Eleven years ago San Francisco DA Wes Farrell successfully sent Paul Riley to prison for life after he was tried for the rape and murder of his girlfriend, Dana Rush. Now he has been released under the Exoneration Initiative which reviews old cases, looking for holes in the evidence, and in Riley’s case found evidence that someone else could have raped and killed Dana. However, her father Doug Rush remained convinced that Riley was to blame and swore he would kill him.

A few months after Riley’s release, he is living in the apartment above his father’s garage, working at a restaurant and doing a little burglary on the side to pay the rent. After his father hears a single gunshot coming from the garage after work one day he sees a man he identifies as Doug Rush racing down the stairs. Although Rush loudly proclaims his innocence heis arrested for Riley’s murder and hires Wes Farrell, now a defence lawyer. However after Farrell gets Rush bailed he disappears the night before he’s due in court, leaving a puzzled Farrell to look into his case with the aid of PI Abe Glitsky.

As this is the 19th book in Lescroart’s Dismas Hardy series, all the characters will be well known to his fans. Although it is the first book in the series that I’ve read, I felt it also worked well as a stand-alone novel as the characters were easy to get to know, especially through their casual, and often witty, dialogue with one another.

The plot, although complex, was well paced with plenty of false turns as Glitsky delves deeper into Doug Rush’ life and friends. Farrell is struggling with his misgivings about being a defense lawyer. After so many years as a prosecutor, he can’t help believing that most of his clients are guilty of the crimes they are accused of and he is having difficulty justifying the morality of his decision to defend them. Glistsky is a very able and smart investigator who turns up a number of intriguing directions in the case, eventually sending the investigation in a totally different direction. This is a well put together murder mystery with a touch of legal thriller and has convinced me I should add this series to my reading list.

I’ve read a lot of detective/mystery books. I liked many of the characters in this book but especially Abe, who was persistent in finding the truth at all costs. I also like that this book shows the fatal flaws in the justice system such as how sometimes people are wrongly convicted and how sometimes they are rightfully convicted and get off on technicalities. I also like how this book addressed police brutality and the consequences of such. I was however shocked with the ending and who the killer turned out to be when this storyline took so many twists and turns.

Net galley and Atria Books offered me this book to read and it sounded awesome. I went into it thinking it was a stand alone come to find out it’s book 19 in a series. I was terribly confused and I think if you choose you could read it as a stand alone. It’s well written and the mystery is awesome. I loved the characters and it was fast paced. I think I’m going to have to read the rest of the series.

I enjoyed this one! The story itself was quite interesting and kept me guessing, but coming into a series at book 19 wasn't ideal. I didn't realize this was a series when I took the ARC, so shame on me there, but this was a well-done procedural, albeit a bit dialogue-heavy, that kept me invested despite not being as familiar with the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the gifted eARC!

3.5 stars

In this 19th book in the Dismas Hardy series, the attorney gets involved when a released prisoner is murdered. The book can be read as a standalone but familiarity with the characters is a bonus.

*****

Eleven years ago, Paul Riley was convicted of the rape and murder of a young woman named Dana Rush. Riley's case was subsequently taken up by the Exoneration Initiative (EI), which helps people who were wrongly convicted. The EI got a confession from another convict, and Riley was released from prison.

Since then Riley has moved into a garage apartment on his father's property, got a job in a restaurant, and taken up his old vocation - burglary. One evening, Riley comes home with a good haul of jewelry and money and gets shot in the head. Riley's dad tells the police he heard the shot and saw Doug Rush, the father of the raped girl Dana Rush, leaving the property. The police take the ID seriously because Doug - who STILL believed Riley was guilty - railed against his release and threatened to kill him.

The police arrest Doug Rush and botch the job by kicking and beating him while he's helpless on the ground. A video of the assault is uploaded to the internet and the police are vilified for brutality. This being the case the police want a quick conviction, so they look a tad less bad.

Meanwhile Doug hires Wes Farrell - a former District Attorney who's now a defense lawyer in Dismas Hardy's law firm - to represent him. Being on the prosecution side has infiltrated Wes's psyche and he believes all defendants are guilty, including Doug. As things play out, Doug forfeits his million-dollar bail by not showing up for his preliminary hearing, and Wes feels somewhat vindicated in his opinion.

