Customer Reviews

Nothing but the Truth (Dismas Hardy)

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I had forgotten how much I enjoyed this author until I ran out of books on a recent vacation in Bermuda and bought this one, even at the inflated island prices. Dismas Hardy is a central character that you can admire, identify with and root for as he contends with (1) a wife who's sense of values is refreshing in these times which have caused her to be jailed for contempt(2) an ambitious prosecutor and a venal DA (3) a cllient who appears to hold at least one of the keys to his wife's jail cell (4) a judge who holds the other key and (5) his old friend, homicide detective Abe Glitzky as he tries to solve the problem of the murder of his client's wife. This author has mastered the art of making conversation come alive on the printed page and you keep turning the pages well into the night. I was happy to be on vacation so that I could enjoy it in large doses. I recommend it without qualification.

As a long-time Dismas Hardy and Abe Glitzky fan, this series just gets better and better. I just read the whole book during a snow day when I had better things to do, and I just couldn't put it down. The characters are familiar, and they've grown over the years, and Lescroart is so good at making it clear why real people can't live happily ever after... Dismas has come a long way, and his character continues to have depth and be interesting to observe. But best of all - this is a great thriller, a real page turner. Lots of twists and turns, and interesting political and social issues are represented all over the place. He has a nice touch writing about kids, about marriage, about relationships - okay, some of the stuff here is a little far-fetched but it's a mystery novel, that's why we read them. For new readers, start at the beginning of this series and work your way to the present - it will be worth it!

I found this to be one of the best mysteries I've read in quite awhile. Set in one of my favorite cities - San Francisco - it not only captures the flavor of the city, but it is also populated with well-rounded and interesting characters; people you can care about.

This book keeps you in suspense, and then neatly "ties up" all of the story aspects in the end (I enjoy "neat" and logical endings). This is a "must" for anyone who enjoys a good mystery

Defense attorney Dismas Hardy receives a call from the school telling him that his wife failed to pick up their children as planned. A bit concerned, he gets the kids and takes them home, but there is no sign of his spouse Frannie. After a few more hours pass, Dismas becomes worried until he finally learns that Frannie is residing in jail on two counts of contempt.

Apparently, her good friend Ron Beaumont is afraid to become involved in the legal system although someone murdered his wife Bree and the police have no viable suspects. Frannie knows Ron's secrets, but refuses to answer questions involving them. When she acts nasty towards the judge, she becomes a prisoner. Dismas wonders if his beloved spouse has been romantically involved with another man, especially when she pleads with him to find out who killed Bree. However, deciding to trust his wife, Dismas begins to investigate what happened. He quickly learns that Bree had many political enemies because of her hard stand on environmental issues. As Dismas digs deeper, he realizes that someone will kill again to keep a certain plan on schedule.

New York Times bestselling author John Lescroart has written another fabulous police and legal thriller. The male protagonist appears more vulnerable than usual, which makes him more likeable than in previous appearances. In NOTHING, BUT THE TRUTH, Dismas, soul is stripped to the bone marrow, but he still will do what it takes to keep his family safe. The who-done-it is one of the better ones in quite awhile, as Mr. Lescroart knows how to create a plot that will give immense pleasure to fans of police and legal thrillers.

Harriet Klausner

Attorney Dismas Hardy is stunned when he receives a phone call saying his wife has not picked up their kids from school. Frannie would NEVER forget to pick up their children, so Dismas knows that something is wrong. Tracking down his wife, he comes to the startling discovery...she is in jail.

Frannie has just appeared before the grand jury (keeping this from her husband) and refusing to give up a crucial piece of evidence against Ron-a friend accused of murdering his wife, lands her in jail. Furious, Dismas, wants answers.

Dismas begins turning over every stone, to find out who would have killed Brea Beaumont, and what secrets are being hidden by the grieving widower, Ron.

Dismas is looking for the truth, but is he prepared for what he finds?

"Nothing But The Truth" is one of the weaker novels by this very good author. While starting off fast, the novel takes a nose dive down, and becomes boring with each new suspect and plot twist thrown in. By the time the killer was revealed I didn't really care.

John Lescroart is one of the better legal/thriller writers, but his new novel becomes too complicated and boring to supply the thrills that are usually found in his books.

Nick Gonnella

I'm a writer and read different genres to see what's going on. Without a doubt, John Lescroart and Steve Martini are two of the better authors out there, regardless of genere. However, their styles are totally different, both alive and vibrant. I personally think this may be Lescroart's best work to date. The way he brings Franny forward gives an added dimension to his lead character, Dismis Hardy. Also, Lescroart writes with authority about the San Francisco legal scene, which I love, and he must upset more than a few poltical/legal beagles in San Francisco.

I have read several of John Lescroart's books, and each one is remarkably enjoyable. Unfortunately, I have not read them in sequential order, so that I find myself a bit surprised as to how Dismas Hardy's life has "progressed." Nevertheless, this series is so well-written, with enough referrals to previous incidents and cases, that each can stand on its own.

NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH is an immensely engrossing story. I found that the time line--four days to solve a murder that had occurred four weeks previously and had gone cold--in order to save his wife, Frannie, from suffering more indignities and consequences for protecting a friends's secret, was exciting and compelling. From the first chapter, I wanted to finish the book FAST! I love when a book hooks me like this, and that is what all of Lescroart's books do...grab you and keep you going and going until you reach the suprising, satisfying conclusion.

By the way, listening to one of his wonderful books on tape, HARD EVIDENCE, I learned his name is pronounced la-sqwaa--soft "a." Something fun to know!

Nothing but the Truth is the first John T. Lescroart novel I've read, but it certainly won't be my last!! I will definitely explore the rest of the Dismas Hardy series, and go from there.

In this book, Hardy is an attorney whose wife somehow gets "involved" in a murder investigation of their children's classmate's mother. In order to clear her name, as it were, Hardy works with a friend in Homicide and undertakes his own probing, and as it turns out, dangerous, investigation of the murder.

The book is a compelling read from page one. Although I freely admit I'm not the best at guessing "who done it", the twists and turns the investigation takes really blew my mind. The clues were there, but there was no way I could put it all together. I guess that's why I'm a reader and not a crime investigator ;)

I really can't recommend this book highly enough. I'm certainly looking forward to reading more of Mr. Lescroart's writing. Hopefully, you will too :D

Lescroat tells a compelling story with characters you care about. There's murder, corruption, intrigue. There's a murder to solve, for an unusual reason, by a lawyer who is also searching for the truth about his own personal belief system. I enjoyed being a part of his life while I read this book.

Lescroart is at his best writing about Dismas Hardy. It is very enjoable to follow Dismas through life and this book adds, again, a very interesting chapter.

It is a very good thriller with many twists and bends which keep the interest more than alive.

It is also a quite interesting reflection on the American Justice system with a DA office more driven by personal ambition than by the desire to serve the public.

Finally, it is a very delicate reflection on the development of a marriage. Lescroart is at his best describing the relationship between Franny and Dismas and the danger of routine and digression of common interests. There is no doubt Dismas loves his children. But why then does he so often feel they are hurting his relationship and hindering his personal progress? The way Lescroart describes this, with a lot of lovely ( and sometimes very "politically uncorrect") observations is extraordinary and something all readers with children can recognize.

This is all done in a tight plot leaving enough room also for the other characters, like Abe Glitsky, whom we have started to know in his previous novel.

In summary, this book has it all and is an absolute must for the Dismas fans.