ful thing to write about: When you’re in bureaucracy, where do you draw the line between mercy
and justice?” the author explains.
On
thne t
book
spotlight
John Lescroart introduces a
new character in The Hunt Club.
Lescroart shrugs aside any commonalities with
Hunt, although, yes, he is a father, has been a camp
counselor and has five younger siblings. The character Hunt is too new; they’re just getting acquainted.
And they’ll get the chance to deepen their relationship—Wyatt Hunt is already in Lescroart’s next book.
The author loves the fact that he now has another
major player, along with Hardy and Glitsky, one who
his younger and can work outside the system.
huLescroart owes his prolific career to “sticking to
it.” Not very romantic, he allows, but he still has gorgeous moments of inspiration that see him crying
or laughing out loud, or squirming in his chair as he
writes. But, he says, by diligently “working out the
problems on the page ... it’s turned into quite a wonderful romantic and inspiration-filled life, because
the inspiration comes as you’re in the scenes, and
you go, Oh, this is cool.”
When he hadn’t made it as a musician by his
30th birthday, he retired from music and at age 32
Lescroart “ONE OF THE COOL THINGS about this book is became a starving author. He worked at a variety of
that it’s got this warm heart.” That’s how John day jobs, not knowing that a regular guy from the
Lescroart sees his latest thriller, The Hunt Club. suburbs could grow up to be a New York Times best-
mingles Despite this warm heart pulsing throughout, selling author. He made it by age 45, the trajectory
the San Francisco–based story plunges into the dark no doubt harmed by his name. “I’m not whining,”
side—opening with the brutal double murder of an he says, “my life is great ... but the name is still an
old, new in esteemed federal judge and a beautiful young issue.” It’s pronounced leh-SKWAH, and the author
woman, complicated by the chilling disappearance tells an illustrative anecdote.
of one suspect, a local TV star. Just a few months ago, Lescroart gave one of the
a thriller The novel features Wyatt Hunt, a 30-something best speeches of his life at the San Mateo Writers
investigator who was a bit player in Lescroart’s previ- Conference; the vibe was right, he felt magical. Once
ous bestseller, The Motive, whose main characters are off the stage, he overheard two guys talking about how
By Diana Jordan Dismas Hardy and Abe Glitsky. And, with a karmic great the speech was. One said he was going to buy all
wink, Lescroart turns his well-known characters the author’s books. The other said, “What was his
Hardy, a divorced ex-marine and ex-cop who ends up name again?” “John le Carré!” Lescroart says. “This
starting his own law firm, and Glitsky, a black Jewish name seems to be the Shawshank Redemption of
cop who becomes deputy chief of the Investigations names for thriller writers.”
Bureau, into bit players in The Hunt Club. Obviously, he can’t change his name, not 17
Lescroart tells The Connection, “When The books into a career. And he downplays his music
Motive ended, I had to leave Hardy and Glitsky career—although he’s a singer/songwriter with
because, while my courtroom scenes were exciting, I three CDs to his credit.
just wanted there to be some action.” Lescroart’s guiding light appears to be a con-
The Hunt Club is a younger, fresher book with a glomerate character who dwells in his mind, who
sense of karma running through it. Wyatt Hunt was “wants to do what’s right in the world.” That’s what
a foster child who grew up to join Child Protective he seeks in his life: “justice tempered with mercy.”
The Best of Services, fighting evil. Angered by a stagnant And maybe a bit of karmic justice—that the world
John Lescroart bureaucracy, he quits and becomes an empathetic remembers his name. C
private investigator, recruiting some of the kids he
Author John Lescroart has rescued for the Hunt Club, a band of friends and Diana Jordan (
www.dianajordan.net) has inter-
had 17 novels published. His colleagues who bend the rules. viewed hundreds of authors for the Associated Press
bestselling titles include: “One of the things that got the book going for Radio Network. Jordan reviews books and inter-
• Hard Evidence (1993) me was the epigram ‘You think you know yourself views authors for TV, the Web, radio and print.
until things start happening, until you lose the insu-
• The 13th Juror (1994) lation of normality,’” says Lescroart. The haunting
• A Certain Justice (1995) quote by Robert Wilson in A Small Death in Lisbon The Costco Connection
sets the pace for Hunt, who taps into the “bubbling The Hunt Club will be available in most
• Guilt (1997) stuff” of his life once he joins the Criminal warehouses on January 24. The Motive will
• The Mercy Rule (1998) Investigation Division, saving kids. be available in paperback in most warehouses
“I always found that a challenging and wonder- in early January.
