Sycamore Row

By: John Grisham

Narrated by: Michael Beck

Length: 20 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Finalist, Thriller/Suspense, 2014

John Grisham takes you back to where it all began...

John Grisham's A Time to Kill is one of the most popular novels of our time. Now we return to that famous courthouse in Clanton as Jake Brigance once again finds himself embroiled in a fiercely controversial trial - a trial that will expose old racial tensions and force Ford County to confront its tortured history.

Seth Hubbard is a wealthy man dying of lung cancer. He trusts no one. Before he hangs himself from a sycamore tree, Hubbard leaves a new, handwritten, will. It is an act that drags his adult children, his Black maid, and Jake into a conflict as riveting and dramatic as the murder trial that made Brigance one of Ford County's most notorious citizens, just three years earlier.

The second will raises far more questions than it answers. Why would Hubbard leave nearly all of his fortune to his maid? Had chemotherapy and painkillers affected his ability to think clearly? And what does it all have to do with a piece of land once known as Sycamore Row?

In Sycamore Row, John Grisham returns to the setting and the compelling characters that first established him as America's favorite storyteller. Here, in his most assured and thrilling novel yet, is a powerful testament to the fact that Grisham remains the master of the legal thriller, nearly 25 years after the publication of A Time to Kill.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2013 Belfry Holdings, Inc (P)2013 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

Praise for the novels of John Grisham

"John Grisham is about as good a storyteller as we've got in the United States these days." —The New York Times Book Review

"John Grisham is exceptionally good at what he does—indeed, right now in this country, nobody does it better." —Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post

"Grisham is a marvelous storyteller who works readers the way a good trial lawyer works a jury." — Philadelphia Inquirer

"John Grisham owns the legal thriller." —The Denver Post

"John Grisham is not just popular, he is one of the most popular novelists of our time. He is a craftsman and he writes good stories, engaging characters, and clever plots." — Seattle Times

"A legal literary legend." — USA Today

Read this!!!

Great Grisham read! Great performance...will move your soul or you aren't human! Read or listen to this!!

Gripping!

Love Grisham! I could almost see the characters faces and understand their struggles and emotions!

Back to what he does best!

If you could sum up Sycamore Row in three words, what would they be?

I agree with many of the comments made by other reviewers. I've read every book that John Grisham has written, but I was growing a little frustrated because he seemed to be straying from what he does best. This book recaptures the excitement that was prevalent in his early books. And - unlike many of his books - he's given us an ending that is satisfying.

What three words best describe Michael Beck’s voice?

Not the best audible performance. I thought Michael spoke a little too slow at times - in a halting fashion. And many of his characters reminded me of a bad impression of Bill Clinton.

Great Performance

What did you love best about Sycamore Row?

The story is OK: good but not great. However, this is one of the best read audiobooks I have listened to.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Any trial story is suspensful and this is a trial story with a twist.

What does Michael Beck bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The reading is just superb. He richly portrays all of the books different characters.

An exceptional story!

I've only read about 7 Grisham books, so I'm no expert, but this is a truly exceptional story regardless of the author. It's multi layered, moves at a good pace, is well plotted, and ties up all loose ends. The story contains symbolism, suspense, and surprises. I've never understood Grisham's ability to take the ugliness of the deep South, lay it out there, and still hold the interest of a liberal Northerner while he weaves a cathartic conclusion. He is the master of his genre.

Narration is Stellar and makes this book

What made the experience of listening to Sycamore Row the most enjoyable?

The narration. Best audible book I have ever listened to in that regard.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Sycamore Row?

In a John Grisham novel, so there are so many.

Which character – as performed by Michael Beck – was your favorite?

Lucian Wilbanks

I enjoyed it, but it was very predictable.

What made the experience of listening to Sycamore Row the most enjoyable?

Great storytelling. I had a hard time taking a break, but I guessed early on how it would end, and sure enough, I was right. Nonetheless, a very good book.

Listened to This Book in Just in 2 Sittings

I loved the story and the narrator! I just completed the book and now I am missing it - I may listen to it again before I move on to another book - I do not want to be so disappointed when the next book does not compare to this one. I could not stop listening waiting for the next shoe to drop in the story. Although I knew what the end would be - I enjoyed the journey.

love John Grisham books

did not disappoint....narrator was great... grisham books never fail to intrigue me, frustrate and educate.

Excellent listen

Where does Sycamore Row rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It is nice to have classic John Grisham back. Throughly enjoyable, I highly recommend this book. Enjoy!