“A stylish whodunit . . . Lescroart [is] in his best form yet.”—People Once Dismas Hardy was a cop. Now he spends his days in a lawyer’s suit, billing hours to a corporate client in a downtown San Francisco office. Hardy’s wife and kids like it that way. Then one client changes everything. Graham Russo, a former baseball star, is charged with murdering his dying father. Was it suicide, the last … dying father. Was it suicide, the last desperate act of a dying man? Was it murder? Or mercy?
Now, as a carnival of reporters, activists, cops, lovers, and families throng around the case, Dismas Hardy is going to trial with a client he doesn’t trust, a key witness he cannot believe, and a system that almost destroyed him once. For Dismas, this case will challenge everything he believes about the law, about his family, and about himself. Because a chilling truth is beginning to emerge about an old man’s lonely death. And what Dismas knows could put him next in line to die. . . .
Praise for The Mercy Rule
“Very entertaining . . . a large and emotionally sprawling novel.”—Chicago Tribune
“As usual in a Lescroart novel, character dominates plot as the author proves, yet again, that resonant drama can be found in family.”—The Philadelphia Inquirer
“An edge-of-the-seat legal thriller that has it all—hot-button issues, deception, greed, corruption, and a labyrinthine plot that will keep you guessing until the very last page.”—Faye Kellerman
more
I’ve been reading (and loving) John Lescroart’s books for so long now that it’s difficult to pick a favorite to review, because they’re all favorites. The Mercy Rule is a quintessential Dismas Hardy book that dips into societal issues of concern, and is propelled by deception, greed, and their close cousin, corruption. Hardy is a protagonist that is aging gracefully, both as a character within the stories and in print, as Lescroart continues to plumb the depths of this fascinating, eminently likable personality. There is a recurring cast of characters that are fascinating in their own right, so much so that dipping into a Dismas Hardy novel feels like pulling up a comfortable chair to visit with friends, albeit friends that live far more exciting and intriguing lives than most of us! The key to this longevity is, I think, the fact that these novels are character-driven stories. They are also thrillers of the first order, with intriguing story lines and interesting plots that unravel in directions readers don’t see coming. The Mercy Rule is no exception. Pick it up. Or pick up any of John Lescroart’s novels—you can’t go wrong with any of them.
A little long, could have told the story without repeating in some areas. Not a bad plot.
Many states now are deciding about mercy killing or following a dying person’s right to chose when to go. I think we need to be more humane and take a person’s feeling into account, within the law.
I’m a big Lescroart fan, having read most of his books, but had missed reading The Mercy Rule. A big tome, it filled in gaps in Hardy’s history for me. It did not disappoint and kept me turning pages until the “who done it” was revealed in the last 8 pages out of 478. Great twists and turns in the story.
I have read many of the books in the series and enjoyed them all. Great characters who you can follow and enjoy the changes in their lives as the series continues.
Love these characters and his stories never disappoint.
A page turner, absorbing.
I liked this classic Lescoart book. I have begun rereading his books and enjoying them again. His characters are realistic and often conflicted. I always enjoy the San Francisco locale.
Very good
Trial was very good.
I have loved the whole Diana’s Hardy series and this one is right up there with the best while also dealing with the hot topic of mercy killing. Great story!!
I hadn’t read a Dismas Hardy book for many years. Looks like I somehow had missed this one. In short, The Mercy Rule was worth the wait. All the usual characters were there, plus some new ones, and , at the time of this writing, assisted suicide was a huge social issue. As usual , the author misleads you at every turn , enticing you to figure it all out. Of course you can’t. I’m going to dig around and see if there’s another Diz adventure I can savor.
Love this series – Dismas Hardy is down to earth and always fighting for what is right!!!!!
John Escroart is one of my favorite authors, so when I saw this pop up, I ordered it straight away! As soon as I read the first few pages, I realized I had done it again….ordered a book I read long ago. But oh well…love his work, so read it again and it did not disappoint. Love the way he forms descriptions of people, places and events. He has a wry sense of humor which shines through. Great, twisty story. Five stars!