The Reckoning

A Novel

By: John Grisham

Narrated by: Michael Beck

Length: 17 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

Number-one best-selling author John Grisham's The Reckoning is his most powerful, surprising, and suspenseful thriller yet.

"A murder mystery, a courtroom drama, a family saga…The Reckoning is Grisham's argument that he's not just a boilerplate thriller writer. Most jurors will think the counselor has made his case." (USA Today)

October 1946, Clanton, Mississippi

Pete Banning was Clanton, Mississippi's favorite son - a decorated World War II hero, the patriarch of a prominent family, a farmer, father, neighbor, and a faithful member of the Methodist church. Then one cool October morning he rose early, drove into town, walked into the church, and calmly shot and killed his pastor and friend, the Reverend Dexter Bell. As if the murder weren’t shocking enough, it was even more baffling that Pete's only statement about it - to the sheriff, to his lawyers, to the judge, to the jury, and to his family - was: "I have nothing to say." He was not afraid of death and was willing to take his motive to the grave.

In a major novel unlike anything he has written before, John Grisham takes us on an incredible journey, from the Jim Crow South to the jungles of the Philippines during World War II; from an insane asylum filled with secrets to the Clanton courtroom where Pete's defense attorney tries desperately to save him.

Reminiscent of the finest tradition of Southern Gothic storytelling, The Reckoning would not be complete without Grisham's signature layers of legal suspense, and he delivers every minute.

©2018 John Grisham (P)2018 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“In this saga of love and war, John Grisham has given us a sprawling and engrossing story about a Southern family, a global conflict, and the kinds of secrets that can shape all of us. From the courtrooms and jails of rural Mississippi to the war-torn Pacific, Grisham spins a tale that is at once entertaining and illuminating.” (Jon Meacham, New York Times best-selling author of The Soul of America)

“John Grisham is not only the master of suspense but also an acute observer of the human condition. And these remarkable skills converge in The Reckoning - an original, gripping, penetrating novel that may be his greatest work yet.” (David Grann, New York Times best-selling author of Killers of the Flower Moon)

“John Grisham is the master of legal fiction, and his latest starts with a literal bang - and then travels backward through the horrors of war to explore what makes a hero, what makes a villain, and how thin the line between the two might be.” (Jodi Picoult, number-one New York Times best-selling author of A Spark of Light and Small Great Things)

“The quest for justice is only the beginning in this Southern-family saga.... Grisham does so much more this time around.” (Associated Press)

Great

It was awesome. I never review. Can be frustrating sometimes, but one of his best.

Great Authors Are Not Predictable

This is a dark story told well. Why would a respected citizen commit cold blooded murder? Only John Grisham could tell such a compelling story. Just because some readers will only accept his legal tales doesn’t mean this story is bad. This story is possible given the circumstances and the deep feelings caused by war and the hopelessness of the POW.

The Reckoning

Wonderfully written story about the south, pre WW 2 and after. Loved the description of how the world was so messed up with war and inhuman treatment described the author he had to do a lot of research on that part of the war., The South and legal issues. I think the ending is a surpriser but kept me more than interested. So glad I hung on to the very end. Courtroom and legal issues were so well described.

Don't listen to the Naysayers. I loved this book!

I love John Grisham and look forward to his latest releases. For some reason, this one got many bad reviews so I stayed away, until, I didn’t. I found this book to be intriguing and it definitely kept my interest. The finish could have been a little better, but overall if you are a Grisham fan like me, read this book.

The historic irony in this book was palpable

The historic irony inside this story,for me, was palpable. The POW’s cruel treatment, dehumanization, the prison camps atrocities and the POW prison ships belly etc etc. All ring irony from the bell of America’s own history. I don’t know if the obvious irony throughout this story was John Grisham’s intent but I did enjoy it thoroughly.

Wow, Grisham still has it.

he can still weave a riveting and touching tale with grace and finesse. love it

Good read.

I am sorry that I finished the book.If I wasn’t actually reading the book I was thinking about it. And I still am .

No room for forgiveness

Very intense and gruesome, especially the Bataan death march. The ending was quite a surprise and tragic. Forgiveness was a dirty word which made for a tragic ending.

WOW. A great book on many levels

A story of love and family. An in-depth synopsis of a segment of the horrors of WW2. The reckoning of how one lie, made under duress and stressful times, can change the course of history and lives in a small county in rural Mississippi.

This book is a really, really good but very sad

I especially like the Chapter 2 talking about the WWII and the Bataan Death March, among other history of that time in the '40s. I was enthralled with this book. Loved it.

Dogs are getting tons of walks so I can listen to this book.