oskibooks's review against another edition
1.0
Still appreciate Lawyer Stern. But story itself was slow tedious and boring.
phoenix_speri's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
85tarheel's review against another edition
5.0
Getting old is increasingly on my mind these days and I was surprised by how adroitly Scott Turow dealt with that theme in this fantastic book. It works on two levels, first it is a top notch legal thriller. I don't know if anyone does the legal part better than Turow going back to "Presumed Innocent" and here he manages to be both realistic and interesting in a book about possible insider trading and fraud allegations. I really like the fact that, generally, his books avoid those idiotic mistakes that so many authors employ to stoke the excitement of the plot. He gets there honestly. And secondly it is an amazing look at his character Sandy Stern as he moves through his final case, as the title pretty much tells you. Sandy is 85 and although I'm still over 2 decades from that age, I felt like he was really 85 with all the good and bad that goes with it. None of it was done for sensationalism or in any way that felt demeaning. It was wonderful to read a book about a real adult instead of some unrealistic creation. I found myself enjoying the time I was spending with Sandy and his family and co-workers. Bravo Mr. Turow, you made me happy, sad, and edified. That is a real nice combination.
literatetexan's review against another edition
4.0
Scott Turow is the most literate of writers of legal thrillers, and his insights into his characters and life itself are on full display here. Sandy Stern has always been my favorite of his characters, and this was a fitting last bow for a wonderful character. The Last Trial is also one of those rare books I'd consider re-reading, and soon.
amylow1107's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book for my paralegal class for a book review. I would not have picked this up if I had a choice because I am partial to John Grisham when it comes to legal thrillers. I read this book and found it full of legal and pharmaceutical lingo in all of its 500 pages. Scott Turow is a lawyer and author of a series of books in which his first book in the series is Presumed Innocent which was turned into a movie starring the late Raul Garcia playing the main character and Harrison Ford playing the person accused. This book is the 11th book in the series featuring Alejandro "Sandy" Stern. Sandy is 85 years old and this is his last trial before he takes a final bow to the courtroom. He is hired to defend his friend and Nobel Prize, Kiril Pafko who created a cancer-treating drug. Pafko learns that some patients on the drug died and he also sold some of his own stock after hearing about this. Pafko is charged with fraud, insider trading, and murder. Sandy has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Pafko did not do what he is charged with. With the help of his partner and daughter, Marta, and his granddaughter, Pinky they try this case. As the case progresses, Sandy knows that Pafko is married and has a mistress in which all the women are involved in this case. Sandy has to discover the truth even when he can't reveal it in court.
There is a lot of courtroom drama and law lingo in this book. There is also a side story of who hit Sandy's car which put him in the hospital before the trial began that his granddaughter, Pinky is solving on her own with the permission of Sandy in between court. This could have been another book. Turow does tell a good story of the emotional toll that lawyers deal with in each of their cases. His daughter, Marta who has followed her father in becoming a lawyer and working with Sandy has expressed her desire to retire after this trial. She wants to spend more time with her family. Pinky with her tattoos, piercings, and rough edges that most people don't look past the exterior, Sandy sees something in her that warrants paying attention to. Once the verdict was read, Turow goes on more to give the characters closure but was unneeded.
Would I recommend this book? No, I would recommend others for a legal thriller. 500 pages is a lot for one book that drags on. If you like courtroom drama and all it's legal jargon then book is for you. If not, John Grisham is the way to go!
There is a lot of courtroom drama and law lingo in this book. There is also a side story of who hit Sandy's car which put him in the hospital before the trial began that his granddaughter, Pinky is solving on her own with the permission of Sandy in between court. This could have been another book. Turow does tell a good story of the emotional toll that lawyers deal with in each of their cases. His daughter, Marta who has followed her father in becoming a lawyer and working with Sandy has expressed her desire to retire after this trial. She wants to spend more time with her family. Pinky with her tattoos, piercings, and rough edges that most people don't look past the exterior, Sandy sees something in her that warrants paying attention to. Once the verdict was read, Turow goes on more to give the characters closure but was unneeded.
Would I recommend this book? No, I would recommend others for a legal thriller. 500 pages is a lot for one book that drags on. If you like courtroom drama and all it's legal jargon then book is for you. If not, John Grisham is the way to go!
