About:
A Time for Mercy by John Grisham is the third book starring lawyer Jake Brigance. In this courtroom thriller, the author gives Mr. Brigance another difficult case of defending a young boy who killed an abusive police officer.
- 480 pages
- Publisher : Doubleday
- Language : English
- ISBN-10 : 0385545967
My rating for A Time for Mercy – 5
Buy A Time for Mercy from Amazon.com*
More books by John Grisham*
Thoughts:
A Time for Mercy by John Grisham, while technically a sequel, can be read and enjoyed without reading A Time to Kill or Sycamore Row – the first two Jake Brigance books. The fun part about reading the sequels that you get to revisit Ford County’s cast of characters, culture, and charming scenery.
In this book, Mr. Grisham doesn’t only tackle small town politics and racism, but abortion, poverty and the death penalty in case you get bored. The crime that Drew Gamble is being charged with is so violent, but the circumstances are heart-wrenching and grisly. Mr. Grisham puts the jury, as well as the reader, in a real dilemma of what the outcome of the trial should be.
The story moves leisurely, but the pacing and plotting work like a charm. The triat itself only starts about three quarters in, but it doesn’t feel like it.
The book, for me, was difficult to put down. The trial itself was fascinating, the characters, while not endearing, are certainty relatable. The ups and downs of a small town, honest (of course) lawyer were a satisfying and enriching read.
I know nothing of courts or laws, but I do enjoy good stories with good characters. The ups and downs of a small-town lawyer, while somewhat of a trope these days, was an engrossing read, and time well spent.
Synopsis:
Jake Brigance is asked by Judge Omar Noose (a name Dickens himself would be proud of) to defend a 16-year-old Drew Gamble accused of killing his mother’s boyfriend, Stuart Kofer. Stuart is a star sheriff’s department, but also a mean, abusive drunk who beats up his girlfriend to near death and consistently threatens all three with death.
Taking the case pits Jake against most of the town who only know the good side of Stuart, as well as those who just believe that killing a cop, in or out of uniform, should be executed. The case seems to be a slam dunk, but if the defense didn’t have a surprise up his sleeve it wouldn’t be a Jake Brigance story.
Buy A Time for Mercy from Amazon.com*
More books by John Grisham*
Zohar — Man of la Book
Disclaimer:I bought this book
*Amazon links point to an affiliate account, the money is usually spent on boo
