The Last Juror

Willie Traynor, a newly graduated journalist, moves from the north to a small town in Ford County, Mississippi, and takes over the local newspaper. In 1970, shortly after he’s taken over the paper, Danny Padgitt is arrested for raping and murdering a young mother, in her home, while her kids woke up and witnessed what was happening. Willie’s coverage of the story puts him in the path of the entire Padgitt family, who tend to keep to themselves. In the meantime, Willie has become friends with a local black woman, a woman who becomes the first black woman to serve on a jury in Ford County. After the trial, the town moves on and Willie continues to cover the news over the next decade or so… and jury members from the old Padgitt trial show more start to turn up, murdered.

I really liked this one. I have to admit that the middle section slowed down, but I really liked the first section and it picked up again at the end. I also really liked the friendship between Willie and Miss Callie. show less

OK, the little free library found a good one this time. I would never have paid money to find out whether Grisham was reasonable, but I saw this one and though "what have I got to lose?"
And I really enjoyed it. Characterization was well done, the language was not objectionable (although the rape incident itself was definitely horrendous). He kept me in suspense most of the way through, although when I was about 75% done, I wondered how he could possibly knock off all the remaining jurors.
I will return this book to the library, and probably read more by this author. One of my friends claimed that Grisham stories have lots of plot holes, but I didn't find it so in this one, anyway. At least not bad enough to bother me.

This book was different than I envisioned it based on the back cover blurb. The blurb talked more about Danny Padgitt swearing to get revenge on those who helped convict him and that life in prison isn't really life in prison, so Padgitt is now out. In reality, that was only a small portion of the book. The book focused more on how Willie Traynor came to Clanton and how he met Callie Ruffin. It details their friendship's development and how it endures. Willie met Callie prior to the trial. She became one of the jurors for Padgitt's trial and the county's first African American juror.

So much better than The King of Torts. This is written by a young regional newspaper editor, an outsider in a small country community – so much of the subject matter is social observation, alongside the usual riveting legal case. We touch on segregation and de-segregation, mob families, huge families, the role of an editor in a small town, insanity, the Vietnam War, the popularisation of drugs, and the difficulties of being accepted into a closed community, in 500 short pages (I whipped through it and would have completed it easily in one sitting had I not been 5 days from getting married and thus spewing organisational information from the eyeballs).

Because Grisham doesn’t rely on the thrill of the money and the litigation, the show more pace is a little slower but much more pleasant. He also takes the time to develop some great characters (the Italian-speaking, 7 PhDs-raising chef extraordinaire Miss Callie has to be one of his best creations) and entertaining atmosphere – the brand new editor having war declared on him in a courtroom and delivered via a bomb, for example – which puts this several shelves ahead of King of Torts. show less

Seems like the 'vintage' Grishams are the best; this was an intriguing plot, albeit perhaps a little far-fetched. The premise that the judicial system in "the Deep South" is deeply corrupt might not be credible, although it is as prone to unscrupulous manipulation as many elected judge and constabulary forces have been shown. The character development was superb. Grisham's smooth writing persuades you to buy into the scenarios. His vintage endings are unpredictable. In a re-reading, the story was less entertaining and seemed to drag repetitively in places.

I haven't read a John Grisham book in many years, though I did read his novels fervently in my early teen years. This one has that comfortable Grisham readability, but no real intrigue or intensity. The plot just kind of hums along. Predictable and forgettable, kind of like a chill paddle boat ride.

Edit: I hadn't read the back cover or Goodreads summary before touching the book or leaving my review. If you DID have that info, I would say that book would go from "chill" to tedious. It's predictable without a plot pathway.

Grisham’s Greatest

Using a small Mississippi town during the 1970s as a backdrop, John Grisham renders, what I believe, is his finest novel.

Unforgettable characters, traumatic events, unforeseen twists and a life-like conclusion combine to create this fast-paced read. Too many of Grisham’s books, in my opinion, conclude with forced endings. It is almost as if the author is worn-out by the plot and his characters so he forces the story into an unreal finish.

That is not the case with this book. Set in the south during desegregation, the end of the Viet Nam War and the beginning of suburban and rural sprawl, Grisham characters are believable. They reflect the times in which they live. They live; they die. They enjoy success; they show more struggle with life’s dilemmas.

This is not your typical Grisham novel. I, for one, am grateful for that. Novelists should grow with experience. With this book, Grisham leaps from the category of “popular novelist” to “great writer.” show less