The Mercy Rule is a brilliant and moving human drama set against a backdrop of relentless suspense, legal complexity and moral ambiguity. Dismas Hardy, the former bartender, loving husband and father, and reluctant defense attorney of The 13th Juror, returns here in his most challenging case. Vowing to spend more time with his family, Dismas is hesitant to represent Graham Russo, a could-have-been-great baseball player-turned-lawyer who is indicted for the murder of his father, Sal. Everyone close to the Russos knew that Sal was dying and that he needed morphine injections to ease his suffering. Graham admits to administering these injections, but insists he wasn't there the night of Sal's overdose. Was it suicide, mercy, or murder?
Download and start listening now!
"I've read later books in the series and it's kinda fun to read an earlier story to see where the characters came from. I kinda figured out the plot early and it wasn't as emotionaly engaging as some of the others."
— Ann (4 out of 5 stars)
" first time reading John Lescroart; will continue with his other books as I thoroughly enjoyed Dismas Hardy; easy read. "
— Jan, 2/8/2014" I thought the ending could of been jazzed a bit more. "
— Margaret, 2/3/2014" Interesting subject matter in the Dismas Hardy series, another of the trial books with once again excellent character development. I enjoyed this one. "
— Joe, 2/1/2014" 5 Dismas is hesitant to represent Graham Russo, Did he administer morphine and kill his dad. He says he wasn't there the night of dad's death "
— Sandra, 1/30/2014" I think I read this one before, but the writing flowed and the plot twists kept me going to the end. Less about Diz/Abe/Frannie than about SF/baseball/fishing. And murder trials. "
— Anne, 1/24/2014" Maybe my favotite of this author's mystery novels. "
— Dhartridge, 1/22/2014" I think I'm fading on John Lescroart . . . . "
— Jglhome, 1/21/2014" Pretty good book! Worth reading... "
— Debbie, 1/19/2014" Not as good as Nothing but the Truth but still a good read if you like legal mysteries. "
— Cheryl, 1/18/2014" Lawyer/cop assisted suicide vs. homicide vs. suicide drama. Readable. I especially appreciated the evocation of place, as the story is centered in San Francisco. Readable. Grishom wannabe. "
— Susan, 12/10/2013" This was a long one, but almost up to the end I wasn't sure who had 'done it'. "
— Wendy, 11/30/2013" Excellent mystery fiction set in San Francisco. Main character is a lawyer, Dismas Hardy. "
— Mike, 11/19/2013" It was ok,similar to other books in this genre "
— Stephen, 11/16/2013" Full of intrigue. One of the best who-dunnit's I have ever read. "
— Jeanie, 10/3/2013" Didn't know who done it until the very last. Great read. "
— Cynthia, 10/2/2013" I am a loyal reader. If I like one of these author's books, I tend to read them all. He lives up to good read status most of the time. "
— Amanda, 8/13/2013" One of his best books. intrique with a social issue "
— Kathrine, 5/13/2013" This was good, but not great. I love Dismas Hardy, but the book was a little heavy-handed with the assisted suicide message, and the corporate law subplot didn't seem to belong with the story at all. "
— Andrea, 4/18/2013" I have to get ready to move and this book just didn't make the cut. "
— Jan, 2/27/2013" Although this story is much longer than necessary, the last 1/3 saves it from becoming a disaster. This is a rescue Houdini would be proud of. 7 of 10 stars "
— Tim, 12/20/2012" My mind wanders when I'm reading this book ... character development not what it should be. Perhaps that will change ... I'm 100 pages into the book -- and it's taken me over 2 weeks to get to that point ... not a good sign for me who can polish off a book in a couple of days. "
— Colleen, 9/9/2012" John Lescroart does not disappoint. A very good book, where you are rooting for the young man who did not (you hope) kill his father, even though his father was suffering. "
— Ruth, 6/18/2012" Lescroart is one of my favourite authors. This was a great book, like everything he writes! "
