From Publishers Weekly
In the latest installment of the Glitsky-Hardy crime-solving series (The 13th Juror; The Second Chair; etc.), San Francisco–based Lescroart again demonstrates his mastery of how things work in the city by the bay. Arson investigators at a Victorian townhouse fire do not call in Abe Glitsky or Dismas Hardy when they discover two bodies believed to be the remains of influential businessman Paul Hanover and his girlfriend, Missy D'Amiens. Glitsky, now deputy chief of inspectors, doesn't handle individual cases, and attorney Dismas Hardy has long since left the police force. Sgt. Dan Cuneo takes charge, quickly jumping to conclusions and slowly rekindling his grudge against the detecting duo. Unhappy with Cuneo's approach, the mayor puts Glitsky on the job, while Hardy is hired by Hanover's daughter-in-law, who was also Hardy's college sweetheart and is now a murder defendant with no alibi but plenty of motive. Parallel inquiries uncover contradictory evidence as well as loose ends: at the time of his death, Hanover was up for a federal appointment, his company was up for a city contract and his girlfriend has a mysterious past. Lescroart draws the reader in with a step-by-step description of the fire, mesmerizes with an account of the intricacies of the auto-towing business and winds up with a disturbing parable of intrigue abroad, adding the wistful touch of a new baby in the Glitsky household. Lescroart may be testing the waters for fiction with an international flavor. For now, the winningly ironic author remains more credible on urban and legal ground than spy craft, but his authentic voice, methodical presentation and ability to juggle red herrings until all pieces fall into place will keep fans following wherever his cop-lawyer friends-heroes lead. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Success has its disadvantages. Abe Glitzky, once a homicide cop and now a high-level administrator in the San Francisco Police Department, is none too thrilled to be called upon by the mayor, his longtime friend Kathy West, to help investigate a case. Both Paul Hanover, a wealthy businessman and significant contributor to West's campaign coffers, and a woman were found dead in Hanover's home, and the fire that leveled the house wasn't the cause: both victims died of gunshot wounds. Although it looks like a "clean" murder-suicide, forensics proves otherwise, much to the mayor's relief. But now there's a double-homicide to solve. Normally, Glitzky wouldn't mind helping out his old department, but the lead investigator on the case is Dan Cuneo, someone Glitzky, along with his friend, attorney Dismas "Diz" Hardy, had locked horns with some time ago. The likelihood of Glitzky and Cuneo working together amicably is remote, especially when it turns out that the chief suspect is Diz's ex-girlfriend. In typical Lescroart fashion, personal conflicts, political favors, and top-notch courtroom drama converge for a gripping, page-turning drama. Mary Frances Wilkens
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

The Dallas Morning News
Suspenseful and involving . . . combines the best of the legal and police procedural.

The Hartford Courant
A powerful rollercoaster ride through the twisting streets of San Francisco.

The Orlando Sentinel
Hardy and Glitsky are like good wine, improving with time.

Publishers Weekly
Lescroart lands again in the top tier of crime fiction.

Book Description
Hardy and Glitsky are embroiled in a murder that begins in the upper echelons of San Francisco society, where money and political influence collide. . . . It starts with a double homicide. Because of the high profiles of the victims—a politically connected socialite and his glamorous fiancée—the mayor of San Francisco herself demands that a high-ranking detective be put on the case. And so Abe Glitsky is thrust into the controversial investigation. Dan Cuneo, the officer already working the case, is immediately wary of Glitsky and doesn’t hide his distrust. Matters are made worse when Cuneo starts to focus on his primary suspect—who also happens to be an old girlfriend of Dismas Hardy. For Hardy and Glitsky, this is an awkward and uncomfortable coincidence. But for Cuneo, it’s proof positive of collusion, and yet another instance of Glitsky cheating with his insider friends and cronies. Convinced that Hardy’s client is the wrong suspect, Glitsky breaks ranks within the police department to continue his own investigation. As Hardy’s murder trial builds to its stunning conclusion, Glitsky’s search for the truth does more than fuel suspicion against the two men. It reveals a trail of deception that leads beyond San Francisco, where exposing desperate secrets can be the most deadly offense.

About the Author
John Lescroart is the author of fifteen previous novels, including The Second Chair, The First Law, The Oath, and The Hearing.

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
Bestselling crime writer John Lescroart has crafted a complex tale of arson, murder, and political mayhem in this mystery featuring San Francisco lawyer Dismas Hardy and police detective Abe Glitsky.

