A Time for Mercy

John Grisham is amazing. I have read all of his books and jumped at the opportunity to read the new Jake Briggance novel, set in 1990 Mississippi. I flew through this novel and loved every page. Grisham is a master at describing the law, the courtroom, and the trial. I am keeping my fingers crossed that, because of the way the book ended, that there may be another book in the works. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC of this book.
Nice to be back in the courtroom with Jake. Feels like the Grisham I most enjoy.
Excellent.

John Grisham's stories set in Ford County are my favorites. Revisiting characters from A Time to Kill and Sycamore Row remind me how much I love immersing myself in the community Grisham has created. I recently read The Last Juror and enjoyed finding Lucien & Harry Rex in the cast of characters. Jake Brigance finds himself in another controversial case that will have him defend a 16 year old
suspect in the killing of a police officer. A Time for Mercy is thoughtful yet twisty. I loved it!

This is the best John Grisham book I have read in ages. I love Jake and his family. I puzzled during the entire book about how Jake was going to get his client off. I actually decided we would not have a good ending. Needless to say, Grisham came through once more. Any reader of mysteries will love A Time for Mercy.

Such a timely and thoughtful novel. Jake Brigance is back in a riveting drama, sure to be a bestseller. Great exploration of class and police attitudes.

It totally held my interest. I love Grisham. His writing puts me in the geography of the story. I know that book clubs will enjoy this.

Thank you Netgalley for for this exciting and engrossing novel.

Jake is back this time defending a sixteen year old boy accused of killing a cop. The sixteen year old and his fourteen year old sister witnessed the brutal beating and near death of their mother at the hands of her boyfriend, the cop. It didn't matter that they had been abused and threatened and that they believed he had killed their mother and wouldn't hesitate to go after them next. It only mattered that this boy shot a police officer in their small town and they are treating him like an adult. Jake is pushed to defend him and now finds his practice in near financial ruin because of it. It is hard not to like a Grisham book - he is like the Nicolas Sparks of legal drama. There is always an interesting legal battle, his defenders are always the underdog but good-hearted and there is almost always a happy ending. This one is no different and a solid legal drama. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

Grisham returns to Jake Brigance and 1990 Clanton, Mississippi when the attorney is given a sixteen year old client accused of killing a deputy. Drew Gamble seems an unlikely murder suspect, but the locals are calling for his blood. Jake doesn’t believe the boy is guilty and he’s willing to risk everything, his reputation, his finances, even his life to save Drew from death in the gas chamber. If you’re a Grisham fan like I am, you’ll love this return to Clanton and Brigance. I honestly think this is the best book Grisham has written in a long time

Another amazing outing by Grisham and one that leaves much room for a fourth Brigance story. In this turn Jake is given the case of a boy who shot a cop. The murder happened during a domestic dispute between the boy's mom and her boyfriend. The cop is beloved. The boy is two bit trash. Jake does not want the case as it will pay nothing, alienate the town, and have a detrimental impact on a pending legal case. Through masterful twists and turns the story unfolds and by the end readers are begging for more. It's not that the book doesn't tie up the plot
- just there is so much more that could be delved into in a further book. Love that each Brigance book is fresh and filled with depth.

From page one Grisham keeps you glued to the story set in 1990 about defending 16 year old Drew for the murder of his mothers boyfriend. This was one of the best books written by one of the most popular modern day authors today.It would be great if the story will continue where this one left off.
Thanks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Classic Grisham! I am so happy that he brought back Jake who is one of my favorite characters This story was as moving as the first two. I hope we keep revisiting this world great follow up!

Love returning to Ford County & Jake Brigance! Once again Jake has found himself in the middle of
a controversial case - defending a 16 year old boy who shot a cop. Couldn't put it down, full of
twists & turns and kept me guessing how it would all work out. Hopefully we'll see more of Jake &
Ford County in the near future!!

What can I say that has not already been said about this newest John Grisham novel? Having a Jake Brigance story set in Oxford is like visiting an old friend and his courtroom scenes are the best.