Then Doug is found murdered and the police, who are embarrassed by the whole business, drag their feet on the investigation. Wes Farrell and Dismas Hardy - whose law firm got a $100,000 retainer from Doug - feel they owe him a debt. So the lawyers enlist the help of private detective Abe Glitzky, who was once Head of Homicide for the San Francisco Police Department. Abe sets out to discover who killed Doug, believing it's the same man who shot Paul Riley. So two birds with one stone.

During Abe's investigation he speaks to various people, including Doug's neighbor, Doug's lady friend, the members of Doug's motorcycle club, and people associated with Paul Riley.

Additional deaths blur the picture, and at one point Abe, a happily married man, gets the come-on from an interviewee, which made me laugh. 😄 Abe also contacts a lawyer at the EI, who admits the EI doesn't always get it right and some guilty convicts have been sprung from prison.

Though this is a Dismas Hardy book, the novel is mostly a police procedural focused on Abe Glitzky. I like police procedurals and Abe is an appealing character, so that's fine with me.

Thanks to Netgalley, John Lescroart, and Atria Books for a copy of the book.

After a 3 year hiatus/sabbatical from the Dismas Hardy/Abe Glitsky series, John Lescroart has returned to form with book #19. The Missing Piece has almost all the characters from earlier books including, Gina, Wes, Wyatt, etc. and centers around the murders of a newly exonerated prisoner and the father of the woman who the prisoner had allegedly murdered 11 years prior.

While there is no courtroom drama, Abe, as a private investigator, decides to track down all the loose ends and to make sense of the murders.

Another clear winner for Author Lescroart; here's hoping he doesn't take another 3 years before the next installment. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read the pre-publication Kindle version in exchange for this review which i will share on Goodreads.

Recently I received a copy of The Missing Piece by John Lescroart. The blurb sounded good, so I looked him up and realized that this was book 19 in the Dismas Hardy series. As embarrassed as I am that I am just now discovering this author, I am so excited that there are EIGHTEEN books in the backlist that I get to read!! That's not even counting the 9 other books that he has published!! I love finding new authors!!

In, The Missing Piece, Paul Riley was just released from prison. He had been in for the rape and murder of Dana, his girlfriend. The Exoneration Initiative (think: Innocence Project) gets Paul released when evidence shows another man did the crime. Paul is trying to live his life and trying to make enough money to survive when he is killed. What follows is a roller coaster of who did it, and more murder. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride and I look forward to reading more of John Lescroart's books! 4⭐

Thank you to Netgalley, Atria Books and John Lescroart for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

A man convicted of rape and murder eleven years ago is suddenly innocent? - thanks to the Exoneration Initiative. In standard Lescroart fashion, there is no clear or simple answer.
The ex-con has a lawyer (Wes Farrell) who thinks he's guilty but Farrell has a former enforcement person turned PI (Abe Glitsky) who believes the ex-con is innocent.
The novel deals with the struggles to find the truth and the conflicts it repeatedly causes. A struggle that leads in strange twists and turns but causes great misery to all involved persons who were torn up over the process eleven years ago and find themselves again in conflict along with rubbing up against some new people.
The logical solutions are not correct.
What's missing? You need to keep digging along with the team to find the pieces of the puzzle and put them together in the correct order.
This is an intriguing and well written story that uses the appropriate lingo and emotions for the situations that arise from that investigation.
Always happy to read John Lescroart's epistles that feature Farell, Glitsky & Dismas Hardy, this novel does not disappoint. It will keep you from your work, your housework, your family and, very likely, from your bed until you finish it at one sitting so maybe save it for your days off.
Thank-You, Net Galley, for allowing me to read & review this advance copy.

The Missing Piece, by John Lescroart, is a murder/suspense novel with more twists and turns than a rollercoaster. I thought the writing was good, if a bit slow for my tastes. There's just so much to unpack throughout the whole book but that's also what kept me wanting to read it to the end.
Paul Riley's just been released from eleven years in prison, after the rape and murder of his girlfriend. And there are a few people who're none too happy that he's out thanks to the group The Exoneration Initiative. Soon Riley's found in his apartment after being shot, execution style.
The cops figure that the former girlfriend's Dad must be the one who committed the murder.
So, they go ahead and assault him while they're arresting him. Former DA, Wes Farrell, who's now a lawyer, agrees to be defendant, Doug Rush's attorney. Then Rush suddenly disappears while out on a one million dollar bond, no less. Now he needs help to find his missing defendant. The search ends up taking about a hundred unexpected turns to finally get to the shocking truth.

