Rusty Sabich comes out of retirement in Scott Turow's thriller 'Presumed Guilty'

Summary

NPR's Book of the Day: Presumed Guilty by Scott Turow

Host: Andrew Limbaum
Guest: Scott Turow
Release Date: January 30, 2025

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Introduction

In the latest episode of NPR's Book of the Day, host Andrew Limbaum delves into Scott Turow's newest thriller, Presumed Guilty. Known for his intricate legal dramas and the enduring character Rusty Savage, Turow continues to captivate readers with his compelling storytelling and nuanced exploration of the legal system.

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Character Spotlight: Rusty Savage

Presumed Guilty marks the return of Rusty Savage, a character Turow has developed since 1987. Unlike many fictional figures who remain perpetually youthful, Savage is portrayed as a 77-year-old retiree. This aging brings a new depth to his character, reflecting themes of legacy, resilience, and the complexities of returning to one's former life.

Notable Quote:

"Rusty could have been preserved in amber like James Bond or something. But I felt like I owed Rusty something."
–– Scott Turow (00:02)

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Plot Overview

The novel centers around Rusty Savage's unexpected return from retirement to take on the defense of Aaron Housley, a man charged with the murder of May Potter. May was found dead in the woods after a camping trip gone wrong, with Aaron, on parole for drug-related offenses, holding her phone—the key piece of evidence linking him to the crime.

Savage's involvement is complicated by personal ties; he hopes Aaron will become the son of his fiancée, Bea Maina. This emotional stake adds layers of tension and moral ambiguity to the case, challenging Savage's professional and personal boundaries.

Notable Quote:

"Rusty is not the ideal candidate, the defense lawyer. He's not very skilled as a defense lawyer... he'd hoped Aaron is going to become his stepson."
–– Scott Turow (02:16)

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Setting: Skagen Region in the Upper Midwest

Unlike his previous works set in the fictional Kindle County, Presumed Guilty unfolds in the Skagen region, a more remote and tight-knit community. This setting amplifies the story's intensity, as everyone knows each other, and the lack of diversity adds to the societal pressures surrounding Aaron's case.

Notable Quote:

"This area lacks diversity... having two black men at the defense table in a room of all white people is not what they call good strategy."
–– Scott Turow (03:29)

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Author Insights: Scott Turow on Rusty Savage

Scott Turow shares his motivations for aging Rusty Savage, emphasizing a commitment to the character's development and longevity. Unlike the timelessness of James Bond, Savage's age introduces themes of redemption and the possibility of personal growth even in later life.

Notable Quote:

"The book is about an important theme, which is, can you do better the second time around? Can you live a life that's more pleasing to yourself."
–– Scott Turow (04:09)

Turow also reflects on the personal connection he feels with Savage, likening Rusty's voice to his own and underscoring the character's significance in his literary career.

Notable Quote:

"The voice is so close to your own. At least in this case, it is for me."
–– Scott Turow (05:02)

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Adaptations and Future Projects

Presumed Guilty is already set for a film adaptation, highlighting Turow's consistent presence in both literary and cinematic landscapes. While details about the adaptation remain under wraps, Turow remains optimistic about the transition of his work to the big screen.

Notable Quote:

"There's a film deal in place... identities, as of today, are still a secret."
–– Scott Turow (05:27)

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Themes: Trust in the Legal System and the Role of AI in Literature

Turow addresses concerns about his portrayal of the legal system, asserting that his intent is to foster respect rather than diminish faith in legal institutions. He emphasizes the complexities and human elements within the judiciary, advocating for a nuanced understanding of its role.

Additionally, Turow voices apprehensions about artificial intelligence's impact on literature. While acknowledging the potential for AI to emulate great writers, he worries that low-quality imitations could devalue the literary marketplace.

Notable Quotes:

"I hope that what they come away with is some respect for what the law is trying to do..."
–– Scott Turow (06:15)

"The second-rate imitations and what they're going to do to the literary marketplace... that's what concerns me."
–– Scott Turow (08:11)

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Conclusion

Scott Turow's Presumed Guilty offers a mature and introspective continuation of Rusty Savage's journey, blending legal intrigue with personal dilemmas. Through this episode of NPR's Book of the Day, listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of the novel's multifaceted narrative and the author's enduring dedication to his characters and themes.

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References:

• Transcript timestamps correspond to key points discussed in the episode.

Transcript

[Andrew Limbaum]

Hey, it's NPR's Book of the Day. I'm Andrew Limbaum. Time comes for us all, even fictional Lawyers, written by longtime authors. Scott Turow has been writing about lawyer Rusty Savage since 1987. And Tarrow's new book, Presumed Guilty. Savage is a 77 year old retiree who of course gets pulled back into one more case. But this being fiction, Rusty didn't have to age right. NPR's Scott Simon makes the point in this interview that Rusty could have been preserved in amber like James Bond or something. But Turo explains that he felt like he owed Rusty something. Just what? Well, that's after the break.

