Cheap Hard Evidence (Book) (John Lescroart) Price

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Customer Reviews of Hard Evidence

not sure about Hardy
This book really has me torn in that it was an interesting story with a good plot that kept pace (although I did figure out the ending), yet I am just not sure if I connect with the main character, Dismas Hardy. This is the third Hardy book I've read and I have pretty much felt the same after each one. I feel that the story sort of goes on around him and then he occassionally enters in the picture to drink a beer and throw darts. Don't get me wrong - his character is in the book throughout - he is just not very charasmatic. I plan to try again and read the next one -maybe then I'll have a more concrete opinion.

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Another enjoyable entry in the Dismas Hardy series
I've been reading Lescroart's series featuring attorney Dismas Hardy all out of order; fortunately, 'Hard Evidence' stands up well on its own. The author provides a brief update regarding what must be several novels worth of tumultuous events in the lives of Hardy and his wife while quickly moving on to the mystery at the core of the novel. Hardy has rejoined the San Francisco DA's office and, while toiling away at the sort of low-level crimes addressed by junior staff, finds himself investigating the murder of a wealthy and prominent businessman. With the help of his buddy, prickly police detective Abe Glitzky, Hardy searches for the murderer while striving to maintain the stability of his marriage and resolve his own doubts about his chosen career. It's not too hard to figure out who was the murderer, and the plot twist that puts Hardy on the side of the defense is so heavily foreshadowed (and practically given away altogether on the back cover of the book) that I spent the whole first half of the book wondering when it would finally arrive. However, 'Hard Evidence' strikes a good balance between plot-driven and character-driven elements ' the recurring characters are central to the story and are given plenty to do even as readers get to visit with old friends.

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Not a Whodunit
I figured out who the murderer was about half-way through the book. I'm not very bright - the clues were just that obvious. Unfortunately, after the mystery is solved there is little reason to continue with the book. The characters were poorly developed and generally unbelievable. I did get a laugh out of Hardy's wife, Frannie, who repeatedly whined about her attorney husband working, on occasion, until 7 pm or so, "what's your job doing to us." Most attorneys I know, even government, would love to be out of the office by 7 on a consistent basis. This is just one example of the silliness in this book. I take it that we are supposed to admire the great Dismas Hardy despite his few flaws. However, I find it hard to believe that Lescroart would build his literary career around such a jackass. I would have enjoyed Hard Evidence a lot more if Hardy had never made it back from Viet Nam.