Presumed Innocent: Book vs. Series
David E. Kelley’s 2024 series Presumed Innocent adapts Scott Turow’s 1987 novel. Prosecutor Rusty Sabich becomes a suspect in a colleague’s murder as revelations about their relationship threaten his family and career.
From Books Adapted
Which books each season covers
The second season changes authors as well as cases
| Season | Book adapted | How much it covers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow | The complete murder case across eight episodes, with a different solution from the novel. |
| 2* | Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray | A new case drawn from a different author’s book, rather than the next Rusty Sabich novel. |
| A guide, not an exact match: shows move scenes and storylines between books and seasons. | ||
* Season two has been announced but has not aired. Its source is confirmed by Murray’s publisher; the finished adaptation’s detailed coverage is not yet available.
Turow continued Rusty’s story in Innocent and Presumed Guilty. Neither has been adapted by this series. The move to Murray’s book means a second season is not a continuation of the first novel’s family story.
What changed from the book
Raymond takes the defense lawyer’s place
Sandy Stern defends Rusty in the book. The series leaves Stern out and gives the job to Raymond Horgan, Rusty’s former boss and friend.
David E. Kelley said this brought the damage from Rusty’s affair into the defense itself. Raymond and his wife are friends with Rusty and Barbara. Raymond has also lost his position as district attorney, and feels Rusty concealed information that hurt his political career. He must defend someone whose conduct has harmed both their friendship and his own position.
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The series changes the murderer and Rusty’s part in the cover-up
Barbara kills Carolyn in the novel. The series instead makes Jaden, Rusty and Barbara’s daughter, the murderer.
Rusty also alters the crime scene after finding Carolyn’s body. He thinks Barbara killed her and tries to protect her, without knowing he is covering up Jaden’s crime.
Director Anne Sewitsky said the identity of the killer remained under discussion during development. Once Jaden was chosen, she checked that the earlier material could support the revelation.
About the book and the series
- Author
- Scott Turow
- Year
- 1987
- Pages
- 480Buy book
- Audiobook length
- 15 hr 34 minGet audiobook
- Narrator
- Edward Herrmann
Prosecutor Rusty Sabich is assigned to investigate the murder of his colleague Carolyn Polhemus, concealing that they had an affair. As evidence begins pointing toward him, professional rivalries and the approaching election turn the inquiry into a threat to his freedom, his marriage, and the account of himself he has carefully maintained.
- Creator
- David E. Kelley
- Writer
- Monika Revilla, Jared Frieder, David E. Kelley, Sharr White
- Year
- 2024
- Episode
- 44 minWatch on Amazon
- Seasons
- 1
- Episodes
- 8
- Network
- Apple TV
- Cast
- Jake Gyllenhaal, Ruth Negga, Bill Camp, Elizabeth Marvel, Peter Sarsgaard, O-T Fagbenle, Renate Reinsve
- Genre
- legal thriller
- IMDb
- View on IMDb
The killing of Carolyn Polhemus tears through the Chicago prosecutor’s office and exposes Rusty Sabich’s affair with his dead colleague. As professional adversaries build a case against him, Rusty’s wife and children confront the extent of his deception while he tries to defend himself and keep his family from breaking apart.
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