Chess pieces are placed deliberately and move with steady precision in Scott Turow's hefty legal thriller Presumed Guilty.

Kindle County, a presciently named Midwestern town, is home to ex-judge and partially retired lawyer, Rusty. His wife-to-be, Bea, is a cheerful school principal and with her adopted adult son, Aaron, they enjoy a mostly idyllic existence. Aaron is on probation for drug possession and lives under their supervision. When he vanishes with girlfriend Mae but returns alone, a wild series of events pressures Rusty back into a sickly spotlighted legal coliseum.

The first quarter of the novel sets our board and very effectively creates stratospheric stakes for many characters. Life hangs quite literally in balance for several. Racial elements mostly work, but sometimes feel a little forced. It's not the worst thing if an author is trying to be WOKE and cherishes To Kill A Mockingbird. The COVID pandemic is considered and handled very well. We all lived through it, so refreshing to read it portrayed accurately.

Turow is a bona fide wonk and composes engaging courtroom scenes. It feels as if he wants to explain slight details and shorter chapters would serve as a useful heavier foot on the gas.

This is minor, but major plot points revolve around where a character hitchhikes. Uber drivers flourish in the tiniest of U.S. cities and it is anachronistic not to consider how anyone with a phone can move about anywhere, any time.

Turow/Rusty fans will leave satisfied as will those who do not often travel in this genre.

It’s some years since I read Presumed Innocent, and was blown away by its clever use of the unreliable narrator. For those unfamiliar with the book, or the film and TV adaptations, Rusty Sabich is a prosecutor accused of murder of a colleague (subsequently revealed to be his lover). He’s an engaging teller of his own story, so you want to believe in his innocence, but the evidence against him appears overwhelming, not least because he constantly misleads his lawyer, and even you, dear reader.

Presumed Guilty features Rusty in late life (he is also the protagonist in Innocent, published in 2010). Rusty is now retired as a judge in Kindle County and is living in the (fictional) Skageon Region with a new partner, Bea, and her son, Aaron. Aaron dropped out of college and is on probation for drugs offences, but appears to be turning his life around. Then he disappears for a weekend. When he returns, he says he has been with his girlfriend, Mae on a camping trip in the wilderness, but they argued. Mae is missing for some days and then is found dead in her car. Aaron is immediately suspected of her murder.

Despite the obvious pitfalls, Bea wants Rusty to defend Aaron and the judge and prosecutor agree. So he takes on the case, knowing that it means potential disaster, not just for Aaron and his freedom, but for his future relationship with Bea and the community he has come to call home.

The book description for Presumed Guilty gives away more than I would normally like, but I can understand why. It needs to reassure the reader they haven’t picked up the wrong book. The pace of Presumed Guilty at the beginning is incredibly gentle. It’s a richly character-driven account of a rural community, a mixture of affluent retirees, wealthy summer visitors, bootstrapping farmers and the quietly despairing left-behind. It focuses on late-life preoccupations and the slow-burn romance of Rusty and Bea. It has more the feel of an Elizabeth Strout or Emma Traub novel than a taut legal thriller. For all that, I found it very engaging and wanted to know what would come next.

At about 20% in, the book reverts to genre with the discovery of Mae’s body, the subsequent investigation, and the trial. There are the usual fascinating legal dynamics and reversals, the personalities of the different court staff. There is Rusty’s personal involvement and how the case impacts his relationships with Bea and Aaron. The murder highlights social and political tensions – Mae is the daughter of the prosecuting attorney for the county, part of a privileged legal dynasty. Aaron is Black, in a predominantly white, rural area (the implications of which are referenced in the title).

I love courtroom dramas and Turow is one of the best writers of them. Through Rusty’s eyes you see both the theatre of the trial and the people behind the roles. He manages to take the arcane details of procedure and not only make them clear to you, but to use them to heighten the tension, like a dancer performing a spectacularly technical move.

