#1 bestselling author John Grisham’s The Reckoning is his most powerful, surprising, and suspenseful thriller yet. “A murder mystery, a courtroom drama, a family saga… 1946, Clanton, Mississippi
Pete Banning was Clanton, Mississippi’s favorite son—a decorated World War II hero, the patriarch of a prominent family, a farmer, father, neighbor, and a faithful member of the Methodist church. Then one cool October morning he rose early, drove into town, and committed a shocking crime. Pete’s only statement about it—to the sheriff, to his lawyers, to the judge, to the jury, and to his family—was: “I have nothing to say.” He was not afraid of death and was willing to take his motive to the grave.
In a major novel unlike anything he has written before, John Grisham takes us on an incredible journey, from the Jim Crow South to the jungles of the Philippines during World War II; from an insane asylum filled with secrets to the Clanton courtroom where Pete’s defense attorney tries desperately to save him.
Reminiscent of the finest tradition of Southern Gothic storytelling, The Reckoning would not be complete without Grisham’s signature layers of legal suspense, and he delivers on every page.
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Great Grisholm piece of work! Couldn’t put it down.
As always, John Grisham has written a very entertaining piece, with this book. And, as always, he keeps the reader guessing until nearly the very last page.
A very original story. John Grisham is one of the best story tellers. Interesting insight into US’s war with Japan.
One of Grisham’s best.
Anything by John Grisham is well worth the money.
One of Grisham’s very best!
I was very disappointed, the whole middle of the book was details about a war. If I wanted to read a war novel I would have. I have read all of Grisham’s book and I’m sorry to say he missed the mark with this one.
Another great read from Grisham.
So sad and depressing
Another great Grisham novel! Good character development, description of rural MS of the period, with “a Grisham twist” toward the end, that I didn’t see coming!
not his best
Not up to Grisham’s usual standard in my opinion. Ending felt weak and I was counting on an interesting twist that never came.
Loved it
Great story, writing and characters. As always from John Grisham.
I enjoy reading books with historical overtones and this one definitely delivered on several fronts. This undoubtedly is the best book I’ve read in a very long time. It was a book that gave me pause days after I finished it. I heartily recommended it to numerous friends. The Reckoning could well be Baldacci’s best ever.
It felt like John Grisham had someone ghost write this for him. i’m 75% of the way through this book and frankly, while this goes against every ounce of my being, i’m contemplating not finishing it. SUCH a slow read. Not very engaging at all. Actually, quite boring.
Not the Gresham style of characters, too much other non-Gresham input.
I read Grisham for the courtroom drama and suspense — not to get a very long and detailed history lesson. The book starts off with promise. War hero Pete Banning walks into his church and murders the pastor, Dexter Bell. No reason why, and he hamstrings his lawyer from defending him in any meaningful way. For good measure, he has remanded his wife Liza to a mental institution. All very mysterious, and so far so good.
Where this book becomes tedious is with the background and explanation of the why Banning committed the murder. It traces things back to his soldier days, including very long detailed descriptions of the battles, historical facts, POW experiences, guerrilla soldier experiences. When I say long detailed descriptions, I mean pages upon pages. As other said, I skipped long portions of the book. I’m just not a history buff.
While other books Grisham writes have historical underpinnings, they are just enough detail to support what he is good at writing: legal and courtroom dramas. I cannot recommend this book.
Very depressing.
typical Grisham, gets you hooked at the beginning and keeps you turning the page…