I’m a huge John Grisham fan so I was delighted to have received this ARC starring Jake Brigance of A Time to Kill and Sycamore Row fame. Grisham’s writing has a fluidity to it that always makes his books appealing. The plot immediately grabbed my attention and the characters were well-drawn and sympathetic. Grisham is a master at taking the nuances of the courtroom and making it both understandable and appealing to laypeople like myself. I do have to say that there were times that I found that the plot dragged a little and there were a few too many things going on. I feel like it needed some more editing. There were two cases highlighted and I feel like one would have been enough, especially since I felt that neither one of them was completely resolved at the end of the book. With that said, Grisham is a contemporary writer like no other and without a doubt, this book will be a huge hit.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Doubleday and John Grisham for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Jake Brigance Series book 3

Third in series - loved the first two books, I reread them before reading this one.

Criminal Lawyer Jake Brigance in Clanton Mississippi
now has a new case with a young boy 16 years old

You will get wrapped up in this case the further you read.
I enjoyed this book, but the ending makes me want more!

A Time for Mercy gives the reader an opportunity to catch up with Jake and his family and friends while he works on a new case. John Grisham has written a great book that is engrossing and hard to put down.

I am so hooked on Jake Brigance and the cast of characters here! I hope there will be more books with these characters. John Grisham delivers again with another great legal drama. Absorbing and hard to put down, I read this book in a few days. The characters are all rich in detail and you care so much about the outcome in this story. Full of twists and surprises, the story will make you question your concept of right and wrong, black and white, good and evil. You will be thinking about these concepts long after the book is done.

John Grisham's readers will be so happy to see Jake Brigance back in action! This title is just as engaging as the previous two in this series (it can be hard to keep track of John Grisham's series, but that's ok!). Readers who love a good courtroom drama with lots of backroom deals will truly enjoy this. Can't wait to recommend this one.

John Grisham is back! This book reminded me of the reason I began reading him: tightly defined characters and setting, great dialogue, and at the heart of it, a quality story and an unpredictable ending. I was afraid that The Reckoning and The Rooster Bar were what we could expect for the rest of Mr. Grisham’s writing career. I’m so glad to see Jake, Carla, Lucien, Harry Rex and crew back at it. Could we please have another book in this series soon, and focus it on Portia? Loved, loved, loved her and was glad to see her come from Sycamore Row,

John Grisham's latest novel, A Time for Mercy, brings back Ford County's Jake Brigance. Grisham brings wit, suspense and a roller coaters of emotions all tied into one story. This book steamrolls from the beginning and packs a wonderful punch! Fans of Grisham will LOVE this one. It's definitely one of his very best.

Very intense small town trial. Abusive situation but the police are protecting one of their own. Kids caught in the abuse,so sad. Characters intertwine well. John Gresham books never fail to capture the reader.

John Grisham does it again! Back to Ford County and the office of Jack Brigance. Time has passed since the Hailey trial and Jack is still trying to make his mark as an attorney. When a case that should be his biggest payday turns into his worst nightmare, when a family's worst night puts Jake and everything he has tried to build in danger. I enjoyed reading about Jake, Lucien, and Harry Rex navigating the politics and pressures of small town life. John Grisham can somehow make his readers want to live in Ford County and at the same time never want to live in a small town. There will never be another legal writer like John Grisham.

Having not a read a Grisham legal thriller in many years, I was reminded why I read his books in the first place. A compelling setup delivered with interesting multi-faceted characters made for a quick enjoyable read. I didn't realize until I was 2/3 of the way through the book that this was Book #3 in the Jake Brigance series so I'm definitely going to be going back to read #2.

Jake Brigance returns in the story and, along with an intriguing plot and well thought out and developed characters, this was John Grisham at his best. The courtroom drama and all the drama going on behind the scenes made this a book that kept me turning pages. Thanks for the opportunity to read it

John Grisham like I love John Grisham is back with A Time for Mercy, in which Jake Brigance is once again the main character. This time he is tackling another justified killing if only the court would see it that way. Unfortunately, the victim was a deputy sheriff, and there’s not a lot of sympathy in Clanton, Mississippi, for the 16-year-old killer, his mother, and his sister.

