Presumed Guilty

Turow shines in his third legal thriller featuring former Kindle County prosecutor Rusty Sabich (after Innocent). Now 77, Rusty has retired and settled down with elementary school principal Bea Housley. His hopes for a small wedding and quiet retirement are derailed when Bea’s 22-year-old adopted son, Aaron, gets into trouble. Ever since he was convicted, 18 months earlier, of felony drug possession, Aaron, who is Black, has been on strict probation that requires him to stay in contact with Bea and Rusty. Then the couple loses touch with him for several days. After Aaron resurfaces, he claims he was camping with his on-again, off-again girlfriend, and that he left her in the woods following a fierce argument. But when Aaron’s girlfriend is found strangled to death, he’s charged with murder. Against his better judgment, Rusty agrees to defend him, despite having limited experience as a defense attorney. Turow keeps readers guessing about the truth, impressively maintaining suspense across the book’s hefty page count. Along the way, he weaves in trenchant observations about the justice system’s racial biases, which weigh heavily on Rusty’s decision to take up Aaron’s case. This easily ranks among Turow’s best. Agent: Gail Hochman, Brandt & Hochman Literary. (Jan.)