Presumed Guilty is not a genre-defining novel in the way that Presumed Innocent was, but it is a quietly absorbing read.

Having read Turow's works many years ago I looked forward to this book. However I found it really hard to get into the story and engage with the characters. It's a big novel and I couldn't do it justice!

Scott Turow, the master of legal thrillers, returns with Presumed Guilty, a gripping novel that explores justice, family, and the weight of past choices. Rusty Sabich, a retired judge looking for a peaceful life with his soon-to-be wife, Bea, is drawn back into the legal world when Bea’s troubled son, Aaron, is accused of murder. What begins as a simple plea for help turns into a harrowing journey through the flaws of the justice system and the complexities of Rusty’s own moral compass.

Turow crafts a compelling narrative that goes beyond a standard courtroom drama. While the legal proceedings provide plenty of tension, the heart of the story lies in Rusty’s internal struggle. He’s a man who has spent his life upholding the law, but now he must face the reality that the system may not be as fair as he once believed. His relationship with Bea, his doubts about Aaron, and his own past missteps all add layers of emotional depth.

The novel is a slow burn, focusing more on character development and legal intricacies than fast-paced action. Turow’s writing is as sharp as ever, balancing legal jargon with human drama in a way that keeps readers engaged. Fans of Presumed Innocent will appreciate the echoes of Rusty’s past, but Presumed Guilty stands firmly on its own.

This is a thoughtful, well-crafted legal thriller that challenges the reader to question the very notion of justice. While it may not have the pulse-pounding suspense of some of Turow’s earlier works, it delivers a deeply satisfying exploration of law, loyalty, and redemption.

I haven’t read ‘Presumed Innocent’ – saw the film and loved it – and have so enjoyed this sequel. Apart from the legal story, Scott Turow weaves and binds the complexities, colour, conflicts and confusion that comprise humans. The clues are a joy, so easily discarded, pulled to the fore with ease and discretion. The characters intrigue throughout: their pain at the sudden death of a difficult young woman – was she murdered or did she commit suicide? – the crushing of friendships harrowing, the devastating loss of trust, all described with skill and empathy. The courtoom rivalries and tension are simply splendid.
Terrific read on every multifaceted layer from a masterful storyteller,

Wow, just wow! This was an incredible read. The trend for thrillers in recent times has been for fast pace, constant action and short chapters but this is a far more traditional courtroom thriller and, in my opinion, all the better for it.

The plot returns us to Rusty Sabich, who we first met in the 1987 novel Presumed Innocent when he was a prosecutor accused of the murder of his colleague, and who is now a retired judge happily living with his soon to be wife in the rural Midwest. Life is happy and calm until his wife’s son is suspected of involvement in the disappearance of his on/off girlfriend. The son is on probation for drug offences and when her body is discovered after a few days, he is arrested for murder. Struggling to find legal help for her son, Rusty’s fiancé Bea begs him to help and the rest of the book is taken up with the court case.

I did read Presumed Innocent but that was many, many years ago and although I remember loving it, I don’t really remember the detail. It didn’t matter at all though. There is enough background given to make the situation clear but the story is very much about Rusty now and the previous book is relevant only through the impact of his own experiences. The character is very strongly written and completely believable so it’s fascinating to come back to him after so many years, during which he has aged in real time, and see what has happened in his life.

The book is written from Rusty’s viewpoint and very cleverly done – we are with him while the original crime is uncovered and remain with him throughout as he deals with his own emotions and doubts about the case, both about his stepson’s guilt or innocence and his own ability as an inexperienced defence lawyer. The evidence in the case, however, is presented to us in court so we are more in the role of the jury, not really knowing beforehand what information either the prosecution or defence is about to present. Added to that are subplots revolving around race, local politics, drugs and family relationships and it’s all utterly engrossing – it’s a long book but it didn’t drag for a second.

