Testimony (Turow novel)
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2017 |
| Founder | Scott Turow |
| Products | Legal thriller novel |
Testimony, released in 2017, is a novel authored by Scott Turow that introduces former United States Attorney Bill ten Boom as he takes on his inaugural case at the International Criminal Court (ICC). The storyline revolves around ten Boom's inquiry into the vanishing and alleged massacre of more than 400 Romani people residing in a refugee settlement after the Bosnian conflict.
Synopsis
The Roma community had established themselves in Barupra, an improvised settlement located near a deserted coal mine in Bosnia. The narrative opens in March 2015 with Ferko Rincic, the only survivor, providing testimony to the ICC. He describes events from April 27, 2004, when armed Chetniks forcibly loaded the Roma onto trucks while he remained hidden; subsequently, they were confined within an abandoned coal pit where explosives obliterated the village.
In January 2015, Bill ten Boom transitioned from his profitable private legal practice to join the ICC at the invitation of his law school peer Roger Clewey. This decision marked his exit from his fictional jurisdiction of Kindle County and shifted the plot’s focus to European settings such as The Hague and Bosnia.
The Roma had recently alerted American forces about Laza Kajevic, a war criminal on the run, implying a possible motive for retaliation. Yet, Rincic’s testimony revealed that the Chetniks spoke Bosnian with an accent inconsistent with local dialects, suggesting potential involvement by American military personnel. Considering the delicate political environment and the U.S. withdrawal from the ICC under the American Service-Members' Protection Act, it was permissible to appoint an American prosecutor, resulting in ten Boom’s assignment.
The story details legal maneuvers at the ICC, forensic examinations conducted by ten Boom and his lead investigator Goos—an ex-police officer from Belgium—as well as ten Boom’s personal struggles over several months.
Reception
In a review for The Guardian, Steven Poole praised the novel as "expertly handled," emphasizing Turow's proficiency in organizing complex information and releasing it strategically to readers. Kirkus Reviews characterized ten Boom as "a too-familiar, not very fascinating character," yet acknowledged the book’s "intricate, sharp, and relevant conclusion."