Already extremely busy with a case involving wrongful death of a family that was killed in an auto vs train accident, Jake does not want another capital murder case. He agrees only because the judge wants him to take the case, and it is the same judge in the pending wrongful death suit. Once again Jake finds himself at odds with the town and especially law enforcement officers who support one of their own, even though many knew some unsavory things about the victim.

The ending of the book seems to leave the door open to a sequel, and fans of Grisham will hope so as we cannot get enough of Jake Brigance.

John Grisham, a lawyer, started his writing career in 1988 with A Time to Kill, in which he introduced Jake Brigance. Several of his books have been adapted for movies, and he has said he wants Matthew McConaughey to portray Jake once again. No once writes a better trial procedural than Grisham in this reviewer’s opinion.

My review will be posted on Goodreads starting October 7, 2020.

I would like to thank Doubleday and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review.

Grisham fans will not be disappointed in his latest book. Jake Brigance is back and still suffering from taking on unpopular cases. And as often is the case, Grisham gives readers a moral question to ponder as he tells the story of a 16-year old he is defending on a murder charge. Drew murdered the abusive man he, his sister and mother live with. No one denies that, but the challenge is the cause. Was he justified in doing it? Of course, with Grisham there’s more layers to the story.

Grisham fans know that he writes a taut legal novel which is enriched by ethical dilemmas and good characters- and this is no exception. Stu Kofer, a deputy sheriff, comes home drunk and socks Josie, the woman he lives with into unconsciousness and then heads up to her 14 year old daughter Kiera's room, turning away only because she's barricaded in, along with her 16 year old brother Drew. The pair think Josie is dead and Drew shoots Stu in the head as the latter lies passed out in bed. This is the set up for Jake Brigance, ace defense attorney who is more or less forced to take the case by the judge. Jake's busy with a wrongful death case, too, against the railroad and this is the last thing he needs, especially since Stu has a large and angry family. No spoilers from me but this one raises some serious ethical questions- and Jake might not, in your view, make the right call. He's advocating for his clients- Drew and the remaining child of the family killed by the train- but would you do the same? Then there's one final decision that he makes with his wife Carla. It doesn't matter if you haven't read the early books featuring Jake (it's been years since I read Time to Kill), this is fine as a standalone. The law never gets too complicated but you will learn some nifty stuff that probably won't have any use in your daily life but which is good to know. You'll also learn about the economics of being a small town attorney. The characters are nicely drawn- frankly pretty much all the characters but Jake, who feels like more an observer than the others. Grisham has a distinctive writing style which carries you through even when it sags a bit. It's a good read. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Grisham's fans will relish this one as will new readers.

There is a time to kill, and a time for justice.

Jake Brigance, the lawyer in A Time For Justice, is back in this classic Grisham novel. He is appointed as counsel for an indigent teenager who is accused of murder. He is accused of killing his mother's boyfriend, a Clanton police officer. At first not wanting to get involved in a case where the town of Clanton is clearly on the side of the deceased, he soon comes to believe that the killing was justified.

The case seems impossible for Jake to win, but once again his courtroom strategies and brilliant defense of the teenager makes it impossible to put the book down.

A winner!

Another brilliant book by the amazing John Grisham. One of my absolute favorite authors. This time around the magnificent Jake Brigiance must defend a 16 year old who finds himself charged with murder. Can Jake work his magic again?

Nobody can write mystery/legal books like John Grisham! In 'A Time for Mercy', we get to revisit characters and places from past Grisham novels. The characters are well written, likeable, and believable. The story is compelling and controversial.

The pacing seems a bit slow sometimes, but the second half of the book picks up speed as it draws to a very satisfying conclusion.

A great read!

Fans of John Grisham rejoice! His newest novel—“A Time For Mercy”—was released October 13, 2020. And it is escapism at its best!

It is the third Grisham novel to feature Jake Brigance, a likeable lawyer with Mississippi State roots, who lives in the small town of Clanton, Mississippi. In this novel, Brigance is asked to take another unpopular, seemingly unwinnable case for very little money.

Brigance first appeared in Grisham’s writing more than thirty years ago in his debut novel, “A Time to Kill”, which was published in 1989. In it, Jake defends a black man on trial for killing the two white men who brutally raped his 10-year-old daughter in the year 1985. It, too, looks like an unwinnable case. That novel became extremely popular and was eventually turned into a successful movie. (This novel—“A Time for Mercy”—is ironically set in the year 1990.).

