The Mercy Rule (Dismas Hardy, Book 5) Mass Market Paperback – August 10, 1999

Really a great read. Lots of twists & turns. I can usually figure it out part way through but not this time!

Well written and easy to get into plot. Engaging characters and suspenseful ending. Worth the read. Well done last words

This review has more to do with the series than specifically with The Mercy Rule. Working my way through the Dismas Hardy novels. Unlike many current detective writers, Lescroart eschews the charismatic psychotic serial killer and his/her elaborate, shocking crimes - burned, hanged, flayed, dismembered, et al. - and offers rather average folks - cops, secretaries, lawyers, etc. - caught up in difficult and unusual circumstances but trying to deal with the challenges of everyday life - work, family, friends.His characters' reflections on these challenges are simple, poignant, thoughtful evocations of the issues that we all face, and Lescroart does a superb job of coalescing the vapors, giving voice to our ruminations and fears.His work reminds me of the writing of James Gould Cozzens who won a Pulitzer Prize and was considered for the Nobel Prize. Writing during the middle decades of the 20th century, Cozzens was attacked by critics for being hopelessly out of date. His heroes are quite ordinary men, living quite ordinary lives and find themselves in the midst of a crisis that tests their moral and ethical beliefs. Like Cozzens' characters, Lescroart's heroes stand near us, offering the opportunity to reflect on our own lives.The plots have the requisite twists and turns and tensions to keep them moving briskly, but it is the thoughts and feelings of the characters that lift these books well above the general run of detective/thriller/mystery novels. The layers build as the series progresses so stay the course and enjoy the books - it's definitely worth it.

This book confirmed what I have always understood. That John Lescroart is an author whose books I want to read, then read again. He has a certain story telling style that I really enjoy.

I like Dismas Hardy books. It is full of suspense and humor. This one was more soul searching because of the apparent assisted suicide. The victim’s life was very touching life. The defendant is his son, a ball player and a non practicing lawyer. There is lots of political drama with the lying client who got caught in the first lie and kept lying to cover his first lie, very liberal DA, the very dogmatic AG and the hatred motivated assistant AG, all this with not much evidence happening in the most liberal San Francisco.Among this is the defense attorney Hardy trying to make a living while trying to defend his client and find the truth. He got his client “Not Guilty” verdict and didn’t rest until he uncovered the truth which results in an violent end. The ending was a anti-climatic. I expected the judge to be the culprit and not his wife. I really enjoyed the book!

I think I’ve read 1 or 2 of the Dismas Hardy series. I enjoyed this but I must confess, the part of the story surrounding the DA’s decision to prosecute a murder/suicide that was inconclusive struck me as pretty unlikely and later that same DA coming to some ah ha moment and the realization that prosecuting assisted suicide was unpopular a struck me as just a bit far fetched. I don’t think that’s giving anything away…but having said all that, the story, the courtroom drama, the mystery unfolding were terrific.

The story grows on you the further you go into it. Suspense, well developed characters angexcellent storytelling will take you through the final plot twist!

Lescroart has penned another twisty tale of criminal behavior - except this one contains far too many words in some places that drags the action. Some of the exposition of legal issues are ponderous. A love affair between a female detective and a suspect (a lawyer no less) rings incredibly.

great read

That book, so different. It really touched me somehow.Recommend. It is worthed every minute I spent on reading. Stunning final ...

Good read and kept you guessing until nearly the end

Loved this one

I chose 5 stars as it was a really good read, wish I had read this one first. Will buy more in the series.