This is a real masterclass in the courtroom thriller, tightly plotted, absorbing and believable. Scott Turow is in a league of his own with this genre and I loved every page (and would love to see Harrison Ford back in the role for a good old fashioned film adaptation too!) Very highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

It has been many years since I have read a Scott Turow legal novel and this sequel to “Presumed Innocent” seems to have been an excellent place to rediscover the enjoyment.
In this book, Rusty, the lawyer accused in the earlier novel, is now living a life of semi retirement from his profession as a judge.
He is engaged to Bea and they live in a small town somewhere in the back woods of America. When Bea’s adopted son runs off with his girlfriend, possibly on a camping trip, Rusty and Bea are concerned. He is on probation for drug use and his girlfriend, Mae is an addict and a very bad influence.
Things quickly deteriorate as they cannot get hold of him on his phone and then finally, when he returns alone claiming an argument with Mae, alarm bells start to ring.
Mae remains missing for several weeks and then her body is found in her car. Aaron, Bea’s son is accused of her murder and she asks Rusty to defend him.
This is high stakes for everyone and secrets are gradually revealed, secrets that affect all the characters including Rusty himself. .Aaron is at a disadvantage as he is a young black man in an all white district -will he even get a fair trial?
Rusty does not know who to believe, if Aaron is innocent, who committed the crime? He suspects several people- even those closest to him and will his relationship with Bea even survive this tragedy.
This is a long and detailed novel with much legal content but it was so compelling I just couldn’t put it down. It gripped me from the very beginning and I must admit I had no idea if Aaron was innocent. There were so many twists and so much to understand about Rusty’s defence that it kept me guessing throughout.
I liked the character of Rusty- he understood how Aaron was feeling because he’d been in the same position. His defence of Bea’s son feels like a swan song for him, something that he just needs to do to finish his career in the law, fighting for the truth to come out in a justice system he truly believes in.
If you like legal thrillers you’ll love “ Presumed Guilty” I definitely recommend it as a five star read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my advanced copy.

Rusty, a retired judge takes on a seemingly impossible case defending his fiancée’s son on a murder charge. The story starts relatively slowly but by the time the trial begins the pace picks up superbly. The story of a young couple, one white from a rich family the other a black boy adopted at birth who fall head over heels in love at school but her rebellious nature and experimentation with drugs leads to inevitable trouble and finally tragedy. The detailed courtroom scenes are nothing short of harrowing but a superb read. Definitely the finest legal thriller I’ve read in a long time.

Aaron , a young black man, has a troubled relationship with Mae. In order to sort things out between them they go away camping for a few days in her car.Things do not go according to plan and after an argument Aaron snatches her phone and leaves to hitch hike home.He arrives home where he lives with his mother Bea and her boyfriend Russell(Rusty). A few days later Mae's body is found in her crashed vehicle miles from where they had been camping.
Aaron needs to be on his own so takes off in his Grandad's truck to be near where Mae's body was found.He is then arrested and charged with murder and he asks Rusty ( a retired Prosecutor) to defend him. Despite his and Bea's misgivings he agrees to do so. Mae's father who is in a position of authority in the area seems to have been obsessed with Aaron's guilt and has been pushing the police in that direction, causing them to cut corners in their investigations. Rusty and his investigators find witnesses and phone records that appear to show a different story and he puts this before the judge and jury and leaves them to decide on Aaron's guilt. So as not to spoil the story I will say no more except to stay things are not always as they seem as the truth is revealed at the end,

Wow! What a pager turner! An intense gripping courtroom drama, full of suspense and twists.
Rusty is a retired Judge, his fiancée’s son has been charged with the murder of his girlfriend. Rusty has a dilemma, Bea, his fiancée has asked him to defend her adopted son Aaron, Rusty knows this is a huge conflict of interest as Aaron is practically family, he also knows this will have a huge impact on his relationship with Bea. An old friendship of many years will also crumble apart.
The courtroom drama is so cleverly written you can feel the tension as the state lay out their case and even more so as Rusty puts up a defence and Aaron decides to take the stand.
Each chapter draws the reader into this compelling story which covers race, relationships, family, trust, love and hope.
This is my first book by Scott Turow and will certainly not be my last.
I had watched the Presumed Innocent drama so knew a little of Rusty and how he himself had stood in Aaron’s shoes.
Many thanks to Net Galley and Swift Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review. I highly recommend this book, it is one of those books which requires a 6th star.

