Rating: 
Summary: Too many pages devoted to characters' love lives
Review: I was drawn to this novel because it deals with the timely issue of doubt being cast on the guilt of a convict who had actually confessed. The crime/law portion of the story is excellent. But too much of the novel for my taste chronicles the romantic and sexual problems of attorneys and investigators. It's as if Turow found his crime/law plot shaping up as too slim, and had to resort to padding.
Rating:
Summary: Did Scott Turow miss his calling?
Review: I'm a big fan of legal thrillers, so when I saw this new release on audio cassette (unabridged), I bought it right away. I listen to books-on-tape during my occasional long commutes and even while I'm sewing or working around the house. I've found that listening to a book and being forced to hear every word (instead of skipping over the boring parts to get to the next bit of dialogue) really polarizes a book...it is either really good or really bad with just a few books landing somewhere in the middle. This book is BAD to listen to because there is a HUGE amount of pornographic and near-pornographic scenes. I read (and listen to) romance novels as well, so I've read (listened to) too much sex but for the most part, those scenes are integral to the storyline. In this book, however, the author takes me much, much further than I'd ever want to go and for what purpose? Is he tired of mainstream legal thrillers and secretly harbors a fantasy of being a porn script writer? Is he proud of his realism, of his detailed character development, or does he enjoy the "power" of holding his readers hostage (waiting for the next step in the real plot of the story--Will Romy be set free in time?) and assaulting them with his ideas about human relationships? I'm not saying all of the sex is gratuitous, but does the reader really care to know the COLOR of the wet spot? If I were reading the book, instead of listening to it, I would certainly have skimmed through those sections and not have been so weary of the whole book by the time I finished it. The legal plot was enjoyable, and it was interesting to see how the human relationships (more so than the legal system itself) resulted in this miscarriage of justice. But I feel this book should have carried one of those "Mature Content" warning labels so that readers (and listeners) would be forwarned. I'm willing to read another of his books, but I certainly won't LISTEN to one again.
Rating: 
Summary: Terrific
Review: Scott Turow's new novel, Reversible Errors, is a terrific, thought provoking novel about mistakes--personal mistakes, political mistakes, judicial mistakes--and about our abilities to correct them. At the heart of the novel is Rommy Gandolph, a semi-literate man condemned to death for a murder committed 10 years earlier. Although Rommy signed a confession, he now claims he is innocent. Arthur Raven, a lonely, brilliant, 37 year old lawyer has been appointed as his counsel. Raven has troubles of his own, all of them personal, not judicial. He has never been able to have a meaningful relationship with a woman and must care for his schizophrenic sister. Arthur is at first highly suspicious of Rommy's claims, but after a while becomes convinced based on certain new evidence. Turow works this evidence well--he will keep you guessing throughout most of the novel whether or not Rommy is indeed guilty of the murders. This is a terrific novel that will make you think about the nature of forgiveness in contemporary America--as well as the concept of capital punishment. Reversible Errors is an engaging, thought-provoking work. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Story
Review: Before purchasing Mr. Turow's new book I read the review by the New York Times. Let's face it, life is to short to read a bad book. The NY Times gave Reversible Errors a solid review and I'm happy to report...they were right on. A first rate story, well written and compelling.
Rating:
Summary: A Success at Many Levels
Review: I read this book while Governor Ryan of Illinois was commuting all death sentence of individual in his state's jails. Also a judge in New York was reversing the conviction of the Central Park jogger alleged rapists. If Turow's book only dealt with these issues brillantly as he did the book would have been timely and engrossing. The story shows the unraveling of the truth and we see how errors were made. We also learn that the police are honorable in their way and do their job well but still can be wrong. In addition,Reversible Errors examines old relationships and finds errors, some of which can be reversed others that can not be. Gillian ,the judge who convicted Gandolph, is in my view the most attractive character in book. She is correcting her past errors. Muriel the PA and Larry the fascinating police detective are having more difficult correcting their errors. I doubt they ever will. In any event these parallel relationships enhance the book. Many reviewers have compared Turow to Grisham. There is no comparison. Grisham is fun. Turow is a master.
Rating:
Summary: I've been waiting, Scott...
