In Innocent, Scott Turow presents a sequel to his 1987 debut novel, Presumed Innocent. Judge Rusty Sabich is accused of murder once again--but this time it is of his wife Barbara. The story is mostly told in flashbacks, from Spring 2007 when Barbara was still alive, to Fall 2008 when she mysteriously passes and Spring 2009 when court proceedings are well underway.
In Spring 2007, Judge Rusty Sabich is a happily married man, who sympathizes with his bipolar wife Barbara and shy, law-school graduate son Nat. His world is turned upside down after he starts an extra-marital affair with his former law-clerk, Anna, who is young enough to be his daughter. Complicating matters is that Judge Sabich's election to the Supreme State Court is coming up, and news of his affair can cost him not only his wife, but his career.

Tommy dwelled for a minute on on idea that had not visited him in months. It was against the odds, against the evidence and the course of pure reason, but he asked himself anyway. What if Rusty was innocent? Twenty years ago, Tommy Molto charged his colleague Rusty Sabich with the murder of a former lover, a shocking turn of events that transformed Prosecutor Rusty from the accuser into the accused. Rusty was cleared, but the seismic trial left both men reeling. Malta's name was dragged through the mud and while Rusty regained his career, he lost much more. Now, Rusty - sixty years old and a chief judge - wakes to a new nightmare.His wife Barbara has died in suspicious circumstances and, once again, he is the prime suspect. Tommy Molto, convinced of Rusty's guilt the first time round, is wary of taking on this new prosecution. The years hove calmed him, he has a new family to think about, and his reputation can't take any more damage. But when new and damning evidence comes to light, Molto is forced to face his old adversary in the courtroom once aaain. Reunited with his charismatic lawyer Sandy Stern, Rusty will do anything to convince his beloved son Nat of his innocence. But what is he not telling them?Why did he assist a convicted killer to escape his bail conditions? And who is the young woman he was so recklessly seeing prior to Barbara's death? In an explosive trial which will expose lies, jealousy, revenge, corruption and the darker side of human nature, Rusty Sabich and Tommy Molto will battle it out to finally discover the real meaning of truth, and of justice.