Grisham wrote many successful novels, but did not use Brigance again as a protagonist until his 2013 book “Sycamore Row” was published. So this is the third novel featuring Jake Brigance—a protagonist that you will grow fond of if you have not read the other two—published over a period of 35 years.

Enough background! Before the case can unfold, a heartbreaking crime must happen. Here is how the novel begins:

“The unhappy little home was out in the country, some six miles south of Clanton on an old county road that went nowhere in particular. The house could not be seen from the road and was accessed by a winding gravel drive that dipped and curved and at night caused approaching headlights to sweep through the front windows and doors as if to warn those waiting inside. The seclusion of the house added to the imminent horror.

It was long after midnight on an early Sunday when the headlights finally appeared. They washed through the house and cast ominous, silent shadows on the walls, then went away as the car dipped before its final approach. Those inside should have been asleep for hours, but sleep was not possible during these awful nights. On the sofa in the den, Josie took a deep breath, said a quick prayer, and eased to the window to watch the car. Was it weaving and lurching as usual, or was it under control? Was he drunk as always on these nights or could he have throttled back on the drinking?”

Stu Kofer, a likeable sheriff’s deputy by day, has a second personality. He likes to visit honky tonks where he drinks and fights. Then he comes home drunk and violent, and abuses his live-in indigent girlfriend and her two children aged 14 and 16. This night, he arrives and proceeds to beat his girlfriend unconscious while her two teenage children hide upstairs.

When he heads upstairs and tries to harm them and then moves on to his bedroom, they worry that he has killed their mother because she did not come to protect them as usual. Heading downstairs, they assume she is dead. They call 911, but don’t expect any help from the police because they have been called two times before and did nothing. Stu is, after all, one of them.

Drew, the 16-year-old son who looks much younger, grabs the cop’s gun and kills him. He’s charged with capital murder, which carries the death penalty. And a judge, ironically named Omar Noose, appoints Brigance to represent him.

When Brigance was an apprentice he was told by his mentor:

“To be a real lawyer, first you grow a thick skin, and second you tell everybody but your clients to go to hell.”

And, “A real lawyer is not afraid of unpopular cases.”

But defending a cop killer is instant unpopularity for a small town lawyer struggling to make ends meet—not matter how pitiful and needy his client and his family are.

Josie, the mother, survives, and the following conversation is had in her hospital room:

“Jake said, “I’m not sure how long I’ll be your lawyer. As I explained, the judge gave me a temporary appointment to handle the preliminary matters, and he plans to find someone else later.”

“Why can’t you be our lawyer?” Josie asked. Her words were slow and difficult, but clear enough for a conversation.

“I am, for now. We’ll see what happens later.”

Kiera, who was shy and had trouble keeping eye contact, said, “Mr. Callison from our church said you’re the best lawyer in the county, said we’re lucky to have you.”

Jake had not expected to be backed into a corner by his clients and forced to explain why he didn’t want them. He certainly couldn’t, and wouldn’t, admit that Drew’s case was so toxic he was worried about his own reputation. In all likelihood, he would live in Clanton for the rest of his life and try to make a decent living. The Gambles would probably be gone in a few months. But how could he explain this to two people staying in a hospital with no home, no clothing, no money, and the frightening prospect of their son and brother facing the death penalty? At the moment, he was their only protection. The church folks could provide food and comfort, but that was temporary.”

The book takes until chapter 40 before the court case begins, but as a reader, I didn’t mind at all. Grisham writes an excellent crime novel/thriller. And when the case finally begins, it is—of course—riveting.

It was wonderful to be treated to another Grisham novel—especially another one featuring Jake Brigance.

Thank you Doubleday and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book and for giving me the privilege of reviewing it.

The law works in mysterious ways - at least in small-town Mississippi courtrooms in 1990. And they're laid out here for all to read and enjoy as local attorney Jake Brigance takes on two very different high-stakes cases. One could earn a ton of money for his struggling practice; the other could get him killed.

