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The Reckoning by John Grisham
2.5 stars (round down to 2)

This felt like John Grisham's audition to break into a new genre.

I don't really know how to describe this book. It was kind of weird. It starts with Pete Banning murdering the local preacher in cold blood. From there, we move through his trial in typical Grisham courtroom fashion, but we are completely wrapped up with that part of the story by about the halfway point and still don't know why he killed the preacher except that he says he has good reason.

We then flash back to his years in the Philippines during WW2. And, this has zero law to it! It is all about the war and prison camps and torture and what Pete did to survive the brutality of the Japanese. I can't saw that it wasn't interesting or well written, it was just out of place. It felt like he read Unbroken and wanted to try his hand at it.

But, then THAT part of the story wraps up at about 75% through and go back to the post-courtroom time and follow the aftermath of the murder and the impact it had on Pete's family.

I just felt like we were all over the place. And each piece was interesting and kept me reading, but it just felt disjointed. And, it was super clear from the beginning roughly why he killed the preacher, so when the truth was revealed, it wasn't that surprising. There was a bit of a twist, but it wasn't that shocking and I was so frustrated by Grisham drawing out the suspense for WAY TOO LONG that I just closed the book and moved on.

I did not feel like Pete's reasoning in any way justified his actions. Not in the slightest. I think (view spoiler)[ he was unhinged by the war though he seemed fine on the surface and he absolutely, 100% deserved to be convicted of murder and sent to prison for life. I also think it is appropriate that he lost his farm and land even though we did not like the people it went to. I am generally opposed to the death penalty, so I think the information would have prevented that outcome, but it did not make him any less guilty of premeditated murder. (hide spoiler)]

The book was fine. Each section was interesting in its own way, I guess, it just didn't hang well together.

Oh, and the narrator of the audiobook. OH MY WORD. He was the slowest reader in the history of readers. I bumped him up to 1.5x and it still felt excruciatingly slow. I cannot even fathom listening to this on regular speed. It was 17.5 hours for 432 pages! That is less than 25 pages an hour. That is more than 2 full minutes per page. That is soooooo sllloooowwww.

But, at 1.5 speed I actually enjoyed the narrator. So, there is that. lol.

I have been disappointed in the last couple of Grisham books-My number came up at the library last week, but I have too many others out right now, so I moved myself down to the bottom-your review lessons my disappointment in having to do that!

Yeah, I do not think you are missing much.

I was excited to read this one because he was finally going back to his Mississippi roots! But it did not live up to my expectations. Which weren’t even really that high because, like you, I have not been overly impressed lately.

Shoot. This one is up next for me and it doesn't sound like a winner.

I mean, it was semi entertaining and was a fast read. So, there is that.

I am not hearing good things about this book. I have not read any of his books but I guess I should go back to the older books when I do. Good review.

Rachel wrote: "I am not hearing good things about this book. I have not read any of his books but I guess I should go back to the older books when I do. Good review."

Rachel, go back to his very first book, A Time to Kill. Still one of my favorites!

But, many of his older ones are quite good. The Firm and The Rainmaker are up there for me too!

Rachel wrote: "I am not hearing good things about this book. I have not read any of his books but I guess I should go back to the older books when I do. Good review."

Definitely read his earlier works Rachel-the first 3 or 4 I remember reading late into the night.

Thanks guys. I’ll do that. I’ve got him on a list of authors to read.:)

If you like true crime, I highly recommend The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town. Although maddening and infuriating.

Nicole R wrote: "Rachel, go back to his very first book, A Time to Kill. Still one of my favorites!..."

It is my favourite of what I've read by him!

I suppose I should consider myself lucky that there are still plenty of old Grishams I haven't yet read. :-)

Meli wrote: "If you like true crime, I highly recommend The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town. Although maddening and infuriating."

And this is probably my next-favourite by him!

I have only read two Grisham books, I think - I stopped after Pelican Brief because I thought it was such a piece of dreck. It felt like there were two writers, and they alternated chapters or something because the writing styles kept changing, and I thought the story was scattered. Never read another after that.