The First Law by John Lescroart

Title: The First Law
Author: John Lescroart
Publication: Signet, paperback, first published in 2003
Genre: Mystery/Suspense

Description: There is a neighborhood in San Francisco that uses a security firm called Patrol Specials to protect private businesses. When Sam Silverman, an elderly pawnshop owner, can no longer afford its rates, he turns down the protection and hopes for the best, then is murdered during an apparent robbery. Sam’s closest friend, Nat, is the father of Abe Glitsky, formerly head of Homicide for the San Francisco police, but just back at work in a new role after a long recovery from being shot. Nat asks Abe for justice for his friend but Abe’s colleagues don’t want him interfering in the Homicide department, although he is clearly wasted in Payroll. Abe’s friend, lawyer Dismas Hardy, is working on a big case against Patrols Specials, which has a shady reputation. When Dismas’ client John Holiday, who owns a bar near the pawnshop, is accused of killing Silverman, Dismas begins to suspect that Patrol Specials is somehow involved, although no one in the police department will take him seriously and his investigation puts him, Glitsky, and their families in danger.

My Impression: Lescroart is a New York Times Bestselling author but I'm not sure enough people know about his series, which are mysteries with a strong legal thriller component, set in San Francisco. He is a native of the area who attended the same Catholic high school as Tom Brady. Dead Irish (1989) was the first book to feature ex-cop and lawyer, Dismas Hardy, and his best friend, Officer Abe Glitsky. Lescroart’s first four books in this series were published by Donald Fine, an irascible publisher of a small company, distributed by Penguin, which is where I became aware of them (my encounter with Fine while I was working at Penguin is a story for another day; an instance of my outsmarting myself). The series has gone on so long that Hardy’s daughter has grown up, attended law school, joined her father’s law firm, and featured as the main character in some of the recent books.

Here, Hardy and Glitsky become involved in the investigation from different angles. Glitsky feels bad his father’s friend has been killed but is unwilling to offend his police colleagues by pressing them on the investigation, although he begins to believe the detectives assigned to the case are inadequate. He is told to stay in his lane, which is currently the Payroll Department. Hardy is working with David Freeman, a legal genius who is a recurring character, preparing a case against Patrol Specials. Then Glitsky finds a connection between the two cases. While the book started off with a confusing flashback and concluded abruptly, it was very suspenseful, upsetting in several places, and ultimately satisfying. I always finish a book by Lescroart wanting more and have to figure out where I am in the series so I can get the next one.

I am amused by a diner that often appears in Lescroart’s books. Lou the Greek’s is across the street from the San Francisco police department and usually has just one item on the menu, a parade of awful-sounding concoctions created by Lou’s wife:

Lou was a hands-on and voluble proprietor who knew everybody who worked at the Hall of Justice by first name. He came by before they’d gotten settled and offered them a once-in-a-lifetime deal on the last couple of servings of one of his wife’s inspired culinary inventions, Athenian Special Rice. “Minced pork, scrambled eggs, I think some soy sauce, cucumber and taramosalata. Everybody’s raving about it.”

“Taramosolata,” Glitsky said. “That would be fish roe dip?”

Lou grinned. “I know. I told Chui the same thing, but that’s why she’s the genius. The taramosolata is like anchovies, just included for flavor. You don’t even taste it.’

It’s convenient and cheap so the police and lawyers in the Hall of Justice are frequent customers but I think I’m better off with the emergency peanut butter crackers in my desk.

This is the ninth book about Dismas Hardy. While I think it is helpful to begin with Dead Irish to understand the deep (but not without conflict) friendship between the Irish-American lawyer and the half-black, half Jewish police officer, most books can be read as standalones. The crimes in this one were a bit gruesome, however.

Coincidence: In his acknowledgments, Lescroart thanks a San Francisco lawyer named Al Giannini for helping with the legal details. I assume he is the father of Beau Giannini, who I was friendly with in DC the summer I interned on Capitol Hill, although we have lost touch.

Source: Personal copy. This is my tenth mystery for Carol’s Cloak and Dagger Challenge. Have you read any books by John Lescroart?