The Hidden Man (Berkley Prime Crime)

Jason Kolarich is a Chicago attorney with a lineman's build, a razor- sharp intellect-and the grief of a tragic personal loss. When an estranged childhood friend is charged with murder, Kolarich must create a solid defense-even while doubting his client's innocence. But it soon becomes clear that Kolarich will have to uncover long-forgotten events from their shared childhoods to save his friend-and bring a relentless killer to justice before he strikes again.

 (40 customer reviews)

I am an avid mystery reader and I have to say The Hidden Man is the absolutely best book I have read in a long while - in fact I lost several hours of sleep because I just could not stop reading. It was also a delight that not only was the story intriguing, with a lot of sub-plots, but David Ellis is also a gifted writer - very well written. Not matter how many times I thought I had the mystery solved, I was always wrong - David Ellis kept the reader going into the very end. It is not often that I find that I have not "figured" out the climax - Ellis really threw me a loop! The story was exciting, fast-paced with regular glimpses into the main character's past. While reading, I felt like I was one-on-one with the main character, racing to unravel the facts that would save himself, his brother and his childhood best friend.
I highly recommend The Hidden Man - just a word of warning - do not start reading unless you have the time to finish - you literally cannot put this book...Read more

After Audrey Cutler is snatched from her bedroom in the middle of the night, the lives of her seven-year-old brother, Sammy, and his best friend, Jason Kolarich, are forever scarred by the tragedy. Griffin Perlini, a known sex offender who lives nearby, is suspected of the crime, but the case is never solved and Perlini goes free. After Audrey's disappearance, Sammy's already dreadful home situation turns from bad to worse.

Growing up in a grief-stricken family, Sammy seeks escape through drugs and becomes involved in crime. Jason briefly heads down the same path, but because of his success on the football field in high school and the loyalty of Sammy, Jason is spared from spending time in juvenile detention. Jason eventually escapes the neighborhood and his abusive father by way of an athletic scholarship, leading him to receive a college education and a law degree. Additionally, he marries the woman of his dreams, and they have a beautiful daughter together...Read more

In 1980, someone abducted two-year-old Audrey Cutler from her bedroom. Her stunned mother held her seven year old son Sammy tight as if she will never let him go. The police question sexual offender Perlini, but the evidence was not there.

In 2006 Sammy runs into Perlini. Soon afterward the prime suspect in the kidnapping and murder of Audrey is dead. The police arrest Sammy. His high school crony defense attorney Jason Kolarich is hired to defend Sammy. However, the fee for his services comes from an unknown M. Smith who wants a speedy trial and the lawyer believes his defeat as he is told how his client is to plea. Still reeling from the deaths of his wife and daughter in a car accident, Jason tries his best. His inquiry leads to a mass grave of children, but instead of euphoria, his client's financial backers abduct Jason's brother threatening to kill him if the attorney uncovers any other revelations.

This is a terrific legal thriller starring a...Read more