The Confession

A Novel

By: John Grisham

Narrated by: Scott Sowers

Length: 14 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

An innocent man is about to be executed.

Only a guilty man can save him.

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. Time passes and he realizes that the mistake will not be corrected: the authorities believe in their case and are determined to get a conviction. He may even watch the trial of the person wrongly accused of his crime. He is relieved when the verdict is guilty. He laughs when the police and prosecutors congratulate themselves. He is 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 1998, 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?

"John Grisham is about as good a storyteller as we’ve got in the United States these days." ( The New York Times Book Review)

©2010 Belfry Holdings, Inc (P)2010 Random House Audio

Great subject matter, unbelievable and cold tale

While I am against the death penalty, this book felt like a political persuasion book that portrayed the left as great protagonists with kind, gentle spirits AND the right as selfish, unsympathetic idiots. Even the victims mother, who relied on the 'truth' gathered by the legislative power at this nations highest levels, was portrayed as a heartless b$#@h for doing so. SHE LOST HER DAUGHTER! Overall, I was disappointed in Grisham's decision to paint the victims family and friends as evil! I have listened to over 100 books in the past 2 years by a variety of authors, and this is the first book that I found myself constantly contemplating abandoning ...in the end, I wish I had.

Amazing - JG did it again

Very much enjoyed every minute and could not stop listening.
Our legal system at its finest - Guilty until you prove yourself Innocent.
Would very much recommend it, it is really better than good.

Gripping story

Thoroughly enjoyed The Confession. I couldn’t stop listening. Scott Sowers narration greatly added to this gripping story of a man that was falsely charged of murder in Texas.

Just ok.

not the best by John Grisham but still its John G and he is always good. just a little Blah.

Not what I expected - better

good story and certainly had twists that I was not expecting. performance was very good, and overall I really enjoyed this listen.

Made me think.

Good book, a little bit drawn out for me. It's a subject I've thought about often but this story does an excellent job of exposing the many problems with the death penalty. It's never black and white. Interesting story.

Heavy story, but extremely well told.

I'm a Grisham fan, and I almost didn't download this one after reading some of the reviews. I'm so glad that I move forward purely on Grisham's reputation and my previous enjoyment of his titles. This book is heavy, deep and extremely well told. It DOES begin quickly and I found myself trying to find reasons to run errands or go to the gym just to listen more. Yes, it makes you think a great deal about the death penalty, but since when is challenging ones thought process a bad thing? I thoroughly enjoyed Grisham getting back to what he does best, legal thrillers, and the fact that this one made me question my own beliefs a bit during the process, well, I found that refreshing.

Huge John Grisham fan

It is true, Grisham's books tend to be predictable and The Confession is no exception. Considering I am a huge fan of John Grisham and all of his novels, I was not the least bit disappointed with this story. As a matter of fact, the Confession left me questioning my own beliefs regarding the death penalty. My heart went out to Deante Davis and his family. I know I have listened to good story when my emotions take over.

Makes you think.

Great book. You really feel as you are going through the process with the characters. A real eye opener that makes you think.

my husband said this was really good

I didn't listen to this book but my husband did and when i asked him what he thought he said, "yeah! that was a really good book but his best book is The Firm." lol so there you go.