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

Masterful !

What Grisham does in this masterfully crafted story is draw us a picture of exactly what life was like for people of color in the early days while involving us in the lives of some very likable and quiet humorous characters. Being born (1954) and raised in Mississippi I can relate to everything this story has to offer and found myself emotionally involved. Loved the accents...they were dead on!

a worthy follow up to a time to kill

I have been a fan of Grishams' since the beginning, especially enjoying the non-lawyer novels. Painted House and The Last Juror are two of my faves, along with A Time to Kill. This novel did not disappoint. It was great to catch up with Jake and Carla and Harry Rex. Also wonderful to have a cameo by Willie Traynor.

In a change for me, the narrator was great, lol! (i usually slam the narrator, but this one did just fine).

The best John Grisham book ever

I have read practically every John Grisham book. Yes there are some I could not get through like the Brethren. My idea of a good John Grisham book is “A Painted House” or “Bleachers”. For legal thrillers my favorites are “The Testament”, “The Last Juror” and “A Time To Kill”. However, Sycamore Row is his best book, period.

This is a nice good long book about the gripping court case to decide what to do with a fortune a white man left to his black house keeper.

This book brings back characters from “A Time To Kill”, “The Last Juror”, and “the Summons”. The pacing is excellent, there are twists, turns and tearjerker moments.

If you like John Grisham books you have to have this one. The audio production is also top notch. I was sad when I got to the end of this 20 hour book, I wish it could have just gone on and on…

A great read!

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

It is high on my list. Its at the top.

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

Seth's brother testimony of their childhood

Which scene was your favorite?

Courtroom settings

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes!

Great story!

First of all, the narrator was excellent. The story itself was fantastic and had me guessing until the end. Possibly one of Grisham's best.

Captivating novel read masterfully!

This is perhaps one of John Grisham‘s best novels. From the beginning, you are completely wrapped up in the story. It’s funny, provocative, and carries a punch of emotion in the end. Michael Beck brought the story to life in a way that no one else could have! I just could not stop listening.

Another great book

Sycamore Row is another great book by John Grisham. It’s probably one of my favorites. And the narration by.Michael Beck is just as great as the story.

A great listen, I enjoyed it.

A great listen, I enjoyed it and will be looking for
more by this author.

Great story, one big flaw

As a lawyer occasionally involved in will contests, I immensely enjoyed listening to the book while on an anniversary road trip with my wife through the South. The story had one glaring flaw that was hard to ignore but would have been hard for Grisham to fix: why would the decedent not state the reason for his bequest in the handwritten will? Why would he risk the strong possibility that his wishes would not be fulfilled (as a result of a certain will contest) by concealing his motivation? Why would he make bequests to his children in his will a year before his death when he knew all the relevant facts at that time? What changed? These questions are too central to be ignored.

Excellent

I lost sleep with this book. It was worth it. I could not stop. Even though about it while working.