The Motive

February 2, 2015
Blending a classic Middle Ages setting, supernatural elements, religious zealotry, and detective fiction, this massive volume—originally published in France—feels a bit like Sherlock Holmes trapped in time with a dash of aliens. Our hero, Raedwald (generally referred to as the Saxon) and his right hand man, Arnulf, travel the world solving crimes that are heavily steeped in religion and corruption–such as healing holy relics and determining who really killed Jesus Christ. Though the art is wonderfully layered and gives as much attention to detailed period settings as much as it does to characters, the sheer presence of so many similar men (and so many monks) can make characters difficult to tell apart. The detective and science aspects give the largely religion-based mysteries an intriguing spin, but the stories drag from time to time, and both the Saxon and Arnulf are pretty shallowly drawn. A brisk example of the European adventure comic.

November 29, 2004
In the latest installment of the Glitsky-Hardy crime-solving series (The 13th Juror
; The Second Chair
; etc.), San Francisco–based Lescroart again demonstrates his mastery of how things work in the city by the bay. Arson investigators at a Victorian townhouse fire do not call in Abe Glitsky or Dismas Hardy when they discover two bodies believed to be the remains of influential businessman Paul Hanover and his girlfriend, Missy D'Amiens. Glitsky, now deputy chief of inspectors, doesn't handle individual cases, and attorney Dismas Hardy has long since left the police force. Sgt. Dan Cuneo takes charge, quickly jumping to conclusions and slowly rekindling his grudge against the detecting duo. Unhappy with Cuneo's approach, the mayor puts Glitsky on the job, while Hardy is hired by Hanover's daughter-in-law, who was also Hardy's college sweetheart and is now a murder defendant with no alibi but plenty of motive. Parallel inquiries uncover contradictory evidence as well as loose ends: at the time of his death, Hanover was up for a federal appointment, his company was up for a city contract and his girlfriend has a mysterious past. Lescroart draws the reader in with a step-by-step description of the fire, mesmerizes with an account of the intricacies of the auto-towing business and winds up with a disturbing parable of intrigue abroad, adding the wistful touch of a new baby in the Glitsky household. Lescroart may be testing the waters for fiction with an international flavor. For now, the winningly ironic author remains more credible on urban and legal ground than spy craft, but his authentic voice, methodical presentation and ability to juggle red herrings until all pieces fall into place will keep fans following wherever his cop-lawyer friends-heroes lead. Agent, Barney Karpfinger. Mystery Guild main selection; Literary Guild, BOMC, Doubleday Book Club featured alternates.

February 7, 2005
Audio reviews reflect PW
's assessment of the audio adaptation of a book and should be quoted only in reference to the audio version.
Fiction
THE MOTIVE
John Lescroart
, read by David Colacci. Brilliance Audio
, unabridged, 12 CDs, 14 hrs., $40.95 ISBN 1-59355-362-5

As series protagonists Deputy Chief Inspector Abe Glitsky and defense attorney Dismas Hardy struggle to solve a dual murder in this first-rate audiobook, listeners learn quite a bit about firefighting, arson investigation, the San Francisco police department line of command, how city contracts are awarded and, the author's specialty, the complexities of courtroom procedure. This, plus a large cast, an intricate story line replete with red herrings and a particularly tricky finale, makes this audio a formidable test for any narrator. Colacci passes it stylishly, matching Lescroart's crisp and accessible procedural descriptions with a confident, no-nonsense delivery, while providing the secondary characters with subtle touches—wariness for an arson investigator; smug cynicism for a city planner; a suspicious, chip-on-the-shoulder inflection for a troubled cop; etc. But his expertise is most evident in his handling of the protagonists. For Glitsky, Colacci assumes a voice conveying a flat, middle-aged weariness that increases in frustration and sadness as the lawman learns of his newborn son's potentially fatal heart defect. And he captures Hardy's many shifting moods—from the lawyer's pretrial uncertainty to the jauntiness in his byplay with law partner Wes Farrell (another Lescroart series protagonist)—with ease. Listeners couldn't ask for a better performance. Simultaneous release with the Dutton hardcover (Forecasts, Nov. 29, 2004).