Scott Turow’s ‘Presumed Guilty’ Worth the Wait

This masterfully crafted legal drama rewards patient readers.
Scott Turow’s ‘Presumed Guilty’ Worth the Wait
"Presumed Guilty" by Scott Turow.
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Scott Turow returns to his most iconic character, Rusty Sabich, in his 2025 novel “Presumed Guilty,” a thoroughly well-constructed legal thriller that is an excellent addition to the series. Though the book starts a little ponderously because the narrator frequently slips into multiple backstories and breaks from a present-tense narrative, “Presumed Guilty” is nonetheless a top-rate novel worth consideration.

This new novel is Turow’s third in the “Rusty” series, following the wildly successful “Presumed Innocent” in 1987 and its sequel, “Innocent,” in 2010. The first book was made into a very popular film starring Harrison Ford in 1990.

Over the decades, fans have watched Rusty transform from an ambitious prosecutor to a man accused of murder twice and exonerated both times. Now, in his late 70s and a former judge, he’s again at the center of a case that threatens the hard-won stability of his life.

This time, Rusty isn’t the accused. He finds himself in the role of reluctant defender. His fiancée Bea’s troubled son, Aaron, is charged with the murder of his girlfriend, Mae Potter, after the two ran off for a camping trip in the remote wilderness of Skageon County in the upper Midwest.

Though Rusty has long since retired from the courtroom, Bea and Aaron insist he is the only one who can mount a proper defense. What follows is a slow-burning but thoroughly engrossing legal battle interwoven with deeply personal stakes.

A Slow Build With Rewarding Complexity

Breaking the pattern of many modern legal thrillers—ones that tend to drop the reader in a moment of high tension from the get-go—Turow instead takes his time constructing the world of “Presumed Guilty.”

The first quarter of the novel is dedicated to building character relationships and giving ample historical context to Rusty’s present life and surroundings. Some of these backstory references fill in certain gaps about what happened to characters after previous books—which will be satisfying for longtime fans but may not resonate as much with newcomers. However, there are also several hints of trouble to come, which builds the tension nicely for all readers.

As in Turow’s previous works, meticulous attention is paid to psychological motivation, with multiple flourishes of admirable literary prose. Rusty observes his much younger fiancée’s conflicted attitude toward her formerly abusive and alcoholic father, Joe, and likens it to a medieval torture method, “in which each arm was shackled to horses that then galloped in opposite directions: venting her rage versus feeling choked by it.”

Rather than be openly hostile to his soon-to-be father-in-law, Rusty can’t help but admire many aspects of Joe’s character: the man’s resilience as a former Vietnam vet, his commitment to sobriety, and his unwavering support of his adopted grandson.

Binding Ties

One of Turow’s best attributes is his ability to weave realistic and conflicted relationships into his legal dramas. He embraces the small community setting well, seamlessly incorporating it into the mystery. Like microcosms found in any culture, all the longtime denizens become interconnected with one another. Everyone knows everyone else and also knows their dirty laundry. That interplay of personal histories and biases in the unfolding case is ample fuel for drama.

The Potter family, for example, is not just the grieving party in this trial; they’re old acquaintances of Rusty and Bea. Mae’s grandfather, Mansy Potter, is Rusty’s longtime friend, making the case even more fraught with emotional landmines. Hardy Potter, Mae’s father and the county prosecutor, is understandably very motivated to convict someone he thinks is guilty.

However, Hardy also has a long history with Rusty that might have influenced his approach to the trial. How far is such a man willing to go to influence the scales of justice? And how will everyone react to Rusty once the contentious trial ends, regardless of the verdict?

Turow skillfully explores how these relationships intersect with the pursuit of justice. The book is as much about these characters’ shifting loyalties and moral dilemmas as it is about the mystery of what truly happened to Mae.

The Courtroom Spotlight

“Presumed Guilty” works best once the action shifts into the courtroom. Once the trial begins, the novel tightens its focus, transforming into the sort of chess match you might expect from a former real-life prosecutor. The fictional prosecution, led by the pragmatic and formidable Hiram Jackdorp, has a strong forensic case against Aaron, with evidence that places him at the scene of the crime and an argument that paints him as a jealous and violent young man.
Rusty, who had fully embraced his retirement, is reluctant to step back into the legal battleground. However, he’s surprised by the rush he experiences soon after the first day in court as Aaron’s defender. As you might expect with any good thriller, new revelations emerge as the story progresses, constantly shifting your perception of what really happened that fateful night in the woods.

Final Verdict

As with “Presumed Innocent” and “Innocent,” Turow oesn’t provide easy answers. The resolution of “Presumed Guilty” is deeply satisfying, not because it ties everything up neatly, but because it feels authentic to the complexities of the case and the people involved. Justice, as always in Turow’s work, isn’t simply a matter of guilt or innocence; it’s shaped by human failings, competing motivations, and the imperfections of the legal system itself.

For those willing to invest the time in its slow-burning plot, “Presumed Guilty” is a deeply rewarding novel. Turow continues to prove that he’s not just a writer of legal thrillers, but a master storyteller who understands the intricacies of human nature and the moral ambiguities of the law. While newcomers to his work may find themselves wishing for less backstory and a faster pace to start the book, everyone can appreciate the depth, complexity, and craftsmanship that makes Turow’s novels so compelling.

‘Presumed Guilty’ By Scott Turow Grand Central Publishing, Jan. 14, 2025 Hardcover: 544 pages
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Adam H. Douglas
Adam H. Douglas
Author
Adam H. Douglas is an award-winning full-time freelance writer and author of over 20 years. His work has appeared internationally in publications, including Forbes, Business Insider, MyPerfectMortgage, and many more. His creative works tend toward speculative fiction and horror fantasy. He lives in beautiful Prince Edward Isand, Canada with his wife of 30 years and his dogs and kitties.