Twenty years after "Presumed Innocent," Rusty Sabich's is now a chief judge of an appellate court and is running for reelection.
When he finds his wife, Barbara, dead in her bed and waits twenty-four hours before calling authorities, something doesn't seem right. His old nemesis, Tommy Molto, the acting prosecuting attorney, begins building a case of murder.
Because Molto had accused Rusty of murder, once before, and lost the case, he wants to proceed cautiously this time. His assistant, Jim Brand agrees and offers to look into the case quietly.
Evidence is found that Rusty was having an affair but it isn't disclosed that it is with his former clerk, Anna. When questions arise, authorities look into what Barbara had in her medicine cabinet. One prescription had warnings that it shouldn't be used with certain foods or liquor. However, the night before her death, these items were most of the dinner menu. Now the question is, was this suicide, or murder or an accident?
Rusty is reelected to his position and then arrested for his wife's murder.
The reader sees the trial through the eyes of Rusty's son, Nat, who is also an attorney. In this manner, we see a legal interpretation of events and developments with Nat's view of those effects on the outcome of the trial. Importantly, we also see the consequence of Rusty's actions through the eyes of his only child and what is the result for the love and admiration that Nat had for his father.
The action moves nicely and the author does a fine job of making Rusty a sympathetic character. He seems like an injured, but stoic old warrior. As the novel continues, we are kept in suspense, wondering if Rusty is guilty or innocent.
Well done and enjoyable.
Please see my review on amazon and if you agree, please indicate that the review was helpful.
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