The book cover.
Scott Turow paints a painful situation in his latest novel, “Identical.”
Turow is an attorney as well as a writer, so it’s expected that in this 10th novel, he brings back some of the court room characters readers know. But this time, Sandy Stern is merely a background figure, a guy who defended Cass Giannis a quarter-century ago when the man took a plea bargain for the murder of his girlfriend, Dita Kronon.
The story is set in 2008, but Turow flashes back and forth that 25 years to that fateful night, when the Kronon family, captained by big-fisted patriarch Zeuss, hosted a party to celebrate a cherished Greek tradition. The families are there side by side, even though bad blood has been simmering for a long while.
These 25 years later, Cass is set to get out of jail. That frees the heart of Paul Giannis, a successful politician running for mayor, and Cass’s identical twin.
At the confluence of these two events, Dita’s older brother, successful businessman Hal Kronos, contends publicly that Paul also had something to do with the murder. The politician pushes back with a lawsuit, Hal puts an old but wise investigator on the lookout with the head of his security staff, and details are discovered one by one.
Turow takes “Identical” down a compelling and twisty path, an investigation of what family will do for each other in the whole, and, in serious detail, what identical twins feel and do that so few other people ever would or could understand.
It works well as a mystery. Turow had me guessing three and four moves ahead, and I couldn’t quite keep up with his nimble mind.
It also will get you to think about the relationship between identical twins. I’ve known several sets in my lifetime, and I truly believed they collectively have their own world.
Janet and Joyce are my age, identical sisters fiercely devoted to each other. The other twin always took priority.
David and Sean are one generation younger, athletic and smart young men who used to pull a trick in an annual local Fourth of July parade. Riding a float, one would make a big show out of climbing into a cannon. After the puff of smoke the other, dressed the same, would pop up and wave his arms up the road a bit. The crowd always loved it.
Have you known identical twins? What did you think of their bond?
Mark Bialczak 
My husband is reading a book at the moment called “Tragically I was an only Twin. The Complete Peter Cook” I thought at first it was a humorous book but I wonder if it was that missing element in his world which should have been collective. We don’t talk about books so we don’t spoil it for each other so am looking forward to reading it to find out.
Mark I’ve nominated you for the lighthouse award. I think your blog brightens the world of many people. Cheers Irene
LikeLike
That does sound like an interesting book, Irene. You’ll have to let us know after you get your turn with it. And, Irene, thank you so much for nominating me for the Lighthouse Award. I appreciate it so much.
LikeLike
You can find out more about the award at http://irenewaters19.com/2014/01/06/the-lighthouse-award/
LikeLike
I’ve known several sets of twins both growing up and dated a twin in high school I’ve also had students who were twins. I do believe they have a strong connection. But I also saw twins whose parents wanted them to be in different classes so that they would have their own identity – friends, clothing styles and hair styles.
LikeLike
I think identical twins will feel it even in different classes and wearing different outfits. So parents might not have that much a say. Thanks, Judy.
LikeLike
Your description of Scott Turow’s book sounds intriguing. I’ve got a few other novels on tap first – John Grisham’s latest, etc. But Turow also spins a really good yarn.
LikeLike
Candy and Dawn, the twins I went to parochial school with…they were polar opposites…and that was really the only way you could tell them apart.
LikeLike
Ah, personality differences, That’s a good way to tell who’s who, Mer.
LikeLike
I used to teach identical twins. They were lovely but impossible to tell apart. They never deliberately used this to trick me but were polite and well behaved. There mum told me that to tell them apart you had to look at the back of their necks where one had a small scar. All those years of saying ‘ turn to face me’ undone!
LikeLike
The telling-apart portion is such a tough nut to crack. I mistake in addressing somebody makes me feel awful. My daughter, Elisabeth, has two close friends growing up where identical, Megan and Rebecca. Elisabeth always knew which was which, but I was always guessing, with 50 percent success. Thanks, Rachel!
LikeLike
mark, i cannot wait to read this. i have always been fascinated by twins. almost every year, i have one or more sets of them in my classroom. i love watching them interact with each other, as well as with others. as time goes on, and they hit the ripe old age of 5+, they begin to try to break out on their own, establishing their own friends, tastes, etc. but they never fail to look over their shoulder to make sure the other one is okay.
LikeLike
It is truly fascinating and so different, the world of identical twins. You seem to be making the most of your front-row seat in the classroom, Beth. Thanks for sharing your outstanding observations.
LikeLike