Presumed Guilty

Author: Scott Turow
Genre: Legal Thriller
544 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 2025

Synopsis
Rusty is a retired judge attempting a third act in life with a loving soon-to-be wife, Bea, with whom he shares both a restful home on an idyllic lake in the rural Midwest and a plaintive hope that this marriage will be his best, and his last. But the peace that’s taken Rusty so long to find evaporates when Bea’s young adult son, Aaron, living under their supervision while on probation for drug possession, disappears. If Aaron doesn’t return soon, he will be sent back to jail.

Aaron eventually turns up with a vague story about a camping trip with his troubled girlfriend, Mae, that ended in a fight and a long hitchhike home. Days later, when she still hasn’t returned, suspicion falls on Aaron, and when Mae is subsequently discovered dead, Aaron is arrested and set for trial on charges of first degree murder.

Faced with few choices and even fewer hopes, Bea begs Rusty to return to court one last time, to defend her son and to save their last best hope for happiness. For Rusty, the question is not whether to defend Aaron, or whether the boy is in fact innocent—it’s whether the system to which he has devoted his life can ever provide true justice for those who are presumed guilty.

My review
Presumed Guilty by Scott Turow is a brilliant legal thriller that really showcases his talent for the genre. The story is layered, immersive, and feels incredibly real. The plot is so well put together, the characters are compelling, and there’s a strong sense of authenticity throughout. I was completely drawn into the moral dilemmas and Turow’s world, where themes of love, loyalty, friendship, secrets, drugs, murder, and lies all come together seamlessly.

Retired judge Rusty Sabich has settled into a quiet life in a rural town with his fiancée, Bea. Their tranquility is upended when Bea’s adopted son, Aaron, is accused of murdering his girlfriend, Mae. Reluctantly, Sabich agrees to defend Aaron, setting the stage for a gripping and elegantly crafted legal thriller. I read Presumed Innocent by Turow years ago, and I was excited to immerse myself in this compelling novel. Despite its length, I easily read this novel in a couple of days.

Beyond the excellent courtroom scenes, Presumed Guilty is a story about living and being human. Turow does an amazing job creating a world so full of detail that I could almost see Sabich’s thoughts and interactions playing out in front of me. Turow is a talented writer, and his work feels fresh and top-notch. What really stands out is his knack for pulling me into the story, making everything feel real and believable.

Presumed Guilty is as good as it gets and an absolute standout in the legal thriller genre. The plotting is top-notch, especially the courtroom scenes, and the ending couldn’t have been more perfect. This narrative is just as great as his first novel, Presumed Innocent, and even though this is the third book in the series, it works perfectly well as a standalone.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and Scott Turow for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review!

My recommendation: definitely worth the read!