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[Scott Simon]

The character created by Scott Turow has been a prosecutor, a defendant, a defense attorney, a judge. He's been played by big stars on screen, most recently Jake Gyllenhaal. But Rusty is now 77. He's retired and living in what city folks might call the sticks. When a young woman named May Potter goes missing. She's gone camping with her boyfriend, Aaron Housley, who's on parole for holding drugs for her. May is found dead in the woods where they'd hiked, but her phone is in Aaron's possession and he's charged with murder. So who you gonna call? Presume Guilty is the new novel by Scott Turow, the novelist and lawyer who sold more than 30 million books around the world since Presumed Innocent came out in 1987. He joins us from Naples, Florida. Scott, thanks so much for being with us.

[Scott Turow]

Thank you for having me.

[Scott Simon]

Rusty has some personal complications when it comes to taking on Aaron's case, doesn't he?

[Scott Turow]

He's not the ideal candidate, the defense lawyer. One point is that he's not very skilled as a defense lawyer. The second is that Aaron is about at least he hopes he's going to become his stepson, the son of the woman to whom Rusty is engaged. B maina so you would ordinarily think representing a family member or potential family member is not such a great idea.

[Scott Simon]

Tell us about this place in which the novel is set. It's different from Kindle county, which I wouldn't be the first person to suggest to you. This is simply Chicago under another name, but this is it. Skagen region in the upper Midwest.

[Scott Turow]

You know, the great thing about writing novels is you write these strange words and there's no pronunciation guide that comes with the book. So to me, it's always been Skagen County. It has made regular appearances in my novels. But this time, of course, we're further to the north, which is more remote than Skagen county, where Aaron is going to be tried, because that's where the.

[Scott Simon]

Body was found and everybody knows each other. And we should mention that Aaron, adopted by Bea, is black. And this area, as we say, lacks diversity.

[Scott Turow]

Yes, he says to Rusty, when they're first thinking about, you know, who's going to defend him. Can't be a black lawyer. The reason is because he's been looking out the jailhouse window and he hasn't seen a black person walk by. And he's concluded, sadly, that having two black men at the defense table in a room of all white people is not what they call good strategy.

[Scott Simon]

Scott, was it important to you for Rusty Savage to grow old? He's 77 in this novel. Why not just suspend him in time, like Ian Fleming did with James Bond?

[Scott Turow]

Well, you know, I wrote another novel about Rusty that came out about 15 years ago called Innocent. At the end of that novel, Rusty had just been released from prison. It left him in such a sad and shattered state that I felt I owed him more. This character whose career has been synonymous with my own. I finished that book thinking I really can't leave him quite this miserable. And thematically, to me, this book is about an important theme, which is, can you do better the second time around? Can you live a life that's more pleasing to yourself? That is really the question that hovers over the novel and Rusty.

[Scott Simon]

I'm struck by. When you say that Rusty's career has been synonymous with your own, does he take up a lot of real estate in your mind and heart?

[Scott Turow]

You know, there are certain characters that you come back to when you're lucky enough to have had a long career as a novelist. And part of it, of course, is rooted in the fact that people seem to like Rusty's voice. But another piece of that, of course, is the voice is so close to your own. At least in this case, it is for me.

[Scott Simon]

Is Presume Guilty going to be a movie, too?

[Scott Turow]

The short answer is there's A film deal in place, and as yet, I do not have permission from the parties involved to say who it is and what's happening. So identities, as of today are still a secret.

[Scott Simon]

I mean, forgive the obvious. Harrison Ford again would be fine with me.

[Scott Turow]

You'd get no objections from me.

[Scott Simon]

Your novels so beautifully reveal the human qualities of everybody involved in the legal system and a trial, from judge to members of the jury. And those human qualities include frailties. Do you ever wonder if your novels will make people less trustworthy of the legal system?

[Scott Turow]

You know, in today's United States, where people are so skeptical of virtually every public institution, I really don't think that I'm going to diminish their faith in the legal system. I hope that what they come away with is some respect for what the law is trying to do to, you know, govern the little bit of life that human beings can control by reason so that it's, you know, it's not duels and throwing the witches in the lake and seeing if they float. It's a human institution. And that means that it's undermined constantly by the people who practice it. But the goals are really worthy.

[Scott Simon]

While we have you, you served as president of the Authors Guild. How can copyright laws survive in an age when someone can paste the entire contents of a book onto the web? And some people believe they should because it makes information free.

[Scott Turow]

I'm, of course, like everybody else, in favor of the wide dispersion of knowledge. But knowledge, despite the sloganeers, is. Is never free. It has taken time and effort for that knowledge to be created. And the kind of system we live in grants to authors a monopoly for a limited period of time over their works. And if it's not respected, then the result is they're going to be fewer voices, a less diverse and vibrant literary culture, and a poorer democracy.

[Scott Simon]

Do you have any concerns about authors being replaced by artificial intelligence?

[Scott Turow]

I'm afraid that the imitations, the ersatz version, you know, it will cheapen the market for the works of distinction. You know, if a machine can write works as great as those of Tolstoy or Shakespeare, then humanity will be better off for it. But the problem is, you know, the second rate imitations and what they're going to do to, you know, the literary marketplace and that. That's what concerns Scott Turow.

[Scott Simon]

His new novel, Presumed Guilty. Thanks so much for being with us.

[Scott Turow]

My pleasure, always. Thanks for having me.

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