• A Time to Kill

  • Jake Brigance, Book 1
  • By: John Grisham
  • Narrated by: Michael Beck
  • Length: 16 hrs and 47 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (62 ratings)

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A Time to Kill  By  cover art

A Time to Kill

By: John Grisham
Narrated by: Michael Beck
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Publisher's summary

The multi-million copy best-selling thriller that introduced Jake Brigance to Clanton and inspired a sequel, Sycamore Row.

When Carl Lee Hailey guns down the hoodlums who have raped his 10-year-old daughter, the people of Clanton see it as a crime of blood and call for his acquittal. But when extremists outside Clanton hear that a black man has killed two white men, they invade the town, determined to destroy anything and anyone that opposes their sense of justice. Jake Brigance has been hired to defend Hailey. It's the kind of case that can make or break a young lawyer. But in the maelstrom of Clanton, it is also the kind of case that could get a young lawyer killed.

©1992 John Grisham (P)1992 Random House, LLC

Critic reviews

"Grisham is an absolute master!" ( The Washington Post)

What listeners say about A Time to Kill

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Boring and Too Long

I realise that this book is well liked and from a successful and famous author and I also read that many consider this his best, but I didn't especially appreciate it. I have listened to other John Grisham books and really enjoyed them. However, I didn't think the characters were well developed or believable and the story line had little suspense and was almost boring in its predictability. This book could have been a great short story but it dragged on and on forever and ever and ever! The story certainly wasn't worthy of 500 plus pages. Edit out 250 pages and it might be less painfully boring! The book was written in 1989 therefore the storyline is very dated. If you have nothing but time to kill I wouldn't recommend this reading book. I enjoyed reading the sequel to this book "Sycamore Row" which I thought was a very good read.

Michael Beck was fantastic with the delivery of the story and the reason I finished the book

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A worldwide problem of racism.

Legislative details are very extensive. The racist barriers very real. Without the skin we are all the same.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it. Excellent narrator. Highly recommended.

A brilliant narrator and a wonderful story well written and I really enjoyed it !

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

You'll love this if you hate bigotry..

What did you love best about A Time to Kill?

The attempted justice of Carl Lee Hailey by the lawyer defending him and the hypocrisy of the people that were claiming to try and help him.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Time to Kill?

Without a doubt, the story itself, from start to finish.

What about Michael Beck’s performance did you like?

He explains the plot of the story in a way that compels you to keep listening to the story.

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

Absolutely nothing. The narrator was brilliant.

Any additional comments?

If you despise racism and bigotry, you will love this book and without giving too much away, you will LOVE the way the story ends. This has to be one of John Grisham's best. Highly recommended read!

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