Kirstine's Reviews > The Missing Piece

I have no stake in this series at all, I simply found it on Libby because my favourite guy, Jacques Roy, is the narrator of the audiobook and where he goes, I follow.

The initial crime, the murder of an exonerated convict, turns into several more crimes and finding the true culprit twists and turns until it is, at last, finally resolved. The solution is somewhat tepid, it's not bad per se, but it was never truly exciting. However it did feel very realistic, which I appreciate and do, in most circumstances and certainly in this one, prefer over cheap thrills. And while it may not have been high on mystery, it was well plotted and allowed itself to be slow when it needed to be slow, something I like in a novel. I had an inkling who the culprit might be, but I was engaged enough to keep listening till the end nonetheless.

This is also the 19th in a series, and it felt a little like it was written for people who would simply enjoy seeing these characters together and not pay too much attention to the plot itself. I never felt cut off from understanding the characters or their relationships, despite 18 books of backstory. Lescroart does a deft job at making this an easy read for both returning and new readers, something I found genuinely impressive.

And I quite genuinely liked the primary characters. They never acted in stupid ways, which I absolutely loved, they had good, measured conversations about the law and the justice system, and each presented their own view of the world. I imagine Lescroart's attention to detail when it comes to solving crimes and prosecuting (or defending) criminals mixed with his ability to write sympathetic and likable characters that have actual opinions on things is what makes him a popular writer - and deservedly so, at least so far.

I doubt this is his finest work, but it was certainly good enough that I'll probably return to the series, perhaps even start from the beginning. It seems a nice comfort-food sort of read.