Two formidable men collide in this “first-class legal thriller” from New York Times bestselling author Scott Turow: a “brilliant courtroom chess match” about a celebrated criminal defense lawyer and the prosecution of his lifelong friend — a doctor accused of murder (David Baldacci).
At eighty-five years old, Alejandro “Sandy” Stern, a brilliant defense lawyer with his health failing but … defense lawyer with his health failing but spirit intact, is on the brink of retirement. But when his old friend Dr. Kiril Pafko, a former Nobel Prize winner in Medicine, is faced with charges of insider trading, fraud, and murder, his entire life’s work is put in jeopardy, and Stern decides to take on one last trial.
In a case that will be the defining coda to both men’s accomplished lives, Stern probes beneath the surface of his friend’s dazzling veneer as a distinguished cancer researcher. As the trial progresses, he will question everything he thought he knew about his friend. Despite Pafko’s many failings, is he innocent of the terrible charges laid against him? How far will Stern go to save his friend, and — no matter the trial’s outcome — will he ever know the truth?
Stern’s duty to defend his client and his belief in the power of the judicial system both face a final, terrible test in the courtroom, where the evidence and reality are sometimes worlds apart.
Full of the deep insights into the spaces where the fragility of human nature and the justice system collide, Scott Turow’s The Last Trial is a masterful legal thriller that unfolds in page-turning suspense — and questions how we measure a life.
Since Presumed Innocent rocked the publishing world, Scott Turow has cemented his status as a writer with few peers in any genre. Now the master is back with a brilliant courtroom chess match that shows us the human quotient in all its rot and virtue. The Last Trial is a first class legal thriller.
Not what I expected at all-However, it was compelling -philosophical-poetic –
and I was sorry when it was finished -It was not a legal thriller-more a ponderous journey
through legalities -ethics-mores-family stories and connection-There was more self reflection
happening throughout than in other books of the same-And it was definitely an exercise for the little grey cells -following the trial in minutiae-Wonderfully written-
All writers have them – that other writer who sets the bench mark in a particular genre. For me, with legal thrillers, it’s Scott Turow. The truth is that it can be hard to make legal thrillers pack a punch – suspense building and reveals are difficult if you’re paying more than just lip service to realism and authenticity. Turow is unbeatable at this. The story os a defence lawyer and his life, long friend accused of murder, that secrets and lies, layers and twists formula that has you reading “just one more chapter” before you turn out the light…here you go. Intelligent, vital, intense and compelling, The Last Trial is simply stunning.
This is an interesting legal story about a lawyer about to retire and trying to win his last court case involving pharmaceutical fraud. On trial is his lifelong friend, CEO of the drug company making a lifesaving cancer medicine. This is told in an extremely serious way, with lots of legal explanations and long witness examinations, and once you get past these, the story is enjoyable. The ending is also great and unexpected.
It was one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Kept me reading it constantly.
A good book but too much information on laws. Made it slow reading
I liked the book but it was tedious at times. Two old men who had been friends their whole lives are the main characters. The one is a famous lawyer working on his last trial and his friend is the defendant, They flashback to their earlier lives as the story is being told and there are surprises. It was slow though.
A good deviation for a legal thriller. Not your run-of-the-mill murder case.
A fan of Turow’s since book one. He never gets predictable which keeps the reader engaged. Excited for his next read.
One of Scott Turow’s best, and that’s saying great. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Couldn’t stop reading, so stayed up all night. Well worth it.
Too long drawn out.
Scott Turow is the best when it comes to legal thrillers. Authentic, some surprises, and keep you reading late into the night.
Turow consistently delivers books that I keep envisioning as movies, where I learn a LOT more about the law than I would have imagined, as well as about a few new characters that are beautifully drawn amidst a churning plot. As long time character Sandy Stern’s last time up, it’s his character that infuses this book. The structure follows an actual day by day of a trial and as such takes a while to get rolling, but when it does, you can’t put the book down. It’s clear that Turow is fascinated by every minute aspect of the law (and wants us to be as well), and how it can be used for good or ill, to sink or save defendents who may or may not deserve their fate. The complexity of the case and the slippery morality of the defendant give this story its interest. As Stein’s swansong, it also allows Turow to share his philosophy of the law and thoughts on aging.
For Scott Turow fans a nostalgic return t o defense attorney Alejandro Stern. Not a nail biter, but good character development and well written.
Good story but very longwinded
Heavy on court room priced and legal strategy. Sandy’s loyalty to his client, which is more important than his own health or safety, helps you understand defense lawyers commitment to giving everyone the best defense possible. Also two intriguing mysteries built in.
In typical Turlow style, he leads usthrough the twists and turns of a court room drama- very enjoyable reading. Characters well developed.
Very good character creation.
I’ve read every book Scott Turow has written. The protagonist in this one, Sandy Stern plays a part in many of Turow’s other books. Always well written. Believable dialogue and charachters. If you like courtroom drama, you’ll love this book.
I typically enjoy Turow’s books, as good legal thrillers rarely fail to combine propulsive plotting with fascinating detail and the specificity of courtroom/legal minutia. The Last Trial, unfortunately, seems weighted too heavily on minutia and not enough on plotting, which left this reader underwhelmed.
The characters, particularly the main protagonist, Sandy Stern, are well drawn, diverse, and interesting, and the introspective musings of Stern as he traverses his titular last trial as the elderly man he’s become are particularly thoughtful, occasionally provocative, and frequently moving. It’s rare we find a protagonist exploring the unique challenges and sorrows of aging, something I very much enjoyed.
And the plot, as it’s laid out, is an interesting one. The problem is the very long tracts of description and analysis related to the case — one based on pharmaceutical fraud and insider trader — include seemingly endless and arcane detail that, while interesting to a point, veer into mind-numbing didacticism. I kept wanting to get back to the interesting characters and the unfolding of the plot via their interactions with each other, but we were obligated to plod through a great deal of esoteric explanation.
By the time the story reached its conclusion, or what I thought was its conclusion, I had almost lost interest in finding out “whodunnit,” but even that proved a sleight: though the case was ultimately adjudicated, the story continued on from there, with what felt like several different endings. At which point I decided to put the book down before it was even done, something I rarely if ever do, but, to be completely honest, I’d lost all interest in the proceedings at that point.
Others clearly found this read far more compelling than I did—and I will always give a Turow book a chance—but this particular one just did not capture my literary enthusiasm and endurance.