Book · 1987 · Detective and mystery fiction
Presumed Innocent
Why people recommend it
Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow is widely regarded as a classic legal thriller that explores the intense fallout within a prosecutor's office after a prominent attorney is accused of murdering his colleague. On The Book Review, the novel received high praise from multiple speakers who emphasized its enduring brilliance. Sarah Lyall discussed reading the gripping story all night long when it originally came out and later passionately urged co-host Gilbert Cruz to read it, calling it an essential recommendation. Cruz echoed this sentiment on another episode, playfully lamenting that he still needed to catch up on the book despite Lyall's earlier urging. Alafair Burke also recommended the novel on the podcast, describing it as a perfect legal thriller despite containing very little technical law. Additionally, Patrick Radden Keefe shared his admiration for the work, calling Turow's debut novel an incredible book that he truly loves. Through these discussions, the podcast contributors highlighted the taut pacing, moral ambiguity, and courtroom drama that have kept the novel relevant and beloved by readers and writers alike for decades.
Who recommended it
- Sarah Lyall Recommended
- Gilbert Cruz Recommended
- Patrick Radden Keefe Recommended
- Alafair Burke Recommended
Sarah Lyall — 2 mentions
“well I think it's really old timey Thriller but my sort of ear Thrillers would be Presumed Innocent you know the scotch hero thing which I read all night long when it came out”
“Presumed Innocent by Scott Tero”
Gilbert Cruz — 1 mention
“And then I picked up um Presumed Innocent. I you know, actually I've Okay, go leave this podcast right now and go and read it. What's wrong with you? Uh Sarah, best book on this podcast maybe four years ago. You told me to read Presumed Innocent and I still haven't.”
Patrick Radden Keefe — 1 mention
“I really love Presumed Innocent, Scott Turow's first novel. Wow. Incredible book.”
Alafair Burke — 1 mention
“Presumed Innocent I think to me is a perfect legal thriller and there's very little technical law in it”