The 13th Juror

FICTION:  The 13th Juror – John Lescroart – Island Books/Dell – 1995

We are plunged into this legal thriller by sharing an afternoon with a young married woman and mother of a small boy.  She is highly agitated about preparing her husband’s dinner to his liking.  Her detailed planning, to exactly coincide with his arrival, with everything absolutely perfect,starts to verge on hysteria.  We realize she is a battered wife.

Set in San Francisco, we are introduced to Dismas Hardy, a former prosecutor, now beginning  on the other side.  He has been asked to help represent Jennifer, at the behest of veteran criminal attorney David Freeman. 

Jennifer is accused of killing not only her husband and her son.  She loudly proclaims her innocence.  Freeman will handle her defense and Hardy will handle the penalty phase of this capital murder case with special circumstances.  This is not an easy case because Jennifer is very uncooperative and unpleasant.  In addition, it has always been felt in the law enforcement community that her first husband did not die accidentally.  She will not allow a defense of Battered Women’s Syndrome.  During the course of this case, his body is exhumed and his death is considered suspicious.  The District Attorney has included this possible crime to the list of charges.  Through some fancy legal footwork, that aspect of her trial is declared a mistrial.

It’s Hardy’s job to find evidence that will support her ‘not guilty’ plea.  She refuses to plea bargain,  which would spare her life.

Hardy embarks on some very slim leads, most proving false.  He becomes obsessed with saving Jennifer’s life.  While Freeman scores some points with the jury and the judge, he ultimately fails and Jennifer gets a death sentence.

Now it is entirely up to Hardy to prevent Jennifer’s execution.  He thinks Jennifer’s second husband, a doctor, might have uncovered a health care scam, he follows that thread at great length, only to be stopped by what seems to be a coverup by the police.  Lead after lead dries up.  The dedicated attorney never gives up, even when he has the flu.  Hardy’s wife, Frannie, is a little concerned about her husband’s persistence and asks to meet Jennifer in prison.  Hardy reluctantly agrees.  The women form a bond and Frannie is convinced that while Jennifer might be able to kill her husband, she could never kill her little boy.

The lawyers aren’t so sure, but they are there to defend her.  Hardy has trouble throughout, with the credo of a defense attorney:  everyone is entitled to a defense.  This conundrum is not resolved at the book’s conclusion.

The 13th Juror has a compelling plot with a great surprise ending.  It flows really well and the characters are very human.  I enjoyed it.