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

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.

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!!!

Heavy Handed and Preachy

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

The Confession

I found it took a little time to get into this book however once in a few chapters, this book is very good. I would recommend it.

The performance was amazing!

Scott Sowers does a great job of changing his voice for each character! John Grisham’s story telling is always thrilling!

Great Grisham book start to finish

I truly enjoyed this book. I am a Grisham fan and this book did not disappoint. It is truly a book that kept you on the edge of your seat from start to finish without shoving any personal agendas down your throat. I highly recommend this book. Narrator was also excellent.

state line crime

I really enjoyed the story, I got a very clear view of who was who by the reader's voice. I really felt as if I was in Kansas and Mazura, and Texas. great characters I look forward to more from this Author.

totally entertaining

a non stop thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. I enjoyed this and the story line, being true, just continued to open my eyes to our justice system the is in shambles.