Sycamore Row

By: John Grisham

Narrated by: Michael Beck

Length: 20 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Finalist, Thriller/Suspense, 2014

John Grisham takes you back to where it all began...

John Grisham's A Time to Kill is one of the most popular novels of our time. Now we return to that famous courthouse in Clanton as Jake Brigance once again finds himself embroiled in a fiercely controversial trial - a trial that will expose old racial tensions and force Ford County to confront its tortured history.

Seth Hubbard is a wealthy man dying of lung cancer. He trusts no one. Before he hangs himself from a sycamore tree, Hubbard leaves a new, handwritten, will. It is an act that drags his adult children, his Black maid, and Jake into a conflict as riveting and dramatic as the murder trial that made Brigance one of Ford County's most notorious citizens, just three years earlier.

The second will raises far more questions than it answers. Why would Hubbard leave nearly all of his fortune to his maid? Had chemotherapy and painkillers affected his ability to think clearly? And what does it all have to do with a piece of land once known as Sycamore Row?

In Sycamore Row, John Grisham returns to the setting and the compelling characters that first established him as America's favorite storyteller. Here, in his most assured and thrilling novel yet, is a powerful testament to the fact that Grisham remains the master of the legal thriller, nearly 25 years after the publication of A Time to Kill.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2013 Belfry Holdings, Inc (P)2013 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

Praise for the novels of John Grisham

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

"John Grisham is exceptionally good at what he does—indeed, right now in this country, nobody does it better." —Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post

"Grisham is a marvelous storyteller who works readers the way a good trial lawyer works a jury." — Philadelphia Inquirer

"John Grisham owns the legal thriller." —The Denver Post

"John Grisham is not just popular, he is one of the most popular novelists of our time. He is a craftsman and he writes good stories, engaging characters, and clever plots." — Seattle Times

"A legal literary legend." — USA Today

Grisham delivers big time suspense!

The probate of a will suspenseful? There's no foul play, no ex-wives, no violence, only lawyers in abundance. Suspenseful? I was on the edge of seat throughout the entire novel.

First, let me say the narration was difficult due to the deep southern dialect, yet masterfully handled by Mr. Beck. I was born in South Carolina, raised in North Carolina, and married a girl from Montomery Alabama. I can assure you the deeper south the more pronounced and exaggerated people's accents become. You may be tempted to think he went to far, but from my experience he was dead on accurate. It's important because people are judged by their accents down here. There's an eloquent drawl by the educated southerner that we all recognize and appreciate. The nuances are numerous to a sensitive ear. I was more than pleased with Mr. Beck's effort.

Without going more into the story, I can say the characters are engaging, intriguing and hugely entertaining on their own. This is my favorite characteristic of any Grisham novel.

If you are looking for a suspenseful novel with incredible characters, Sycamore Row is the book for you!

Grisham's Revival of Jake Brigance is Brilliant!

John Grisham's best book, A Time to Kill, is a vivid and thrilling depiction of a young lawyer's lonely fight against racism and racial violence in mid-1980s Mississippi. Now, Jake Brigance is back, still combatting the darkness of ignorance and hatred, only three fictional years later in the same small city. Great legal twists and turns make the occasional tedium of reading a court case come alive and keep you awake. This one is just as good the first one, from 25 years ago. Narration and pace are perfect for the characters and help move the story along.

Excellent, Believable, & Dramatic:

Grisham utilizes this famous and familiar setting and cast of characters in a truly remarkable way! This book was genuine, sincere, and very entertaining. As a lawyer I enjoyed the suspense created through this intensely battled will-contest. Grisham was able to weave the story and the action in such a believable way that I found myself upset when the book ended.

I highly recommend this title for anyone interested in a good legal drama that thankfully does not require over the top death and violence. This is a human drama with many twists and turns. The action is intense and realistic--no hyperbole required here as the human drama more than satisfies!

Great listen!

Great story. Questionable narration.

This is classic Grisham. The story is well-paced, compelling, interesting. The characters are fleshed out. Once you start, it's difficult to put down. But, that's the story ... the narration is a different subject.

Beck does a great job with some of the characters when he's reading dialogue. When he's reading the rest of it, it is completely uninspired. It's a sort of slow motion dirge. In the hands of a narrator like Will Patton - with his singular talent for Southern patois - this would have been a 5-star listen. As it is, it's good - but not great.

Typical Grisham Excellency!

Combining a novel by John Grisham and a narration by Michael back I actually felt like I was in Ford County Mississippi!

Welcome back!! Vintage Grisham AWESOMENESS!!!

Would you listen to Sycamore Row again? Why?

I'm already planning to listen to it again. This book is John Grisham at his absolute BEST! A Time to Kill was previously my favorite book. To have the characters come back in this story is a dream come true. Thank you Mr. Grisham!

What did you like best about this story?

Everything. The story was awesome, the characters entertaining.

Which character – as performed by Michael Beck – was your favorite?

Hard to say…probably the arrogant black attorney or Judge Atley

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I just loved the book every step of the way.

Any additional comments?

I listen to my books in the car. I never wanted to get out of my car once I started this book. BRAVO Mr. Grisham. BRAVO!!

Awesome!

I really enjoyed this book. Predictable but still had me interested to the very end. I loved Michael Beck's narration, southern drawl was perfect.

Story is slow at first but don't give up

Story was slow but Grisham does an masterful job building it up and hooking you in. Michael Beck does a great job with all the characters. I enjoyed this book and performance.

Phenomenal

Where does Sycamore Row rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It ranks at the top

Any additional comments?

This is a must read! The story was great,
the narration was awesome!

One of Grisham's best

Been awhile since I listened to this book, but I still remember just how good the book is and how well Michael Beck did with his naration. The novel takes Grisham back to the same town and setting of his first book, "A Time To Kill." If you read that book, you will recognize many of the characters and the places they frequented. If you didn't read the first book, you will still find it easy to take a step back into a southern town about 40 years ago and listen to a story of small town politicians and long buried lies that make this book a winner. Michael Beck makes these characters come alive with the perfect amount of southern inflection for each one. He brings out aspects of the characters that will make them memorable for years to come. I would highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a well written story from a writer who knows his subject and uses that knowledge to keep the reader thoroughly entertained throughout the whole book. This is definitely a "keeper."