''Identical'', published in 2013, is a novel by

Scott Turow Scott Frederick Turow (born April 12, 1949) is an American author and lawyer. Turow has written 13 fiction and three nonfiction books, which have been translated into more than 40 languages and sold more than 30 million copies. Turow’s novel ...

which details the complicated relationship between the Kronon and the Gianis families, who are neighbors, friends, enemies, and rivals at different times throughout. Cass Gianis is sent to prison for the murder of Dita Kronon, his girlfriend; later Paul Gianis, Cass's identical twin brother, is running for mayor and Hal Kronon, Dita's older brother, uses his wealth to attempt to derail his campaign by accusing him of participating in Dita's murder.

Synopsis

The novel opens earlier in the day when Dita is murdered; Paul, Cass, and their mother Lidia are attending an ecclesiastical New Year's party at Zeus Kronon's house in September 1982. Teri Kronon, the sister of Zeus, has been best friends with Lidia since they were both seven years old; Zeus, the father of Hal and Dita, has a history with Lidia, at one point asking her father for her hand in marriage, but he was rejected because his family was considered low-class when they were both in Greece. The twins are each twenty-five years old; Paul plans to become a deputy prosecutor in the

Kindle County Scott Frederick Turow (born April 12, 1949) is an American author and lawyer. Turow has written 13 fiction and three nonfiction books, which have been translated into more than 40 languages and sold more than 30 million copies. Turow’s novel ...

prosecuting attorney's office under Raymond Horgan, and Cass plans to enter the police academy. Zeus has amassed a fortune in real estate by developing shopping centers around the nation, and is running for governor, but withdraws from the race after Dita is murdered. Twenty-five years later, Cass is being released from prison after serving his sentence while his brother Paul is running for mayor; Hal, who has inherited his father's wealth and real estate empire, attends a parole hearing to object to Cass's pending release, where he accuses Paul of participating in Dita's murder. Hal continues to bankroll another investigation into Dita's murder, led by his chief of security, Evon Miller, and the original police investigator, Tim Brodie. At the same time, Hal begins running attack ads to derail Paul's mayoral campaign; Paul responds by suing Hal for defamation. The investigation gradually reveals details of the 1982 murder that had not been discovered at that time using more advanced scientific techniques.

Development

Turow credits the story of

Castor and Pollux Castor; grc, Κάστωρ, Kástōr, beaver. and Pollux. (or Polydeukes). are twin half-brothers in Greek and Roman mythology, known together as the Dioscuri.; grc, Διόσκουροι, Dióskouroi, sons of Zeus, links=no, from ''Dîos'' ('Z ...

for the idea for the novel.

Reception

Rosecrans Baldwin Rosecrans Baldwin is an American novelist, essayist and nonfiction author. He is also a co-founder and editor of ''The Morning News (online magazine), The Morning News'', an online magazine. Born in Chicago, Illinois and raised in Darien, Connect ...

, reviewing for

NPR National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other ...

's ''

All Things Considered ''All Things Considered'' (''ATC'') is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio (NPR). It was the first news program on NPR, premiering on May 3, 1971. It is broadcast live on NPR affiliated stations in the United ...

'', said the novel was "not terrible ..But in my case, the book simply didn't meet a standard that Turow had established in my mind."

Jonathan Yardley Jonathan Yardley (born October 27, 1939) was the book critic at ''The Washington Post'' from 1981 to December 2014, and held the same post from 1978 to 1981 at the ''Washington Star''. In 1981, he received the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism. Back ...

, reviewing for ''

The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...

'', wrote that " urowhas handled large themes more sure-handedly in his previous novels" but " the novel makes its way to its conclusion, it steadily picks up speed and interest."

References

External links

* {{Kindle County Kindle County 2013 American novels Novels by Scott Turow Legal thriller novels Grand Central Publishing books