_alyssabrown's review against another edition
Wasn’t appealing to me 🤷🏼♀️ Found it difficult to follow
readers_block's review against another edition
3.0
2.75/5
Not overly enjoyable as far as legal procedurals go. Fairly dry. Lots of pharmaceutical and legal jargon, and in many cases a step by step of a courtroom scene.
Not overly enjoyable as far as legal procedurals go. Fairly dry. Lots of pharmaceutical and legal jargon, and in many cases a step by step of a courtroom scene.
readsleeponrepeat's review against another edition
3.0
As I work in the legal field, I love a good legal thriller, although this one missed the mark for me. I was immediately drawn to this book at Costco to the point of starting the book on the way home. While this was a great story with an ending full of unexpected twists every few pages, I found myself glazing over during large sections I felt were just extra “fluff.” While normally I’d be able to enjoy the story amidst the fluff, I continuously put this book down. I will say that Turnow does do a great job at explaining legal procedure and theory to a layperson. When the story finally hooked me, about halfway through, I couldn’t put it down and read X pages in a sitting. I highly recommend anyone who is already interested in legal thrillers, as this would not be a good segue into the genre.
paovilchis25's review against another edition
4.0
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All of the opinions are my own and this did not affect my review in any way.
I have always said that if I didn’t end up studying to become a Doctor I would have become a lawyer. So when I had the chance to read and review this legal thriller I jumped at the idea right away, I wanted to learn more about what it means to be an attorney. Overall I was impressed by this book and how the author managed to keep me engaged throughout this almost 500 page legal book.
In the Last Trial we follow eighty-five years old, Alejandro "Sandy" Stern, a brilliant defense lawyer with his health failing but spirit intact, on the brink of retirement. But when his old friend Dr. Kiril Pafko, a former Nobel Prize winner in Medicine, is faced with charges of insider trading, fraud, and murder, his entire life's work is put in jeopardy, and Stern decides to take on one last trial.
What I liked most about this book was the way the author writes the courtroom atmosphere, while reading this book I could picture myself standing in a courtroom next to the characters trying to prove Dr. Pafko´s innocence. The book is long, but each word serves a purpose, each word helps the reader understand what is happening and it allows the reader to not only enjoy the reading experience but to also learn what life in a courtroom feels like.
The characters are great, I like how some of the characters are greatly enjoyable and other characters are very unlikeable. Stern and his granddaughter Pinky are by far my favorites and it was interesting to see how the author managed to make the accused Dr. Pafko an unlikeable character and in the end I just wanted for Stern to win his last case but I didn’t care what happened to the accused.
Overall this was a solid legal thriller that was a great introduction to the topic for me. I enjoyed the drama, the investigating aspect of it and I was charmed by how the author writes. I truly recommend this book if you are looking for a book that feels both real and has a touch of fiction intertwined.
I have always said that if I didn’t end up studying to become a Doctor I would have become a lawyer. So when I had the chance to read and review this legal thriller I jumped at the idea right away, I wanted to learn more about what it means to be an attorney. Overall I was impressed by this book and how the author managed to keep me engaged throughout this almost 500 page legal book.
In the Last Trial we follow eighty-five years old, Alejandro "Sandy" Stern, a brilliant defense lawyer with his health failing but spirit intact, on the brink of retirement. But when his old friend Dr. Kiril Pafko, a former Nobel Prize winner in Medicine, is faced with charges of insider trading, fraud, and murder, his entire life's work is put in jeopardy, and Stern decides to take on one last trial.
What I liked most about this book was the way the author writes the courtroom atmosphere, while reading this book I could picture myself standing in a courtroom next to the characters trying to prove Dr. Pafko´s innocence. The book is long, but each word serves a purpose, each word helps the reader understand what is happening and it allows the reader to not only enjoy the reading experience but to also learn what life in a courtroom feels like.
The characters are great, I like how some of the characters are greatly enjoyable and other characters are very unlikeable. Stern and his granddaughter Pinky are by far my favorites and it was interesting to see how the author managed to make the accused Dr. Pafko an unlikeable character and in the end I just wanted for Stern to win his last case but I didn’t care what happened to the accused.
Overall this was a solid legal thriller that was a great introduction to the topic for me. I enjoyed the drama, the investigating aspect of it and I was charmed by how the author writes. I truly recommend this book if you are looking for a book that feels both real and has a touch of fiction intertwined.