The Confession

A Novel

By: John Grisham

Narrated by: Scott Sowers

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In this “grab-a-reader-by-the-shoulders suspense story” (The Washington Post) from “the master of the legal thriller” (USA Today), an innocent man is about to be executed—and only a guilty man can save him.

WINNER OF THE HARPER LEE PRIZE FOR LEGAL FICTION

For every innocent man sent to prison, there is a guilty one left on the outside. He doesn’t understand how the police and prosecutors got the wrong man, and he certainly doesn’t care. He just can’t believe his good luck, content to allow an innocent person to go to prison, to serve hard time, even to be executed.

Travis Boyette is such a man. In the small East Texas city of Sloan, he abducted, raped, and strangled a popular high school cheerleader. He buried her body so that it would never be found, then watched in amazement as police and prosecutors arrested and convicted Donté Drumm, a local football star, and marched him off to death row.

Now nine years have passed. Travis has just been paroled in Kansas for a different crime; Donté is four days away from his execution. Travis suffers from an inoperable brain tumor. For the first time in his miserable life, he decides to do what’s right and confess. But how can a guilty man convince lawyers, judges, and politicians that they’re about to execute an innocent man?

Critic reviews

“Brilliant . . . The Confession is the kind of grab-a-reader-by-the-shoulders suspense story that demands to be inhaled as quickly as possible. But it’s also a superb work of social criticism in the literary troublemaker tradition of Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle.”—The Washington Post

“[John Grisham] is a master at pacing. . . . The book starts fast and finishes faster.”—Los Angeles Times

“Packed with tension, legal roadblocks and shocking revelations . . . Readers who share his views as well as those sitting on the fence will find much to love and lament in the tragic story of Donté Drumm.”—USA Today

“Grisham is an adept ringmaster. . . . He channels his zeal and his legal expertise into a story that his fans will appreciate.”—St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Not Your Mother's Grisham

It's good to see John Grisham exploring different aspects of law practice. I liked the fact that this story was not a "beginning, middle, and end" plot, with a giant chase scene at the end. The book is character-driven, not led by the plot, and I prefer that. I disagree with the reviewer who said the book takes forever to "get off the ground", as I was into it from the start.

I like Grisham's writing method of gently easing the reader into the story and the situation, rather than starting off running with a big conversation or event where you don't know any of the characters and their contexts. Grisham is excellent at providing context, and the reader never feels as though he/she doesn't really know a character or can't place that character. Grisham never gives any superlative qualities to any character, and none is considered more "special" than any other by virtue of looks, income, money, status.

I would like to see Grisham explore different geographical areas other than small towns in the South, but I think that's what he knows best and where he feels most comfortable getting into detail.

I don't think Grisham needed access to an execution in order to describe the scene. It would be easy enough to create the details and emotions (but then I am a creative) if your imagination is working 100%.

I also liked that the resolution to the story was not of a "perfect world" in which everyone gets a prize. The realistic descriptions of the issues surrounding capital punishment, and the pathos, anguish and gut-wrenching emotional contortions of the principal characters simply added to my interest, rather than detracting. I was never of a mind to comment to myself "oh please stay away from that, it's too painful".

I would caution the narrator not to read the female parts in a simulated falsetto. Just makes the women all sound like old "fuddy-duddies".

Gut Wrenching - Must Read!

The only people that don't like this book are the people that are pro death penalty. To those of you that aren't stuck on the right so far and can have an open mind this book is a well written, well read and thought provoking book. I'd recommend this book to everyone, but would say do NOT drive while listening to parts of it as it will rip you up. This book will make you cry, make you angry and make you think, and you will like the characters... again, unless you're pro death penalty. If you're pro death or you're a bigot and do not have an open mind you will not like this book.

1st half is great, extreamly slow second half

1st half of the strory is captivating, but nothing happens in second half. I was waiting for twist and turns...sorry to say nothing happened. i would have been happier if second half was shortened as epilogue.

Heavy Handed and Preachy

Good Book – But Grisham definetly uses his position as a famous author as a bully pulpit.

Get ready for an emotional ride

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Yes. I am against the death penalty so it only affirmed what I believe. Against it or not, read this book. It might make you think.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

In true Grisham fashion he takes the story all the way to the end. It is not expected for sure.

Which scene was your favorite?

It involves Mrs. Drum and a suit. No book has ever evoked that kind of emotion from me before.

Do you think The Confession needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No he pretty much said all that needs to say about the death penalty.

Any additional comments?

This is a HEAVY book for Grisham. Not for the faint of heart!!!