A solid legal thriller and an intense family drama smoothly converge in mystery author Lisa Scottoline's The Truth About the Devlins.
The wealthy Devlins' devotion to one another and the law began with married attorneys Paul and Marie, whose successful Philadelphia firm now includes their grown children John and Gabby. The Devlins are "not a family," John's wife, Nancy, observes, so much as "a force." TJ, the youngest Devlin son, also works at the firm as an investigator, but this "recovering alcoholic" who spent a year in prison is his family's only nonlawyer. Self-deprecating TJ knows that the Devlins consider him a "charming disappointment"; he takes his work seriously, but his family considers his position "a do-nothing job" to keep him out of trouble. TJ is shocked yet willing to help when John, "the Most Valuable Devlin," confesses that he has accidently killed a client suspected of embezzlement. The brothers abruptly leave Paul's birthday party (a serious family transgression) to return to the scene of the crime. But they're unable to find the body or the man's car. TJ's attempts to help his brother and prove himself worthy of his family's trust might force the Devlins to choose between their loyalty to the law and their allegiance to each other.
The Truth About the Devlins realistically shows TJ's constant struggle with alcohol and why being sober has become part of his identity. The novel precisely examines family dynamics, showing how hierarchies can shift through the years. Scottoline (Exposed, Loyalty) has a talent for shaping realistic characters that keeps the Devlins' saga intriguing. --Oline H. Cogdill, freelance reviewer