A Time for Mercy

When I read A Time to Kill many years ago it didn't occur to me that I would get to love the genre so much and that Jake Brigance would become such a dear character to me. I started the year with Sycamore Row and as soon as I finished reading it I was already excited for A Time for Mercy. Before I forget, let me just say that I love the fact that the second book is not titled A Time [something]. I have no idea what went behind that decision, maybe there wasn't a plan for a third book back in 2013, but either way, I love that the titles don't all follow the same pattern.

In A Time for Mercy Jake Brigance faces new challenges. He's stuck with defending an obviously guilty client and there's just no way of getting out of it. Who would do it if not him? The book kept me turning page after page, wanting to see what's going to happen next. It also raised some unexpected and interesting topics, it made me angry at some of the characters, it made me curious about some of the other characters' choices and reasoning.

The most pressing topic, of course, is that of the capital punishment, a controversial subject already, and with complications in this book. I had already made my decision from the start on what the verdict for Drew should be, but I was also able to put myself in the shoes of the other side throughout the book. I can definitely see why someone would be for or against it in this case, but one side is wrong.

Besides that, there's also the issue of what happened before the murder, of the different impact the victim had on his family, co-workers, on his girlfriend and her kids. Surely none of that can be ignored. Or can it? What is to be taken into account and what not? The book does a very good job at showing all the sides of the story and all the different opinions on what is right and what is wrong.

A Time for Mercy is fuel for a few very good debates starting with, obviously, the issue of capital punishment, then on what the other characters might have done wrong, on what would be the right way to deal with everything that followed, and other topics that don't necessarily relate to the actual trial such as abortion vs adoption and the blue wall of silence. It certainly made me put into perspective a few things and while I do hold most of the same opinions, I have a new angle on others. (I love these kind of books.)

I cannot think of a better pair for Jake than Carla. She is his rock, they fit together so well, and Jake Brigance wouldn't be Jake Brigance without her. Carla is his friend, his confidante, and yes, he can rely on Harry Rex and Lucien, and they can offer good advice and support, but not even close to the way Carla can. She is a vital part of everything that's happening and nothing would be the same without her.

At the same time, during this trial Jake has been alienated by the community and I am a little pissed about it, about their inability and, to some extent, refusal to understand his position. But I am happy for Lucien, for his insight. I feel like Jake grew up a little in this book, he's on his way to becoming a truly fearless and unstoppable lawyer.

That's why there has to be another book in the works featuring Jake Brigance. I will not believe anyone saying there is not, not even John Grisham himself. I am fairly certain we are going to get another book judging by how it ended (there's no cliff hanger, just, I don't know, everything that happened, there is a lot more of Jake Brigance, there are more stories to be told), but it might take a while so I am going to be very glad that there are plenty of other John Grisham books that I can read meanwhile.