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The Chamber  By  cover art

The Chamber

By: John Grisham
Narrated by: Alexander Adams
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Publisher's summary

In the corridors of Chicago's top law firm:

Twenty-six-year-old Adam Hall stands on the brink of a brilliant legal career. Now he is risking it all for a death-row killer and an impossible case.

Maximum Security Unit, Mississippi State Prison:

Sam Cayhall is a former Klansman and unrepentant racist now facing the death penalty for a fatal bombing in 1967. He has run out of chances - except for one: the young, liberal Chicago lawyer who just happens to be his grandson. While the executioners prepare the gas chamber, while the protesters gather and the TV cameras wait, Adam has only days, hours, minutes to save his client. For between the two men is a chasm of shame, family lies, and secrets - including the one secret that could save Sam Cayhall's life...or cost Adam his.

"A dark and thoughtful tale pulsing wit moral uncertainties...Grisham is at his best." (People)

"Compelling.... Powerful.... The Chamber will make readers think long and hard about the death penalty." (USA Today)

©1994 John Grisham (P)1999 Random House, Inc., Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, A Division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"His best yet." (The Houston Post)

"Mesmerizing...with an authority and originality...and with a grasp of literary complexity that makes Scott Turow's novels pale by comparison - Grisham returns." (San Francisco Chronicle)

Featured Article: The Essential John Grisham in Audio


John Grisham is best known for his fast-paced legal thrillers and mysteries, many of which have been adapted for television and film. Because he’s so prolific and has been writing for decades, it can be difficult to know where to begin when selecting a title from his impressive back catalog. And Grisham is definitely a jack-of-all-trades: he’s written not only legal thrillers, but nonfiction, a series for kids, some humorous novels, and recently, a new mystery series outside of the legal thriller genre. To help you decide which Grisham gem to download next, we’ve compiled a list of the very best.

What listeners say about The Chamber

Average customer ratings
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Great story line

The story line was great but I have to admit I was disappointed with the ending. It’s worth a listen and the performance was excellent. Give it a listen and decide for your self. The ending could have went several different ways.

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  • Overall
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CLASSIC GRISHAM, ONE OF MY FAVORITES

This book is awesome from the very beginning to the very end. Gripping, suspenseful, twists & turns all over the place. If you love Grisham's work, you'll surely love this one. It's one of my favorite Grisham books, and I LOVE the narrator, he's perfect for these books :)

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  • Overall
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One of my favorites

This was a sad book but one of history about a time when racism was excepted and even taught. Being from the south I was taught racism but thankfully gave up my daddy’s views and found my own love for people of color. I still believe in capital punishment but I believe in it for the sick that have done heinous crimes, and once proven beyond a reasonable doubt, for Sam there was doubt & yet the state still wanted to execute him. For this crime capital punishment was not justified.

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  • Overall
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Brought tears

The buildup-the ending actually brought tears to my eyes. This is one of those stories that you easily become part of. TERRIFIC!

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John Grisham is Great

I almost felt like I was with Sam on his death row journey. Grisham educates the reader on the many details involved in this process, including the horrid ending.
On a sidenote, this narrator is OK, but I think Michael Beck is the best Grissom narrator of all

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  • Overall
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Good book

Good book although at times it seemed a little slow. I t probably is not Grishems. best work

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Thou shalt not kill

More proof why we don't get to decide who lives and who dies. This is not justice.

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Memorable characters

Very poignant story, one that makes you ponder the death penalty. I’ll not forget this story and would recommend it to others.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Held my atention

I covered many miles while listening and don't remember most of them. Mr. Grisham is very good at discribing the surroundings, so much so I felt like I was there. Well worth the time.

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Good, but political

It’s well done, very. The whole story revolves around how the death penalty it terrible and inhumane. If this is your thing, you will enjoy it? (Or get really frustrated, I’m not sure) just want you to know going into it. If you are not against the death penalty, and you feel up for it, it lets you see another side in a very up-close way.

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