Defying the odds - a great debut novel (A Time to Kill - John Grisham)

Member Name: pmcds

Product:	A Time to Kill - John Grisham
Date:	06/05/08 (42 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Beautiful characterisation and sequencing

Disadvantages: None

A Time To Kill is the debut novel from lawyer turned author John Grisham, who has taken the legal thriller world by storm since the publication of this novel in 1989 and is still going strong today.

The Plot

Young lawyer Jake Tyler Brigance finds himself defending Carl Lee Hailey, a father accused of the murder of two men who raped his daughter. Hailey's supposed murderous act and his trial sparks a resurgence of the local Ku Klux Klan (KKK). Assisted by the persevering Ellen Roark, Brigance attempts to defend his client against all the odds.

My Opinion

Grisham has rarely written one finer than this novel. Here, he tackles many issues right off the bat, such as racism, legal corruption, and what money can buy. In Brigance he has created the first of many young and bold lawyers to defy the system and create a marvellous speech, and in his other characters he has monitored everything that is wrong with the world and encompassed it in them.

The writing style of Grisham has a very methodical feel to it, while creating suspense and compications at the same time. John Grisham has long been a favourite author of mine, and I believe this debut novel is probably his best.

Conclusion

Brilliant book. Perfect debut for Grisham.

I rate this book at 5 stars out of 5.

The book is available from amazon.co.uk for £4.89.

This review may also be posted on ciao.co.uk.

Thanks for reading.

Summary: A Time To Kill - John Grisham's debut novel