Review: There is the pulp-fiction mentality of John Grisham and his ilk where the law or undoing of the law are the major themes, while the characters and their predicaments get second billing. Turow, on the other hand, uses the law and its processes as a backdrop while his real focus is on his characters and their issues at their stages of life. He focuses on characters who are not Hollywood perfect, but who are real and believable with the same problems dealing with life and age that we all do. In fact, I find him to be a master at capturing some of my very own hopes and fears, I tend to relate very strongly with some of his characters. If you think that Grisham is the tops, you may not be interested in this or any other of Turow's novels. But if you instead are looking for some real insight into the human condition of characters caught up in their own personal limitations, then check out this and Turow's other novels. And Scott, please don't take so long for the next one!
Rating:
Summary: Lawyers in Love
Review: The 11-year appeals process of a convict on death row is in its endgame. One couple, Muriel and Larry, represent the prosecution and are working for the execution of the convicted murderer. In opposition is Arthur Raven, a persistent but colorless corporate litigator, who is experiencing the unexpected blossoming of his clueless social life as he tries to save this convict's life. Basically, this is the dynamic of this fascinating book, in which Scott Turow examines lawyers in love and creates a capital case driven by corner-cutting and self-interest. The novel has a terrific end, with a crush-o-matic poised to obliterate an odious female character-an event sure to be discussed in a coming Turow book. Spellbinding reading and highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: What began as an intriguing murder mystery degenerated into a soap opera with a predictable and unsatisfying ending. Not as good as 'Personal Injuries' and nowhere near the quality of 'Presumed Innocent'. It was hard to feel any emotion for the protagonist Raven. The relationship between prosecuter Wynn and Detective Starczek is tiring made worse since neither characters are particularly endearing. I am still perplexed as to why the role of Judge Gillian Sullivan is even needed. The underlying murder mystery plot would have been adequate. Didn't really need all of the fluff.
Rating:
Summary: Severe disappointment
Review: I was bored silly by this slow-moving, repetitive piece of junk. Maybe all lawyers write like this?
Rating: 
Summary: Turow brings it to life. Impressive offering.
Review: Scott Turow's first novel, PRESUMED INNOCENT, was a blockbuster success and while his subsequent novels haven't met with the same critical success, they have been bestsellers. With REVERSIBLE ERRORS, Turow has reclaimed some of the storytelling brio found in PRESUMED INNOCENT. Unlike Grisham, Turow provides a reader with the inner workings of the law, an often bleak view of our ultimate system of judgement. Turow, who has actually practiced law from both sides of the advocate system, knows it intimately and writes about it with passion. With that, he has given the reader one of his best with REVERSIBLE ERRORS. REVERSIBLE ERRORS begins with about 50 to 75 pages of elaborate Michener-esque scene-setting, a writing tactic that will eliminate a few readers before the story begins. However, once Turow lays the groundwork and character definitions, the plot is moving and exciting. (NOTE: I strongly urge readers to "muddle" through this background overview...you'll not be disappointed.) The protagonist in REVERSIBLE ERRORS is attorney Arthur Raven. After working for several years as a deputy prosecuting attorney, he joined a prominent firm and has ascended to the partnership level concentrating his practice in corporate civil litigation. Turow describes Arthur as late-30's, divorced, inept with women, prematurely middle-aged, but devoted to the law with ardent passion. Arthur's idealism is severely tested when he is appointed the pro bono case of Rommy "Squirrel" Gandolph. Rommy, truly nothing more than a petty thief, was implicated and convicted a decade ago in a bloody triple murder, a murder to which he ostensibly confessed. Now Rommy is on death row awaiting imminent execution. Arthur's appointment comes as Rommy, with his last appeal gone, is repudiating his confession and insisting on his innocence. Since the appeal process only allows points of law to be the subject of review, Arthur's only hope is to find "reversible error" in Rommy's trial and conviction. Turow defines reversible error for the reader as "error sufficiently egregious as to render capital punishment unjust and excessive." Arthur knows the battle is virtually impossible until another prisoner, Erno Erdai, writes a letter to the judge who presided over Rommy's original trial. The judge, Gillian Sullivan, has just been released from a federal prison for women after being convicted of 'selling judgement.' After Arthur reluctantly agrees to interview Erdai (with the help of former Judge Sullivan), he realizes that, in fact, Rommy may be innocent. The plot and climax of the book are solid and exciting. There is plenty of diverting suspense providing several tense and somewhat anxious moments. With REVERSIBLE ERRORS, Turow proves his understanding of the proper weave of legal jargon and tactics into "lay" jargon. With the exception of the opening descriptive "essay," REVERSIBLE ERRORS is a thoroughly enjoyable read.
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