The Missing Piece

Lescroat (The Rule of Law) continues to burnish his reputation as a master storyteller. His latest thriller will delight longtime readers who enjoyed the 18 previous twisty murder mysteries featuring Dismas Hardy, and it will charm those coming late to the long-running series. Hardy, an attorney in the San Francisco Bay Area, agrees to represent Doug Rush, a man accused of murder. More than a decade earlier, Rush’s daughter was raped and murdered and her boyfriend went to prison. When an exoneration committee uncovers new facts that pin the crime on someone else, the boyfriend is released. Then he’s murdered, and the police suspect Rush. Private eye Abe Glitsky is asked to help clear up the mess and find the truth but the deeper he delves, the further he feels like he’s moving away from his own moral path. Reader Jacques Roy does a fine job of giving each major character a distinctive voice corresponding to the mood and tone of the situation. He creates suspense, empathy, and just enough tension to keep listeners attuned.