[Review] The Truth about the Devlins - Lisa Scottoline

Summary: TJ Devlin is the charming disappointment in the prominent Devlin family, all of whom are lawyers at their highly successful firm—except him. After a stint in prison and rehab for alcoholism, TJ can’t get hired anywhere except at the firm, in a make-work job with the title of investigator.

But one night, TJ’s world turns upside down after his older brother John confesses that he murdered one of their clients, an accountant he’d confronted with proof of embezzlement. It seems impossible coming from John, the firstborn son and Most Valuable Devlin.

TJ plunges into the investigation, seizing the chance to prove his worth and save his brother. But in no time, TJ and John find themselves entangled in a lethal web of deception and murder. TJ will fight to save his family, but what he learns might break them first. (Pub Date: Mar 26, 2024)

 

TJ hasn't drunk since his addiction led to the biggest mistake that not only made him lose his freedom, the trust from his family, his college, but also the love of his life. Now he works as an investigator for the prestigious law firm run by his family of lawyers when his older brother, the golden son, confesses to having killed a man.

3+

Lisa Scottoline is a big name but this was the first book I read by her. And I expected better. I can't evaluate her other books, obviously, so this is only about this title—she may know about law practice, but she didn't manage to get what is interesting about it to show in this story. TJ's journey against alcoholism and to get over himself was probably the best about it, although a lot of those times I just wanted to grab his neck and shake him until he opened his eyes. It would all so obviously go wrong it made me anxious to follow him take that path. But at least it got me invested.

Know that all events in the book will lead you somewhere. Still, they seem random for most of it, and I don't think any got much of my attention, aside from the main mystery, of what happened to the dead man. On the other hand, I may have had an idea of what could be going on but it wouldn't be easy to predict it all—especially when for a long time the story seems to be going everywhere, for good or for bad. In any case, the ending wasn't obvious. I just think the way there could have been neater. 

It's a nice mystery/crime novel, and I might read more books by this author, but she wouldn't be my first pick with all the focus on Law instead of on what's really interesting.

Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

Rating: 3 out of 5.