This legal mystery was a great installment to this series. The plot is cleverly crafted and the writing flows well. The author know how to tell a story!
Many thanks to Atria Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Book 19 of the Dismas Hardy series.

Wes Farrell has crossed over from being a prosecutor to a criminal defense attorney. Only problem is he is majorly burnt out. He no longer believes anything his clients tell him. And truly doesn’t care about the outcome. But that attitude may cost him…. Or his client!

When Paul Riley convicted rapist and murderer is released from prison by The Exoneration Initiative, it’s not long before he is gunned down outside his apartment. The only eye witness is Paul’s dad. Only how reliable a witness is he? And the police can’t seem to get out of their own way.

There is so much going on with a plethora of characters, but being a long time fan of this series I was able to follow along easily. Abe Glitsky, former homicide detective, now private investigator takes a large role in this book! Which made me very happy as he is one of my favorite characters from this series.

I have a lot of long standing series that I have slowly stepped away from. I love the characters but the storylines just failed to hold me, and the characters alone can only hold it together for so long. I’m happy to say this series is going as strong as ever. Of course I love all the characters! I feel like I’ve grown up with them. And each storyline is as intricate and thrilling as ever.

If you are a fan of this series and want to walk down memory lane while enjoying a thrilling storyline then make sure this book is on your list! Can this be read as a stand-alone? Sure. But I highly suggest starting at the beginning! It’s worth it!

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Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books

The first book I read in this series, it won't be the last as it's a gripping and highly entertaining story.
Fast paced and twisty, good storytelling and character development.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Wes Ferrell is a former district attorney in San Francisco who now practices as a defense attorney with his buddy, Dismas Hardy. Ferrell struggles with his role because his years as DA have convinced him that everyone charged with a crime is probably guilty. He wonders if he is harming his clients by not trying harder or doing an injustice to society by trying at all. What he really longs for is an innocent client.

Then Paul Riley, a criminal who Ferrell had prosecuted eleven years earlier for rape and murder is released from prison through the efforts of the Exoneration Initiative. This group sponsors inmates who can be proven innocent and springs them from prison. Soon after his release, Riley is murdered and Doug Rush, the father of the woman that Riley was accused of murdering, is the chief suspect. Rush hires Ferrell as his defense attorney. Of course, Ferrell assumes Rush is guilty but when Rush is murdered Ferrell can’t help but wonder. Now feeling guilty for his assumption of the worst from his client, Ferrell hires Abe Glitsky, retired head of homicide now P.I. to investigate. Glitsky’s poking around results is two other murders and an attempt on his own life. Now Glitisky can’t let it go and uncovers several potential perpetrators but none seem to have motive to commit all four murders. A complex ‘who-done-it’ follows.

This is Lescroart’s nineteenth Dismas Hardy novel and I’ve enjoyed every one. The author has created an interesting cast of characters and is a great storyteller. I look forward to the next.

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for the advance read.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for a review.

I always enjoy a new Dismas Hardy book and this one does not disappoint, although Dismas only makes a few cameo appearances, as the book is more about Wes Farrell and Abe Glitsky as they investigate the early release and subsequent murder of Paul Riley, who Wes prosecuted and convicted for rape and murder. When the Exoneration Initiative wins his release due to problematic DNA and a confession by another prisoner, a murderer serving a life sentence, no one is happy, especially not the father of Riley's "alleged" victim. So when Riley is shot in the head, and his father quickly identifies her father, Doug Rush, as the murderer, no one is surprised, except those involved in the original case. Then Doug is murdered, too.

This is a good police procedural, it was good to see Abe again, after his retirement from the police force, as he gets used to being a PI, without access to all the resources of the Police Department.

This is my first book in the Dismas Hardy series from John Lescroart, and it was a pleasant surprise, for the most part.

The story originates from the Exoneration Initiative, that provides legal assistance to convicts who claim to have been wrongfully convicted of crimes they didn't commit. In any other iteration this may have been a legal thriller, but this book takes the reader deeper into what the tags of guilty and innocent imply, and what it means and takes to be exonerated. Often, the exoneration is attempted to be carried out as a heroic gesture, but really is merely based on technicalities and loopholes in the law, and in fact blatantly ends up abusing the same law they they saw has wronged their clients in the first place.

The book makes no claims or judgements on the Initiative itself, but gives the reader enough material to begin pondering over what the system really looks like, and why many believe it is broken.

