends, betrayals, and blackmail. The closer he gets to the Wagners, the clearer it becomes that Dismas has a target painted on his back. With razor-sharp dialogue and whip-smart plotting, Poison once again demonstrates that "Lescroart is a master craftsman" (Associated Press).

A "courtroom thriller extraordinaire" (Providence Journal) from "master craftsman" (Associated Press) John Lescroart puts Dismas Hardy and his daughter in the middle of an uncertain murder case where winning the trial could mean losing everything. On a cool night in May, a teenage foster child named Anlya Paulson plummets to her death from a San Francisco overpass. But did she fall...or was she pushed? Homicide inspectors focus their attention on a likeable but na ve middle school teacher and volunteer foster care advocate. At first, his only connection to Anlya's death is the meal they shared earlier that night. But soon his story falls apart, and Rebecca Hardy, now an associate at her father's law firm, is drawn into his defense. As the case rushes toward trial, Dismas and Rebecca battle an aggressive prosecutor, a disinterested police force, and their own client, who isn't faring well in jail. When a dying woman's last words cast a surprising new light on the evidence and problems develop with a key witness, the father-daughter duo begins to glimpse the intricate web that connects the young victim to the city's complex political and judicial machine. Proving their case in court, however, will be harder, as Rebecca comes to realize that a trial doesn't always end with the truth.

An bold new direction for the multi-New York Times bestselling author of the Dismas Hardy legal suspense series: a captivating thriller about a love affair that turns deadly.

From John Lescroart, New York Times bestselling author of THE OPHELIA CUT and THE KEEPER, comes THE FALL - the riveting new legal thriller featuring Dismas Hardy and introducing his daughter Rebecca. Late one night, fostered teen Anlya Paulson plummets to her death from the overpass above San Francisco's Stockton tunnel. But did she fall...or was she pushed? Pushed to find a suspect, homicide inspectors focus on naïve school teacher Greg Treadway, who volunteers as a Special Advocate for foster children. But by the time Greg's murder trial is underway, lawyer Dismas Hardy and his daughter, Rebecca, have unearthed some alternative harrowing possibilities: a missing stepfather, a roommate who ran an escort service, and Anlya's own birth mother. How will they get these theories in front of the jury? And, if they can, what price will they have to pay?

From New York Times bestselling author John Lescroart, "the master of the legal thriller" (Chicago Sun-Times), comes this riveting suspense novel featuring fan-favorite Dismas Hardy and detective Abe Glitsky on the hunt for clues about a missing woman. On the evening before Thanksgiving, Hal Chase, a guard in the San Francisco County Jail, drives to the airport to pick up his stepbrother for the weekend. When they return, Hal's wife, Katie, has disappeared without a clue. By the time Dismas Hardy hears about this, Katie has been missing for five days and the original Missing Persons case has become a suspected homicide--with Hal as the prime suspect. And the lawyer he wants for his defense is none other than Hardy himself. Hardy calls on his friend, former homicide detective Abe Glitsky, to look into the case, and there proves to be no shortage of possible suspects aside from Hal. As he probes further, Glitsky learns of an incident at the San Francisco jail, where Hal works--only one of many questionable inmate deaths that have taken place there. Then, as more clues surface, Hal is arrested and finds himself an inmate in the very jail where he used to work, a place full of secrets he knows all too well. Against this backdrop of conspiracy and corruption, ambiguous motives and suspicious alibis, an obsessed Glitsky closes in on the elusive truth. As other deaths begin to pile up he realizes, perhaps too late, that the next victim might be himself.

THE KEEPER is the latest thriller in the bestselling Dismas Hardy series by master of legal suspense, John Lescroart. When prison guard Hal Chase's wife, Katie, goes missing on Thanksgiving Eve, he quickly becomes the prime suspect. Now it's up to lawyer Dismas Hardy to lead his defence. Chase and Katie's marriage had been fraught with problems. He certainly had motive to want her out of his life. But as Hardy and former homicide detective Abe Glitsky delve deeper into the case, many details seem off, including the death of an inmate in the jail where Chase worked. Amid a backdrop of conspiracy and corruption, Glitsky closes in on the elusive truth. And as the death count rises, he realises the next victim could be him...

In this riveting New York Times bestselling novel from the "master of the legal thriller" (Chicago Sun-Times) John Lescroart, defense attorney Dismas Hardy tackles his most personal and complex case yet--defending his brother-in-law against murder charges. When Moses McGuire becomes the prime suspect in the murder of his own daughter's rapist, attorney Dismas Hardy--Moses's brother-in-law--agrees to defend him. But McGuire has fallen off the wagon, and his stay in prison could bring to light old secrets that would destroy Hardy and his closest colleagues' careers. As the overwhelming evidence against McGuire piles up, Hardy focuses on planting doubt in the minds of the jurors--until, in a feat of legal ingenuity that is staggering in both its implications and its simplicity, he sees a new way forward that might just save them all. But at what price?