This was very good. I have read and enjoyed most of Scott Turows novels over the years and this was just as good as always. It isnt the fastest paced novel, but the pace suits the subject matter. Rusty is a strong main character and the story and subsequent trial he is involved in is gripping. Strongly recommended for those who like courtroom thrillers with a lots of twists.

Scott Turow’s Presumed Innocent, published in 1987, is one of the seminal books in the modern American courtroom drama genre. That book introduced prosecutor Rusty Sabich who ends up on trial for the murder defended by another Turow favourite Sandy Stern and the town of Kindle County which would feature in a number of other Turow thrillers. Sabich, now a judge, was once again accused of murder in the follow up Innocent, set 22 years after the original. Sabich is back again in Presumed Guilty, not the accused this time, which makes a change.
Presumed Innocent does not ignore the passage of time. The opening finds Rusty in his 70s, retired from the bench and living in the country with a younger woman – Bea – a school principal who has a 22 year-old-adopted son Aaron. Aaron is on probation and is required to live with the pair and report in regularly. Only when the book opens Aaron has taken himself away and off the grid to be with his tempestuous on-again, off-again girlfriend Mae, and is not contactable. Mae is the daughter of the local chief prosecutor who swings the police into action when Aaron returns from the camping trip, claiming the two have had a bust up, but Mae does not. When Mae’s body is found, Aaron is arrested for her murder. Strapped for cash and desperate Bea asks Rusty to defend him. Despite a lack of experience as a defence attorney and knowing the damage it is likely do to all of his relationships whether he takes the case or not, Rusty agrees.
What follows is the type of absolutely classic courtroom drama at which Turow excels. There are opening statements, cross examinations, objections, points of law, explanations of various terms like hearsay and surprise witnesses. Despite being in the mind of the defence attorney, Turow really puts readers firmly on the jury, swinging their perception of the case with every evidentiary reveal. Although being in Rusty’s point of view, readers also get to see behind the curtain a little in terms of trial tactics. But Turow also explores the impact of this politically-based, antagonistic legal system on the victim’s family, the alleged perpetrator’s family and everyone around them.
As with the other books in this series, the personal, the professional, the political and the legal collide as the case puts pressure on everyone. Turow uses the legal drama to shine a light on American culture and society – issues like privilege and entitlement, race relations and the lasting impacts of military service. But Turow also centres the whole enterprise on the personal – including Rusty’s relationships with his old and new families and with his (former) best friend who is also the grandfather of the victim. And as readers have come to expect from Turow and this series in particularly builds to a killer reveal when Rusty is finally able to put all of the odd pieces together.
Presumed Guilty is a top notch legal drama and a fitting swansong for a character who helped kick off the modern American courtroom thriller and Turow’s fiction career.

I liked this book.
Courtroom fiction is not my favourite genre, but it is obvious that this is of the very best of that genre.
The road driven is long and winding, and full of interesting twists and turns.
There is plenty of inter-family feuding and there are many relationships discussed and developed.
Plenty of tricks and traps, and plenty of clever escapism.
I liked the characters and I liked the setting. I like learning about the peculiarities of the region in which the action was set, although the specific places were fictional it is obvious which region of the US it was set in.
The peculiarities of the US judicial system became evident throughout the courtroom scenes, and the preparation for the same.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Scott Turow, Presumed Guilty, Swift Press, February 2025.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

This is not ‘just’ a legal procedural, although under Scott Turow’s experienced hand that would be enough. Presumed Guilty is an empathetic analysis of relationships and ageing as well as an insightful consideration of racism and the way in which status through familiarity and hierarchy can grant benefits to some while challenging others’ claims to justice. Although when I read Presumed Innocent many years ago, I was impressed, Presumed Guilty exceeds my expectations. It really is a dazzling encounter with the law and complex characters, and notable for its social commentary.

