Innocent by Scott Turow Summary
Overview of Innocent
Twenty years after "Presumed Innocent," Scott Turow's gripping sequel follows Judge Rusty Sabich facing murder accusations again. Stephen King called it "unputdownable" and "literary treasure." What dark secrets could make a respected judge risk everything - and why can't readers look away?
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Key takeaways
A Perfect Murder Unravels
Rusty Sabich, a 60-year-old chief appellate judge, wakes to find his wife Barbara dead beside him. Twenty-three hours later, he finally allows his son Nat to call the authorities. This inexplicable delay immediately raises red flags for Tommy Molto, the prosecutor who unsuccessfully tried Rusty for murder twenty years earlier. Though Barbara's death initially appears to be heart failure, the peculiar timeline triggers immediate suspicion. Why would a seasoned legal professional knowingly compromise a death scene for nearly twenty-four hours? Even more disturbing is Rusty's insistence on sleeping next to his deceased wife's body, claiming a desire to "be with her one last time." The investigation gains momentum when a hotel security guard comes forward with testimony about Rusty's regular meetings with a significantly younger woman. Financial records reveal Rusty had been systematically withdrawing cash in amounts just under reporting thresholds. Medical records show STD testing-unusual for a supposedly monogamous married man-and consultations with a prominent divorce attorney occurred just weeks before Barbara's death. Most damning are Rusty's grocery purchases: aged wines, pickled herring, salamis, aged cheddar, and yogurt-all foods rich in tyramine that, when combined with Barbara's prescribed phenelzine (an MAO inhibitor), create a potentially lethal interaction triggering cardiac events. Only Rusty's fingerprints appear on Barbara's medication bottle. Has the man who eluded justice decades ago perfected the technique for the perfect murder?
The Dangerous Affair
A Shocking Triangle Emerges
The Prosecution's Case Unravels
The Truth Behind the Frame
The Final Revelation
When Justice Fails Us All
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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