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

Poignant, Well-told story

Relatable and detailed. It keeps ur attention from the first minute! Another Grisham masterpiece! You’ll not regret listening to this one!

Michael Beck makes the story come alive

Fascinating story! I’d read this book when it was first published, but had forgotten most of the details. So to hear it with Michaels expert narration made it feel like a brand new book. Thoroughly enjoyed it!

Kept me interested

The story kept me interested. The narrator was excellent. I would of liked an epilogue to know how Jake and his family were impacted by the results of the trial, but maybe that is being held for another book.

Great history story

John Grisham is a master a setting the plot for this story Very entertaining

Inspired novel, outstanding performance.

John Grisham's story is magnetic, as always. Now, told by Michael Beck in this brilliant performance, it stuck to me in a manner in which I could not stop listening. I listened to the more than 20 hours in just 7 days.

Loved it........

Another Grisham masterpiece! Hung on to every word. I thought I knew what to happen at the end but was still surprised.

Fabulous!

Wonderful book and loved the way the narrator told the story! Highly recommend this one.

Michael Beck rocks!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I do recommend this audiobook to any John Grisham fan. The story is engaging and I wanted a happy ending for Lettie. Mr. Beck's southern accents are spot-on and made for easy listening.

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

There are so many great moments...I loved the interactions between Jake and the judge especially.

Which scene was your favorite?

Lettie's drunk husband has been involved in an auto accident that caused the death of two young white boys from the local high school. Racial tension is very high already and this was about to push it over the edge. Lettie writes a very sincere letter to the boys families expressing her sorrow over their loss and her husband's behavior. The parent's of one of the boys comes to Jake's office and asks him to let Lettie know that they have forgiven and hold no hard feelings. Jake lets them know that Lettie's daughter is there at that moment (she works for him). They embrace her and share with her their spirit of forgiveness.

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

It was. I listened for several hours every day.

incredible narration

Great story. but the narrator made it even better. Excellent narration Michael Beck.

Enjoyed everything about Sycamore Row

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

One of the few audiobooks that I wanted to tell the world to go away so I could keep listening. The story and performance kept me engrossed from beginning to end.

Have you listened to any of Michael Beck’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

My first experience listening to Beck. He is a superb performer and I am going to search for and purchase other audiobooks performed by him as soon as I finish this review!!!

Any additional comments?

I have never taken the time to review a book on Audible, but felt compelled to share my experience on this one.