Rusty Sabich, who was introduced in Presumed Innocent, is now in his seventies, has a congenial partner, and with her has responsibility for her adopted son. Aaron has a criminal record and is now under investigation in a case biased against him as an African American in an almost exclusively white county. Rusty Sabich accepts the job of defending him, putting all his relationships, personal and professional, at risk. The legal exposition of the case Sabich and his investigator conduct is informative, so much so that it could undermine the momentum of the novel. Not so, it is engrossing. At the same time, the personal relationships are explored, in their grittiness, sensitivity, and pain. Truth telling and suspicion are pivotal throughout the narrative.

The ending of the novel is far from simplistic, although satisfying. The narrative continues to be driven by both moral and legal questions as well as the impact these have had, and will continue to have, on the characters. Scott Turow has written a book that reverberates with quality and that fully engages.

I have read many books from Scott Turo and have always highly enjoyed them and this was no exception, another fabulous legal thriller. Turow is an exceptional author, one whose writing is original of an incredibly high quality. He has an innate ability to place the reader right at the scene of his stories, completely engaging you in the world he has entered you into.
The story begins with Aaron, a young man on probation for drug possession whose life turns further upside-down by the decisions he makes that will have devastating repercussions. Aaron is currently living under the supervision of his mother Bea, a strong loving woman who is married to retired judge Rusty. Aaron has a history with Mae, and they have known each other since their school days. This is a vastly damaging relationship for both, they have an addictive kind of love that keeps them tied to each other and Arron refuses to not have Mae as part of his life. They both have a drug history, and soon both their lives will be changed forever. Mae disappears and Aaron becomes the prime suspect in first her disappearance and then her first degree murder. Aaron is arrested and is then put on trial. Rusty is asked by Bea to represent her son and try to have him released from the charges. I loved Rusty’s character, a strong man but also one that has a huge heart, and he cares deeply for Aaron and is desperate for him to not spend the rest of his life in prison.

This is a very entertaining and emotive book and once I turned the first page I was completely immersed in the story and found it extremely hard to put down. A very engaging read that will pull at your heart strings. As with All Turow’s books the ending will surprise you but also satisfy you and I highly recommend you take the chance on this book, I do not believe you will be disappointed but singing its praises.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own.

A great story based on a simple plot. Scott Turow grabs the reader and just sweeps them along on a raft of beautifully written prose. The book was a joy to read and kept me engrossed to the very end.

Always a gripping drama / mystery. Scott Turow delivers again, a seamless and thrilling tale, highly recommended!!

Anyone who enjoys a legal thriller will love this book. Yes it’s a bit long and sometimes, I felt, a little slow but there is so much to keep you engaged. Love, loyalty, friendship, drugs, secrets, murder, lies – it’s all there. The courtroom scenes were particularly good, and the ending was brilliant and not what I had expected. A thoroughly engrossing read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the early copy.

Wow this really is a blockbuster in every sense of the word. It is a tad long but the detail is thoroughly engaging. You felt like you were actually in the court room at times. The characters were well drawn, particularly of Rusty the main character. He came over as a well aged, sharp minded individual capable of taking on the establishment in this remote community. Aaron, the accused step son had you guessing right until the end.
. Plenty of side issues and relationships to keep you going outside the courtroom. Scott Turow has not lost his touch

A volatle relationship and subsequent murder leads Rusty, normally a prosecuto,r to defend his prospective son-in-law at risk to his and the mother's relationship in a case where circumstancial evvidence seems stacked against him.
varoius people try to push for a guilty verdict.
A great law court read in the backdrop of a county with conservative and prejudiced views.