The golden goose case pits Jake against a giant railroad company he alleges was negligent in keeping crossing lights in good repair. The result was a horrible accident that happened - or so Jake needs to prove - because the lights weren't working. Needless to say, the railroad attorneys insist they were working just fine. As the book begins, it looks as if the railroad may be willing to offer a substantial cash settlement with Jake's client - thus allowing Jake to pay his bills as well as those he's racking up defending the client in his other case - one he got [ahem!] railroaded into taking on by the local judge.

It is that case that gets the lion's share of attention. A 16-year-old boy has been charged with the cold-blooded murder of his mother's boyfriend. The case is complicated by the fact that the dead guy was a local deputy sheriff - albeit one with a nasty temper and a penchant for getting drunk. Under state law, the boy can and will be tried as an adult; many, if not most, of the town's residents (and most certainly the victim's family and his fellow officers) are fervent in their belief that he deserves the death penalty.

The more Jake learns, though, the more he believes the charges against his young client aren't warranted. Readers, of course, learn the details of what really happened as well as how Jake and his legal cronies are working out their courtroom strategy. Suffice it to say it's a real treat to follow along - or at least it was for me. I have to say I wasn't totally thrilled with the way things turned out even though it probably was for the best, but I'm encouraged that there is plenty of fodder for the next book in this terrific series (this is the third). Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review it.

Thought Provoking and Compassionate
A well-written and interesting story of the changing views on the death penalty and the challenges of poverty and morals and mistrust of law enforcement. Who fights for those who have no hope for the future, no good experiences of life, and nothing to live for? Why bother? Who cares? A teenager is desperate and depleted when he kills his family's abuser, a cop - his mother's boyfriend. Is he guilty of murder or is it justifiable homicide? This novel poses so many questions to society and begs for answers just beyond the edge of the book. My only criticism is an unsatisfying end to a story I wanted to watch play out. I was engrossed from the beginning to end, shattered by the raw emotions, and left wondering why this was allowed to go to trial in adult court. If ever there was a time for mercy, this family needs it desperately. I loved all the characters and the book's balanced approach to race, women, and justice - in the midst of the south - smart and compelling. I'll be thinking about this book for a while.

Jake Brigance is back. Assigned a case of murder of a police officer and the trial of a sixteen year old, Jake must play a chess game of defense. All the colorful characters are here and the legalese fits well into the narrative. The Courtroom is where Grisham is at his best.

Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley

Undeniably a solid John Grisham Legal Drama. Grisham's characters come to life in this small southern town. All the characters are spot on for the setting of this rural Mississippi town. I love his character, Jake Brigance. Jake is a smart lawyer and, surprisingly, a good man. I hope to see more of him and the way Grisham left the end of the novel- I have to believe that there is more coming. I am not sure how I feel about the ending - so much left unanswered - so many potential problems not broached - not really happy with it. The ending plus a few more areas during the novel appear where you may need to suspend your disbelief. The beginning seemed a bit slow going for me but make it through the set up and into the courtroom and you will be hooked. The courtroom drama is defiantly the best part of the novel. Grisham is assuredly the King of the courtroom drama.
It is an entertaining read!

*** This ARC was provided by Netgalley for an honest review***
The 3rd installment of the Jake Burgance series didn’t disappoint! We catch up with Jake and Clanton Mississippi it’s 1990. A sheriff deputy is killed in his home with his own gun. Jake works real hard to not get tangled up in the capital murder case, but someone has to defend the 16 year old boy who has been accused of murder. The whole gang is back in this book from Harry Rex to moody old Lucien. Grisham has a talent for writing books I just can’t put down, let alone stop thinking about after I’ve fished. Let’s hope it doesn’t take another 8 years for the next book!

I was so excited to dig into southern, small town, county court drama, and Grisham delivered. Not unexpectedly you had your murders; your bar fights, your domestic abuse, your breakfast-all-day diner, your good ole boy networks, and your many, many churches. What I didn’t expect and certainly learned more about was the latitude of county judges, the financial difficulties of a good attorney, the varying states of unconsciousness when your BAC is over .3, and that even in a southern state where racism runs rampant, a smart cookie like Portia can go as far as she wants to in life, no matter the color of her skin. Cheers to Grisham for including a positive female role model.