At first it looks like a simple case of arson, covering up a high-profile murder-suicide. But it soon becomes clear that there's nothing simple about this case. And when the mayor asks Deputy Chief of Inspectors Abe Glitsky to ride herd on loose-cannon homicide detective Dan Cuneo in a politically sensitive investigation into the death of one of Her Honor's biggest supporters, that quickly puts both cops in the hot seat. With a history of suspicion and betrayal behind them, it's no surprise that Glitsky and Cuneo disagree about practically everything, from prime suspect to probable cause. The one thing they do agree upon is the fact they don't want to work this or any other case together. It doesn't help that Cuneo's suspect turns out to be Hardy's old flame -- or that the talented lawyer agrees to defend her -- or that Glitsky refuses to drop his own search for another suspect. An accusation of collusion could lead to an investigation that Glitsky and Hardy definitely cannot afford. But with evidence hard to come by and politics complicating the case, it all comes down to finding the motive. Sue Stone

FROM THE PUBLISHER

"Hardy and Glitsky are embroiled in a murder that begins in the upper echelons of San Francisco society, where money and political influence collide." "It starts with a double homicide. Because of the high profiles of the victims - a politically connected socialite and his glamorous fiancee - the mayor of San Francisco herself demands that a high-ranking detective be put on the case. And so Abe Glitsky is thrust into the controversial investigation." "Dan Cuneo, the officer already working the case, is immediately wary of Glitsky and doesn't hide his distrust. Matters are made worse when Cuneo starts to focus on his primary suspect - who also happens to be an old girlfriend of Dismas Hardy's. For Hardy and Glitsky, this is an awkward and uncomfortable coincidence. But for Cuneo, it's proof positive of collusion, and yet another instance of Glitsky cheating with his insider friends and cronies." Convinced that Hardy's client is the wrong suspect, Glitsky breaks ranks within the police department to continue his own investigation. As Hardy's murder trial builds to its stunning conclusion, Glitsky's search for the truth does more than fuel suspicion against the two men. It reveals a trail of deception that leads beyond San Francisco, where exposing desperate secrets can be the most deadly offense.

FROM THE CRITICS

Patrick Anderson - The Washington Post

Before Turow and Grisham, novels by lawyers were rare. Today it seems as though half the lawyers in America are trying to write fiction. Of late I've praised thrillers by lawyers Robert Reuland, William Lashner, Stephen Horn and Dylan Schaffer, but Grisham and Turow remain the two best-known writers in the genre. There is, however, a third novelist at work today who deserves to be considered alongside Turow and Grisham. His name is John Lescroart (it's French and pronounced Les-kwah), and he has just published "The Motive," the 13th installment in his series about two friends in San Francisco, defense lawyer Dismas Hardy and homicide detective Abe Glitsky. I've read six of the Hardy-Glitsky novels, and they're all good, but The Motive is the best of them, a smashing legal thriller that surpasses anything Grisham ever wrote and bears comparison with Turow.

Publishers Weekly

In the latest installment of the Glitsky-Hardy crime-solving series (The 13th Juror; The Second Chair; etc.), San Francisco-based Lescroart again demonstrates his mastery of how things work in the city by the bay. Arson investigators at a Victorian townhouse fire do not call in Abe Glitsky or Dismas Hardy when they discover two bodies believed to be the remains of influential businessman Paul Hanover and his girlfriend, Missy D'Amiens. Glitsky, now deputy chief of inspectors, doesn't handle individual cases, and attorney Dismas Hardy has long since left the police force. Sgt. Dan Cuneo takes charge, quickly jumping to conclusions and slowly rekindling his grudge against the detecting duo. Unhappy with Cuneo's approach, the mayor puts Glitsky on the job, while Hardy is hired by Hanover's daughter-in-law, who was also Hardy's college sweetheart and is now a murder defendant with no alibi but plenty of motive. Parallel inquiries uncover contradictory evidence as well as loose ends: at the time of his death, Hanover was up for a federal appointment, his company was up for a city contract and his girlfriend has a mysterious past. Lescroart draws the reader in with a step-by-step description of the fire, mesmerizes with an account of the intricacies of the auto-towing business and winds up with a disturbing parable of intrigue abroad, adding the wistful touch of a new baby in the Glitsky household. Lescroart may be testing the waters for fiction with an international flavor. For now, the winningly ironic author remains more credible on urban and legal ground than spy craft, but his authentic voice, methodical presentation and ability to juggle red herrings until all pieces fall into place will keep fans following wherever his cop-lawyer friends-heroes lead. Agent, Barney Karpfinger. Mystery Guild main selection; Literary Guild, BOMC, Doubleday Book Club featured alternates. (Jan.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

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