The Truth About the Devlins, Lisa Scottoline, author; Edoardo Ballerini, narrator
Although this novel is pure fiction, the author always includes facts that are based in reality. It is for this reason that her books are always enlightening and often educate the reader about an injustice in the world that is in need of correction. This book is no exception. The horrific treatment of prisoners at Holmesburg Prison, without informed consent, is an example of the type of past injustice that cries out for remediation. The incarcerated at Holmesburg Prison were subjected to medical experiments that had lasting side effects, causing Cancer and other illnesses, and the dangers were known and ignored by the companies in charge of the research. Greed and a lack of ethics motivated them, and the consequences were ignored. The victims were collateral damage and had to deal with the terrible results alone.
The book is about the Devlins, a family considered kings in the legal field. John, Thomas and Gabby were the children of Marie and Paul Devlin, both lawyers. Of their children, only Thomas was not a lawyer. He was a college dropout and an ex-convict. John was the good son, a workaholic, and Gabby worked pro bono for social causes, and in the novel is working to obtain compensation for former inmates of Holmesburg prison. They are the few remaining survivors of a true, terrible injustice. They had been used for medical experiments to enhance cosmetic products which led to the development of Retin A and Renova, two very lucrative, anti-aging skin products.
Thomas Jefferson Devlin, known as TJ, is a recovering alcoholic. He had served time for leaving his child unattended, while he got drunk. His marriage ended, and pretty much so did his relationship with his child. He is on parole. He worked for the family firm as an investigator, but when difficulties arose, and he got fired, his sister hired him herself to help with her legal cases. She believed in TJ. When TJ discovers that his ex-wife is getting married again, he grows despondent and pushes the envelope. Afterwards, he takes an accounting of his life and truly vows to reform. The circumstances are set up to defeat him, however. Will he succeed?
John is a driving force in the Devlin law practice, seemingly working almost 24/7. He is hoping that his father will retire and catapult him into the top position of this prosperous law firm, guaranteeing him financial security. One night, however, cracks in his plans develop. On the night of his dad’s birthday celebration, John tells TJ that he thinks he has murdered someone; the someone is a client. TJ goes off with him to check out his story, but the body has disappeared. From this point on TJ tries to help his brother out of the mess, but his brother seems to be placing TJ into a mess, instead. When the body is found, TJ discovers that his brother has had a secret life and has implicated TJ in a crime that could send him straight back to prison. John is scheming to get control of the law firm and has been doing some pretty underhanded things to feed his own addiction.
Meanwhile, Gabby is working on a case that is pitting her against highly successful corporations as she works to get compensation for the few remaining survivors of the experiments at the Holmesburg Prison. There are forces at work to prevent these innocent people from reaping any rewards or damages from the culprits responsible for their illnesses. Will she be in danger? Will she be successful? Will TJ be a positive influence on her investigation? Will these former inmates survive long enough to reap any benefits?
The novel focuses on several themes, racism and injustice, addiction and its aftermath, romance and its pitfalls, frustration and desperation. While Gabby works for equal justice, John appears to be working for himself. TJ is simply trying to survive. Paul Devlin is controlling and favors his son John. Marie is a devoted wife and defers to her husband. In some ways, all of their lives are beginning to unravel. John’s lifestyle has begun to jeopardize the very existence of his parents’ law firm, along with their stellar reputations. In the end, was justice served? Was the right thing done? Could any of us have done what any of the Devlin's did?
The intrigue is fascinating, the effect of addiction on a family, the effect of incarceration on one’s future, the consequences of thoughtless and selfish behavior and of criminality are insightfully treated. At first, the Job-like TJ was not a likeable character for me, but when he seems to come of age, when he tries to truly reform and hopes to see the light at the end of the tunnel, my opinion of him changed. Did yours? Will the family survive the coming traumatic events? Will roles be reversed? I am reminded of something my own dad said to me, when he was dying. He said, “the Bible says the first will be last and the last will be first”, and it is true. For me, it made peace between me and my dad. I hope that the Devlin’s will find the same kind of peace, after all is said and done.
I found that the story felt very authentic, with the research into the amoral treatment of prisoners, with the struggles of the hold an addiction has on a person, with the unequal treatment of different races, and the abuse of innocent victims, and with the way the family dynamics were treated so honestly. As Gabby states, at one point, criminal law deals with jail as a consequence, but civil law provides money as a reward for mistreatment, and I say, eventually, we all have to pay the piper. I hope justice always prevails.
Addiction of any kind may push someone over the age, forcing them to behave in unnatural and unexpected ways, ways that are largely selfish and harmful to others and oneself. Greed drives people to do things they never thought they were capable of, and then they get sucked in beyond their control. We are, after all, all human. Are we all deserving of forgiveness? Who is the hero at the end of the novel? Does incarceration serve a positive or negative purpose for the inmate? Is everyone subject to being compromised? Does everyone have a price or a purpose that is a secret dream, regardless of the harm it may cause? Does Gabby have the right intentions in all of her actions? I thought that the ending seemed a bit contrived and was perhaps the least realistic part of the book, but the choices made by Gabby, the family’s behavior that inspired TJ, the righteous choices made by so many, even the new flame Mia, felt very heartwarming. Also, I liked the fact that the cat remained in character throughout!