Staff Picks: The Truth About the Devlins by Lisa Scottoline
After a 5-month-long waiting list on my local library’s audiobooks app, I couldn’t have been more excited to start listening to Lisa Scottoline’s new book, The Truth About the Devlins.
Ever since I got hooked on her Rosato & Dinunzio series happening in Philadelphia, I have been placing a hold on her new books as soon as they appear on order in my local public library’s holdings. With its engaging plot, well-rounded character , and superb writing, every single book has been worth waiting for.
A grand master of legal fiction
As a former trial lawyer and adjunct law professor, Lisa Scottoline is a grand master of legal fiction. She finds it important to educate us about the law by sharing factual and current information about the intricacies of the American legal system (a bonus for those of us who didn’t grow up in the U.S.). Additionally, each book led me to discover something symbolic, something more profound than what’s actually happening at the moment in the story, a striking feature that makes her books stand out among the so many well-written mysteries, police procedurals, and other crime stories that we often blog about at Books We Read.
Perfect for book clubs
With their complex and diverse characters and intricate narratives, any of her books would be perfect for a book club, prompting discussions from multiple perspectives. Speaking from a librarian’s perspective, the downloadable discussion guides available on the author’s website with their thought-provoking questions, plot description, media praises, and audio excerpts, are highly appreciated.
The Truth About the Devlins, however, exceeds all expectations in terms of discussion topics. Just a few chapters into the new book, I was thrilled to find how special this title felt to me, especially as a bibliotherapy-informed librarian with a keen eye on current publications appropriate for Reading for Recovery. Without going into great detail (we all hate spoilers), here are a few thoughts on why this book is a strong candidate for book club discussions.
About the story
The black sheep of the highly successful family of lawyers, TJ Devlin is rather shocked to hear his older brother’s confession: he had murdered one of their clients. Trying to redeem himself, the faithful and adorable little brother wants to leave no stone unturned to help, only to face his brother’s betrayal. Sounds like quite a family drama, doesn’t it? Tensions are running high as the fast-paced mystery unfolds and the painful truth he unveils causes more than just slight discomfort for the family, threatening to ruin the successful family law firm.
Without taking the spotlight, let’s focus on TJ and his character, which can’t be separated from his journey to recovery from substance use disorder. Incarcerated in the Philadelphia prison system, TJ has come a long way since he hit rock bottom. Religiously attending AA meetings and following the principles of the fellowship, he has managed to beat his addiction, even though the members of his family refuse to give him the benefit of the doubt, let alone fully believe that he got sober. One plot line in the book follows TJ on his journey from ex-con to a soon-to-be lawyer who is brave to admit and own his past. However, he does it, including explaining how he served his time while answering a journalist’s question in front of a large crowd in Philly, the “epicenter of equal justice.”
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In a backdrop full of symbolic power, such as the Grand Hall of the National Constitution Center across from the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, it feels like the U.S. Constitution comes to life. The back story reminds the reader of the Tuskagee case and ethics in science. The “research” with inmates as human subjects for medical experimentation in 1950-1970, i.e., before informed consent was mandatory, calls for the thorough pre-research process conducted by the IRB, if human subject research is involved.
Research and experience: the cornerstones of superb writing
The question that was nagging me during the whole time while listening to the audiobook is eventually answered in the appendix told by the author (one more point for audiobooks: listen to the author talking about the book). Other than letting her readers know that she reads all comments, a fact that we at Books We Read can attest to, Lisa Scottoline admits presenting her story based on both experience and research. We already know about the legal part. For me, the addiction studies librarian, it’s obvious that she has studied the principles and practices of Alcoholics Anonymous extensively. Reflecting on her research methods on AA she admits that the fundamentals of the program resonated with her. She calls AA “a living example of people helping one another,” which is exactly what transpires through her text: something more profound, in the larger-than-life way.
![Cover art](http://sites.rutgers.edu/books-we-read/wp-content/uploads/sites/248/2024/06/IMG_4667-200x300.jpeg)
As a researcher, I admire authors who do their homework, whether a field is new to them or not. Not only did Lisa Scottoline read books written by recovering alcoholics (she shares an impressive list that could be copied right into Reading for Recovery), but she did the same I did when I was new to the profession: she attended open AA meetings. For the novice, Alcoholics Anonymous offers occasional meetings open to anyone in the community, not just AA members, with or without an alcohol use disorder, including spouses of AA members and other family members.
Open AA meetings aim to share information about AA and its recovery program, fellowship, and operations. They raise awareness and provide understanding of alcohol use disorder and what to do about it, whether affected as an “alcoholic” (yes, AA still uses the word, as in “my name is John and I am an alcoholic”) or as a family member.
Endorsing the sensitive and confidential nature of what’s happening there, Scottoline’s new book is the evidence that she was truly moved by the stories the fellows shared. The book is also a memento of the bravery and honesty of all who “man up,” i.e., take responsibility for their actions, with or without the hope of redemption.
A gripping legal thriller with a powerful message*
*AI-generated summary of the above book review
Books by Lisa Scottoline from Rutgers University Libraries
- Scottoline, L. (2009). Look again (1st ed.). St. Martin’s Press.
- Scottoline, L. (2008). Lady killer (1st ed.). Harper.
- Scottoline, L. (2004). Killer smile (1st ed.). HarperCollins.