Ratings14
Average rating4.1
***THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER*** 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, 10 blockbuster films: NO ONE WRITES DRAMA LIKE JOHN GRISHAM
Featured Series
4 primary booksJake Brigance is a 4-book series with 4 primary works first released in 1989 with contributions by John Grisham.
Reviews with the most likes.
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.
Jake Brigance third Installment
I had high expectations for This book given the highly positive reviews it received however it didn't raise to the bar. While I enjoyed living with Jack in this trial, I was hoping for more given Mr. Grisham's masterful talent and craftsmanship.
After reading the lame Camino series books, its good to see Grisham getting back to truly legal story. This story was very interesting with many threads crossing.