A Time to Kill

4.7 (5,702 ratings)

Written by: John Grisham

Performed by: Michael Beck

Length: 16 hrs 47 mins

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

First published in 1989, A Time to Kill is a legal thriller marking the debut of prolific, bestselling author John Grisham. Set in the fictional town of Clanton, Mississippi, the novel revolves around a harrowing incident of racial violence and the subsequent trial that grips the nation. The story is inspired in part by a case Grisham witnessed and is considered semi-autobiographical. The novel was adapted into a film in 1996 and a stage play in 2011, and has inspired two sequels, Sycamore Row (2013) and A Time for Mercy (2020).

The plot centers on the rape of a 10-year-old African-American girl, Tonya Hailey, by two white supremacists in Clanton, Mississippi. Enraged and seeking justice for his daughter, Carl Lee Hailey murders the assailants and is subsequently charged with capital murder. White attorney Jake Brigance, alongside friends Lucien Wilbanks and Harry Rex Vonner, takes on Carl Lee’s defense, navigating the racially charged atmosphere of a town fiercely divided by opinions on the crime. The prosecution, led by ambitious district attorney Rufus Buckley, sees this high-profile case as a stepping stone in his career. The trial becomes a spectacle, drawing national attention and escalating racial tensions, leading to violent confrontations between the Ku Klux Klan and the local Black community.

The climax unfolds in the courtroom, where Jake Brigance delivers an impassioned plea for justice, urging the jury to consider the case as if the racial roles were reversed. In a verdict that surprises many, Carl Lee is acquitted on the grounds of temporary insanity, a decision that brings complex feelings of relief, justice, and unresolved tension within the community. The novel concludes with Brigance, Wilbanks, and Vonner reflecting on their victory amid the fallout from the trial. A Time to Kill explores themes of justice, racial violence, and moral ambiguity, offering a compelling tale that probes the depths of the American legal system and societal prejudices.

More like this

This is a carousel with manual navigation. Use the buttons below to navigate.

About the author

John Grisham is an American author renowned for his legal thrillers. He has written more than 40 novels, with 37 of them becoming #1 bestsellers. His books have been translated into nearly 50 languages and sold roughly 300 million copies worldwide. Starting with his 1989 debut novel A Time to Kill, he has written a book nearly every year. Some of his well-known books include The Firm, The Pelican Brief, The Boys from Biloxi, The Judge's List, Sooley, and A Time for Mercy. Widely recognized for his contributions to literature, Grishman is a two-time recipient of the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction and was honored with the Library of Congress Creative Achievement Award for Fiction.

Before finding fame as a novelist, Grishman had successful careers as a lawyer and a politician. Born in 1955, in Jonesboro, Arkansas, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Mississippi State University and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law. He practiced criminal law for about a decade and served in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1983 to 1990 as a Democrat.

Outside of his writing, Grisham is deeply invested in social justice, serving on the board of directors for the Innocence Project and Centurion Ministries, both organizations aiming to exonerate wrongfully convicted individuals. This advocacy is mirrored in his literary works, which often explore themes of legal challenges and the criminal justice system. Grisham resides on a farm in central Virginia with his family, maintaining a personal life as rich and varied as the characters he creates. With each novel, Grisham continues to contribute to the fields of literature and law, making his mark as a thought leader and storyteller.