Ford County: Stories

By: John Grisham

Narrated by: John Grisham

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In this “terrifically charming” (The Washington Post) collection of short stories, John Grisham takes us back to Ford County, Mississippi—the setting of his timeless first novel, A Time to Kill.

“Ford County is the best writing John Grisham has ever done.”—Pat Conroy

Wheelchair-bound Inez Graney and her two older sons embark on a bizarre road trip through the Mississippi Delta to visit Inez’s youngest son, Raymond—on death row. A hard-drinking, low-grossing divorce lawyer fed up with his wife, his life, and the law plans a drastic escape after an unexpected phone call. A quiet, unassuming data collector sets out to bring down a flashy casino owner with his skill at blackjack—as payback for taking up with his wife. A stalker hunts victims in a retirement home; a lawyer confronts a vengeful adversary from the past; and a young man from a prominent family is driven off by scandal and fear—but finds unexpected redemption on the wrong side of the tracks.

Featuring a cast of characters you'll never forget, these stories bring Ford County to vivid and colorful life. Often hilarious, frequently moving, and always entertaining, this collection makes it abundantly clear why John Grisham is our most popular storyteller.©2009 John Grisham; (P)2009 Random House

Critic reviews

“Terrifically charming . . . You absolutely can’t stop reading.”—The Washington Post

“Grisham shows off his literary chops: He can do wry, emotional, funny, serious.”—USA Today

“Sharp, lean tale[s] . . . full of tacit suspense . . . Grisham knows how to make himself eminently readable.”—The New York Times Book Review

“Intrigue and sorrow fuel these fine tales. . . . Each wins you over in surprising ways.”—People

Great stories

I enjoyed every story. I especially liked how he integrated some of the people and locations from his earlier novels. The person who thought the southern accent was too strong, must not live in the south.

Disappointing Narration!

After listening to a third of the book, I was shocked to learn that the author is the narrator because he sounds like a ninth-grader reading it for the first time. Fill of awkward pauses and almost no inflection. Interesting stories, but Mr Grisham should stick to writing!

Ford County Review

Great stories and loved that John Grisham narrated. His narrative made these stories feel more authentic. Believable southern characters kept the stories moving and provided much entertainment. I can’t believe I’ve never read his books before. Well, now that I know better I’ll do better. Listened to these short stories during a road trip. My husband and I found ourselves anxious to get back in the truck to continue exploring Ford County. Excellent book!

When reading a review is most helpful

I would have hesitated buying this time if I had read but a few lines offered by those who went before. Audio books, and thereby their original,suffer bad reviews for poor reading. Could poor Mr. Grisham not hear himself??

humor as well as tragedy

One things I like about Grissom is that when he tells stories about people in the South, is his understanding of the background they have come from , and reveal, in the story. Some of the finest people I have ever know were from very impoverished backgrounds, in small towns, in the deep south . There is no ridicule. The stories are by someone who knows intimately the characters he writes about and he does not disparage them in any way. In this one, there is humor that my time in AL and the FL panhandle can recall lovingly.

Excellent book.

Loved this book. Very entertaining and a small insight into a few different time periods in Mississippi.

One of my favorites!

I absolutely love that each chapter was independent of the others. Short, intriguing stories. I wish John would narrate all his books.

Different

Not much legal or mystery/thriller just some Clanton characters in vignettes. I like Grisham's narration a lot.

Great Collection Of Short Stories

I'm a big John Grisham fan. To the point where I will buy one of his books just because I see his name on it, without even reading the description. This collection did not disappoint. It's like little insights to other lives. The fact that the Author was the narrator made them so much better because he knows the cadence and direction of the story in his mind and can read it how he intended it to be read.

content and narration

Only John Grisham could bring comedy relief to an execution. I enjoy listening while I am working.