The Last Juror

Grisham is arguing that justice has to be seen to be done, rather than specifically for the death penalty or even life-means-life sentencing. Though his case is loaded, it is never entirely sentimentalised partly because these events are seen through the eyes of one of his most engaging narrators--a young northern-newspaper editor out to make a name and a fortune for himself, but also committed to the truth and a saintly African-American matriarch who serves on the Padgitt jury. This is a deeply populist book, but never a stupid one. --Roz Kaveney

Reader Reviews:

First Grisham experience - very average (0/0 people found this helpful)

This review is from the perspective of a first time Grisham reader, so I hope it offers something different from his "core readership".

Having enjoyed several films based on Grisham books and being a fan of thrillers, I picked this one out of the large Grisham section in my bookshop. Having got to the end, I have to say I was left wondering what all the fuss was about.

Top start with the good points, the book is reasonably well written, and does well in immersing the reader in the small town in the South of the US that is the setting for the story. He develops characters well and the book has an interesting cast list. It's an easy read and not one that takes much effort or time - in a sense a perfect "holiday book".

On the down side, it really wasn't much of a thriller. Much of the early part of the book introduces the characters and the trial which sends the member of the local crime family to jail. None of this is a surprise as the summary on the book jacket tells you this will happen. After that, you get much more character development rather than thrills. The real "thriller" part probably starts 50 pages from the end, and is at a fairly gentle pace - really dictated by the very measured actions of the main characters. There is a twist (which I won't ruin), but it's not particularly shocking, and I got to the end thinking "is that it?".

Overall, it maybe my expectations were wrong, but while it was a fairly enjoyable read, it was almost wholly lacking in thrills, and certainly didn't have that page-turning-can't-put-it-down quality that a good thriller should have. With so many good thriller authors out there, it will be a while before I return to Grisham.

Great Page Turner (0/0 people found this helpful)

This book is one of JG top novels. When you get started you cannot but it down,itis a book that makes you tink and makes you wanna be the main character willie traynor

Comfort Reading (0/0 people found this helpful)

Whilst I don't wait breathlessly for the next Grisham, I do return to them every 3rd or 4th book as they are generally pretty consistent and enjoyable, and definitely easy to read.

This I found to be one of his better books, slightly different to the rest with the main trial over quickly and conclusively but the aftershocks felt several years later in the small Mississippi town of Clanton. It's told through the eyes of Willie Traynor, the young editor of the town's local paper who quickly realizes that the grisliest murder in town for years makes good copy and sells papers. His enthusiasm soon lands him in trouble with the dangerous family of the accused and the local sheriff however. The jury fail to send the perpetrator to the chair, a decision they will come to rue when Danny, murderer, rapist and member of said notorious and influential Padgitt family, is released after less than ten years.....

The story is well (slowly) paced, as Willie Traynor's deep friendship develops with Miss Callie, a descendant of the slave trade and the first black woman ever to sit on a jury, and the town moves on after the atrocity. Grisham enters Bryson territory in parts, with a thinly veiled attack on the Wal-Mart style store opening in town, changing its character for good. He captures small town coffee-shop gossip and mentality perfectly with some humorous asides. What some people may see as padding, others may see as charm and a keen observation on life in the Deep south in the 1970s.

Overall a good read, not a court room sizzler, but enjoyable all the same. I only wish the Padgitt clan had more of an input to spice it up a bit more....

A Really Enjoyable Read (0/0 people found this helpful)

Let me start out by saying John Grisham does not write the type of books that usually interest me, but this had me page turning well into the night.

Danny Padgitt is sentenced to life for the murder of a young mother. After the trial he swear that he will take vengeance on the members of the jury that convicted him.

Nine years later, Padgitt is allowed out on parole and heading back for retribution . . .

A Fast Read (1/1 people found this helpful)

I was able to read this book in two sittings. Mr. Grisham writing style has improved quite a bit. And I have always liked it. This book takes place in the south in the seventies. A young man just out of college without graduating and moves to a small town where he takes a job on a county paper. The county is in Mississippi, Grisham's old stomping grounds.

This young man, Willie Traynor, ends up being the narrator of our story that takes us through almost a decade of life and turmoil in this town. He ends up owning the paper and interacting with a lot of interesting characters. He makes good friends with the Ruffin family who is God fearing and raised eight children. Seven of which earned PhD's. And runs afoul of the most nefarious family in the county.

We watch Willie grow up before our eyes; there is some courtroom drama and suspense. The plot is definitely character driven. And Gresham tries to put in a twist, but I found it a little to easy to figure out long before I reached the end. (I will not tell you where I figured it out, for that will ruin the ending for you. But the clues are there.)

The Ruffin family is endearing, but the Mississippi in the early seventies was still pretty much segregated. I would love to have known the Miss Callie Ruffin character. This book is worth reading.

John Grisham

Editorial Review: