A Time for Mercy John Grisham’s latest no. 1 bestseller

John Grisham — 2020

Jake Brigance, lawyer hero of A Time to Kill and Sycamore Row, is back, in his toughest case ever. 'A new Grisham legal thriller is always an event, but this one is exceptional as the author is returning to Jake Brigance, the hero of his very first book, A Time To Kill . . . There is a lot of Grisham in Brigance - they were both street lawyers on the side of the people, not big corporations. It gives the book an emotional core that burns with a white heat' - Daily Mail 'A master of plotting and pacing . . . suspenseful' - New York Times CAN A KILLER EVER BE ABOVE THE LAW? Deputy Stuart Kofer is a protected man. Though he's turned his drunken rages on his girlfriend, Josie, and her children many times before, the police code of silence has always shielded him. But one night he goes too far, leaving Josie for dead on the floor before passing out. Her son, sixteen-year-old Drew, knows he only has this one chance to save them. He picks up a gun and takes the law into his own hands. In Clanton, Mississippi, there is no one more hated than a cop killer - but a cop killer's defence lawyer comes close. Jake Brigance doesn't want this impossible case but he's the only one with enough experience to defend the boy. As the trial begins, it seems there is only one outcome: the gas chamber for Drew. But, as the town of Clanton discovers once again, when Jake Brigance takes on an impossible case, anything is possible ... Starring the same hero and setting that featured in John Grisham's multi-million-selling bestsellers A Time to Kill (adapted as a film starring Samuel L. Jackson and Matthew McConaughey) and Sycamore Row, A Time for Mercy is an unforgettable thriller you won't be able to put down. 'When Grisham gets in the courtroom he lets rip, drawing scenes so real they're not just alive, they're pulsating' Mirror 'A superb, instinctive storyteller' The Times 'Storytelling genius ... he is in a league of his own' Daily Record 350+ million copies, 45 languages, 9 blockbuster films: NO ONE WRITES DRAMA LIKE JOHN GRISHAM

Reviews

Jonathan Tysick@jtsick6

Jun 18, 2023

Possibly my favourite of the Jake Brigance trilogy. Good character development and a satisfying story.

Kristen Claiborn@kristenc

Jan 7, 2023

Was there really a law in Mississippi that allowed for the death penalty when a police officer was killed, regardless of whether they were in the line of duty? That just seems like an overreach. Cops are people, and they're not all good people. I'm gonna go look that up when I get done writing this review. Who doesn't love John Grisham??? If you don't, CLEARLY you're mistaken and you should try again (I jest, you read whatever you enjoy). I read my first Grisham years ago and have been captivated by his writing ever since. At the beginning of this book, I understand the circumstance and immediately sided with the kid, I mean, who wouldn't?? Then Grisham introduced us to the cop's family, and you realize that there were people who did love that man, and who wanted justice, regardless of why that cop was killed. Ok, that makes a little sense. Especially because the cop's family either didn't believe he was as abusive as he was OR they believed that's just how men behave. Grisham was able to show the humanity of both sides of this tragic story while also letting the reader know which way they should feel. He clearly showed more empathy towards the kid (rightfully so). Grisham was also able to show the shortcomings of the legal system and how both the prosecution and defense use underhanded (but perfectly legal) tactics to overcome those shortcomings. There were quite a few times I was so mad at what was happening that I wanted to throw the book across the room. Grisham is very good at what he does. The only reason this one didn't get five stars was it didn't feel fully resolved (and I really want to know what's going to happen with the railroad insurance situation). I like things neat and tidy at the end and I don't feel like I got that here. Oh well, I liked it anyway.

Katelyn Sykes@katelynsykes

Dec 30, 2022

Really good book just found it very long

Eric Kettunen@kettunen_eric

Dec 15, 2021

I just reread this. I had just planned to read a couple of paragraphs to re-engage with the flow of the story and found I couldn't put it down. I think Grisham's writing has improved with time -- his characters are interesting and believable, the settings so developed, and he usually deals with big moral/ethical issues. A Time for Mercy delivers on all of these fronts for me!