The courtroom scenes in Suspect are rich with the character sketches and surprise revelations we’ve come to expect from a Scott Turow novel. Pinky’s own narrative presents a vivid portrait of an offbeat character ... The suspense and intrigue build as the chapters progress, culminating in a breathtaking finale.
Fans of crime fiction will appreciate Turow’s eye for detail ... Turow has long been among the finest writers of legal and crime thrillers, with creative plotting, colorful characters, and exceptional writing ... Very few writers could create an administrative hearing of a local Police and Fire Commission that is as captivating as any murder trial, with shocking testimony, surprise evidence, and huge emotional swings ... It would seem a stretch for Turow to channel Pinky, but he pulls it off.
[Turow] has created a body of work that is unparalleled in the breadth of its examination of the law and human relationships. In crafting the case at the center of Suspect...and in making spiky, bisexual Pinky the narrator, he has brought his characters and settings into the era of #MeToo and DEI initiatives; he’s also set himself a particularly steep challenge ... While Turow’s new protagonist is a breath of fresh air, there are some implausible twists...plot-dragging doldrums filled with TMI about Pinky’s romantic entanglements, clunky investigative exposition and minor gaffes around a central Black character. What’s truly suspect, though, is the question of why Turow wasn’t more thoughtful in shaping important plot points, characters and motivations.
More of a detective story than a legal thriller ... The story in Suspect is not as compelling as in other of Turow’s thrillers, nor is Pinky the equal of her grandfather in holding the reader’s interest. Of course, that may simply be this reviewer’s bias as an attorney in favor of pure legal thrillers. Or it may be that Pinky is just a little too weird, trying just a little too much to be different.
Compelling and forceful courtroom scenes. They are always the finest portion of his novels ... This is a different Turow novel ... In any respect, Suspect is an interesting and thoughtful novel by a keen observer of the legal system.
Pinky’s unconventional, socially awkward narration offers a fresh take on sticky legal issues, and Turow’s carefully paced, tight plotting complements her dedication to the long game.
Suspect is full of plot twists and surprises, but make no mistake that this is Pinky’s novel, and she is an extremely likable and unique protagonist. Still, as a young person, she may not have the experience to handle the deep, dark secrets she uncovers about those who may pose more of a threat to her than she can imagine. Hopefully, Turow has more storylines with Pinky at the center for us to enjoy in the not-too-distant future.
Pinky and her colorful cohorts are the book's main appeal, but readers wanting gunplay won’t be disappointed ... Turow clearly had fun writing this one, and his fans will have fun reading it.
Disappointing ... The central plot doesn’t compel...and the unconventional Pinky—a former drug addict and police academy flameout with a pierced nose—comes across as more of a stereotype than a real person. Even devoted Turow fans will hope this is the last they see of Pinky.