The only gripe I have with the story is that in may places the writing is very mediocre and generic. A lot of the book is just conversations, which by itself is not really a problem - but both the narrative and the conversations themselves often don't come across as grounded, and rather give the impression of shallow and almost as if written in a hurry. There are numerous instances where the same phrase is used repeatedly in a handful of pages, even when different characters are shown using the exact same phrase, in the exact same way. It's as if the author was too busy or lazy to create separately identifiable personas for his different characters. That definitely took away from the overall effect of the narrative.

There is real potential in some of these characters to be developed better and independently, but sadly are not given the opportunity.

Also, after reading this I'm at a loss as to why this is described as a Dismas Hardy story. Read it and you'll know. It is by no means unreadable - far from it. In fact, the overall thriller and suspense elements in the book are quite good, and reminded me of some of the early Reacher stories - though not nearly as tight or fast as those books were (!). Quite good, nevertheless.

Thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, John Lescroart for an eARC.

Thank you net galley for the free digital ARC of this book. I love mystery and legal thrillers. I have read all of the books in this series and this one did not disappoint. It contained all of the familiar characters and focused on the character of Abe Glitskey and moved his story along. It was fast paced and well plotted, and I didn’t see the ending coming. The story starts with an murdered individual whose conviction was overturned based on the work of Exoneration Project (Innocence Project). This was interesting and a different perspective on their work. I hope there are more books in this series.

This book left me on my toes. I couldn’t put this book down to sleep! (And couldn’t sleep because this book)! Loved everything about it. Thanks to netgalley for the early access to this book

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Atria Books and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Fast-paced, well done, captivating story. The characters are developed and honed. The evolution is solid.

Just finished the 19th installment in the Dismas Hardy Series by John Lescroart and I'm torn. I'm a fan of Lescroart's work and I've enjoyed all the works produced in this series, yet, I'm not as impressed or thrilled with The Missing Piece.

Wes Farrell is hired to represent Doug Rush who's been arrested for murdering the man who'd been convicted and exonerated of the rape and murder of his daughter. Farrell is convinced his client, Rush, is guilty of the crime and is conflicted with representing him. In a past life, his work as a prosecutor has convinced him that everyone's guilty. As he struggles with his own personal ethics, his client is murdered.

Insert Abe Glitsky, the resident investigator that can't seem to let this case go as he finds connections that other investigating police ignored. Against the odds, he presses on to find out who is actually guilty of killing Doug Rush and the man convicted of murdering his daughter. The danger that's instore investigating this case could not be greater.

That danger is palpable and a driving force in this fast paced mystery/thriller. Generally, the Hardy series is a simple, easy read, and that doesn't change here. The first chapter sets the stage followed by the layering of more mystery and intrigue that it's hard to walk away without needing to know whodunnit. I HAD to know whodunnit.

My only issue is that after awhile, I didn't care whodunnit. There's too many periphery characters and "persons of interest" that I no longer was able to keep it all straight. This could totally be my fault because I don't have the privilege of reading books how I used to, within a couple days or so. I admit, I may be the problem.

Yet, I can't help but be disappointed with The Missing Piece. I don't know what it was but something was missing for me with this title. The ending was a little too wrapped up similarly to the summation's from my favorite TV show, Monk. The OCD detective perfectly sums up what the bad guy did in the last few minutes of the show. That's kinda what happened here. One of the (too) many characters happens to be the murderer with too few nuggets of information provided on how, where, or why he was even a suspect.

Regardless, although The Missing Piece was a quick read and entertaining enough, I don't think it's a great installment to the Hardy series. Sure I'm under impressed with the title, but Lescroart is a great writer. I look forward to the next installment in this series.

Copy provided by Atria Books via Netgalley

Paul Riley is just out of prison after being accused of the rape and murder of his girlfriend and her father will never forget what happened to his only daughter. So he is the first to be accused when Paul Riley is shot point blank entering his apartment one night. And so begins the mystery in this book.

While in typical mystery series, the mystery itself is contained within the pages of each book, but with this one there was a lot of character development that with this book being the 19th in the series, I felt as though I was missing a lot. There were many moments in this book where I felt like I should have known more and it hindered my reading experience.

I did enjoy the mystery itself which made me want to possibly go back to the very beginning and get to know these characters from the beginning and watch them tackle mystery after mystery!