— Nancy, 6/1/2012" Wow - what an ending! You sure don't expect it but it is a let down. Sort of a lot of characters to keep straight but not too bad. "
— Nicole, 4/5/2012" Seemed very wordy. Every time it started to get boring he found a way to pull you right back in. You can tell it was one of his early books. "
— Daniel, 3/9/2012" Hard for me to get into. But all in all a good book. Good ending! "
— Joy, 3/6/2012" Mercy killing story -- twists and turns. Justice system questioned. "
— Deanna, 3/1/2012" excellent crime thriller. by the time I got to the end I suspected even myself. good writer "
— Paula, 1/21/2012" Lescroat leaves a lot of hints as to who murdered Sal. I bit for every one of them, and the end find out it is someone totally unexpected. A fascinating read and hard to put down. "
— Jcurmudge, 1/15/2012" Pretty good throughout the pre-trial and trial portion. The ending was kind of a copout. I don't want to give it away, but the finish just seemed to be tacked on for closure. "
— John, 12/16/2011" he's no harry bosche but I'm starting to like Dismas Hardy. Good crime writing and realistic storylines "
— Michelle, 9/23/2011" I think I read this one before, but the writing flowed and the plot twists kept me going to the end. Less about Diz/Abe/Frannie than about SF/baseball/fishing. And murder trials. "
— Anne, 5/8/2011" Maybe my favotite of this author's mystery novels. "
— Dhartridge, 4/1/2011" Didn't know who done it until the very last. Great read. "
— Cynthia, 3/14/2011" I thought the ending could of been jazzed a bit more. "
— Margaret, 11/4/2010" This was a long one, but almost up to the end I wasn't sure who had 'done it'. "
— Wendy, 10/19/2010" excellent crime thriller. by the time I got to the end I suspected even myself. good writer "
— Paula, 7/28/2010" Mercy killing story -- twists and turns. Justice system questioned. "
— Deanna, 7/16/2010" he's no harry bosche but I'm starting to like Dismas Hardy. Good crime writing and realistic storylines "
— Michelle, 5/17/2010" Lescroart is one of my favourite authors. This was a great book, like everything he writes! "
— Nancy, 2/21/2010" Pretty good throughout the pre-trial and trial portion. The ending was kind of a copout. I don't want to give it away, but the finish just seemed to be tacked on for closure. "
— John, 2/21/2010" Pretty good book! Worth reading... "
— Debbie, 1/31/2010" My mind wanders when I'm reading this book ... character development not what it should be. Perhaps that will change ... I'm 100 pages into the book -- and it's taken me over 2 weeks to get to that point ... not a good sign for me who can polish off a book in a couple of days. "
— Colleen, 9/15/2009" Interesting subject matter in the Dismas Hardy series, another of the trial books with once again excellent character development. I enjoyed this one. "
— Joe, 9/15/2009" John Lescroart does not disappoint. A very good book, where you are rooting for the young man who did not (you hope) kill his father, even though his father was suffering. "
— Ruth, 8/15/2009" Excellent mystery fiction set in San Francisco. Main character is a lawyer, Dismas Hardy. "
— Mike, 6/11/2009" Not as good as Nothing but the Truth but still a good read if you like legal mysteries. "
— Cheryl, 5/9/2009John Lescroart is the author of numerous crime thrillers, including the Dismas Hardy series, of which several novels were New York Times bestsellers. His novel Dead Irish was a finalist for the Shamus Award, just one of many awards he has received for his fiction.
David Colacci is an actor and director who has directed and performed in prominent theaters nationwide. His credits include roles from Shakespeare to Albee, as well as extensive work on new plays. As a narrator, he has won numerous Earphones Awards, earned Audie Award nominations, and been included in Best Audio of the Year lists by such publications as Publishers Weekly, AudioFile magazine, and Library Journal. He was a resident actor and director with the Cleveland Play House for eight years and has been artistic director of the Hope Summer Rep Theater since 1992.