One of the best legal thriller writers in the business hits another home run in his latest page-turner, "Damage."
Wes Farrell begins the job of district attorney for the city of San Francisco and immediately sinks into a nightmare case. Roland Curtlee, a man in jail for 10 years for the rape and murder of a woman, has his case thrown out. While waiting for a new trial, the judge grants him bail, a move that sends shock waves through both the local community and the legal realm.
Soon after this happens, homicide detective Abe Glitsky learns of a woman who was strangled. Her killer burned the body and any incriminating evidence. When the DNA results come back, Glitsky learns that the victim had accused Curtlee of rape during his first trial. Glitsky knows Curtlee is guilty, but he needs solid evidence to arrest him. Of course, Curtlee is the perfect cringe-inducing villain who enjoys his newfound freedom.
Author John Lescroart knows how to juggle the legal world and make it interesting to the reader. He also has keen insight into the machinations of the thriller genre. Characters from his previous novels get the spotlight, but newcomers to Lescroart will not feel lost or confused.
"Damage" is a must-read for anyone who enjoys delving into the world of the criminal justice system.
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Jeff Ayers is the author of "Voyages of Imagination: The Star Trek Fiction Companion" (Pocket Books, 2006.
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