In the corridors of Chicago’s top law firm: Twenty-six-year-old Adam Hall stands on the brink of a brilliant legal career. Now he is risking it all for a death-row killer and an impossible case. Maximum Security Unit, Mississippi State Prison: Sam Cayhall is a former Klansman and unrepentant racist now facing the death penalty for a fatal bombing in 1967. He has run out of chances — … run out of chances — except for one: the young, liberal Chicago lawyer who just happens to be his grandson. While the executioners prepare the gas chamber, while the protesters gather and the TV cameras wait, Adam has only days, hours, minutes to save his client. For between the two men is a chasm of shame, family lies, and secrets — including the one secret that could save Sam Cayhall’s life…or cost Adam his.
“A dark and thoughtful tale pulsing wit moral uncertainties… Grisham is at his best.” —People.
“Compelling… Powerful… The Chamber will make readers think long and hard about the death penalty.” — USA Today.
“His best yet.” — The Houston Post.
“Mesmerizing… with an authority and originality… and with a grasp of literary complexity that makes Scott Turow’s novels pale by comparison — Grisham returns.” — San Francisco Chronicle.
BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from John Grisham’s The Litigators.
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The Chamber begins with young 26 year old law firm associate Adam Hall working 100 hours a week in Chicago and hating it. Through a series of events he comes to represent a former member of the KU Klux Klan convicted in a bombing in Mississippi that took the lives of two young five year old boys and, eventually, their father. Adam is in for a number of surprises as he takes on the effort to appeal Sam Cayhall’s death sentence while dealing with a number of personal issues that develop along the way. An excellent read.
Grisham is a great writer and this story was very compelling and thought provoking.
Typical Gresham. Typical Gresham legal novel.
John Grisham never disappoints!
This is the book that made me fall in love with Grishems books!
Ive read all of his books and when I get into his books it is hard to put it down. This book had allot of turns. I thought I guest what was going to happen but it turned out different. It was a very well written not disappointing which I highly recommend.
Another great Grisham book.
The best kind of suspense
I read this a long time ago but remember enjoying it
As the author of two mystery/suspense/thriller novels – the second just completed and shopped to publishers – I am reluctant to admit that I had never read a John Grisham novel until recently, when I finished The Chamber. Grisham is a master of suspense, intrigue and realism. Published in 1994, the book paints a searing picture of the Deep South of decades past – the attitudes, the physical environment, the historical context. With deep insights into human behavior, it powerfully evokes the mental and emotional makeup of a racist and the devastating impact he has on his entire family.
The offices of a Jewish civil rights lawyer in a small Mississippi town are bombed, critically injuring him and killing his two children. Sam Cayhall is one of the three perpetrators, and plans to set the bomb off in early morning, before the offices are occupied. But when he discovers that Rollie Wedge has used a timing device to make it go off after people have arrived at the offices, he does nothing. Cayhall is arrested, is exonerated, but later convicted of the crime and sent to death row. A young attorney from a large Chicago firm wins the assignment of defending him. The attorney is Adam Hall, Cahall’s grandson. He stays in the town with his aunt, Cahall’s daughter. She turns out to be alcoholic, and goes into treatment as the time for her father’s execution nears.
The Chamber keeps the reader riveted in anticipation of whether Adam will avert the electric chair for Cayhall, who is convincingly portrayed as having remorse for his past deeds as a Ku Klux Klan member but has utter contempt for the justice system. Rollie Wedge reappears, and has gotten into the aunt’s house while she is away. As the time nears for the execution, Adam is dismayed that she doesn’t come to visit her father. And this is where the novel has a weak link. Alert readers will be fully aware of it, and feel let down when they find that it never is resolved. Everything leading to the execution date is suspensefully realized, the characters, situations and settings vividly brought to life, but the ending is a disappointment. It’s the reader who’s left hanging.
Grisham ALWAYS delivers!!!
I’ve read John Grisham since he published the first novel. I know I’ll always have an action packed, good read with him.
This was a good book. Read a long time ago but it was well written. I read all John Grisham books
Whether you are for the death penalty or against it, this book will make you rethink your position.
Hard to read, painful in the descriptions.
I enjoyed reading this book.i thought it was well written.
Excellent book – made me do some deep thinking on the death penalty and how some people are taught hate from the time they are born. Very thought provoking for me.