Notwithstanding the older release of this book, it deserves a review. If you were a fan of Grisham’s first novel, A Time to Kill, you’ll love this second of a trilogy with young lawyer Jake Brigance as the protagonist. (The third novel is A Time for Mercy, published in 2020.) After his big but controversial win in the Hailey trial, Jake and his wife, Carla, have suffered through harassment and arson, and are now living in a rental after their house was burned to the ground. Thinking the Hailey verdict would set him on the path to legal infamy, he has actually struggled to find cases, few of which have been challenging. And then, everything changes.

A wealthy old white man, Seth Hubbard, takes his own life once he knows he’s in the final stage of a terminal illness. In a cryptic, handwritten will, he leaves the vast majority of his wealth to Lettie Lang, his black caregiver for the final months of his life. This puts into play a legal battle between Lettie and Hubbard’s son and daughter, and the debate over the propriety of the will leads to discord between and within both families, as well as their respective lawyers.

Grisham cleverly crafts a story that portrays racism, greed, and legal maneuvers in the deep south of Clanton, Mississippi. If you look for the clues, the outcome of the novel is reasonably predictable, which was somewhat of a disappointment for me.

Don ‘t miss the Author’s Note at the back of the novel. Grisham gives you a first-person account of how difficult it is to get any traction in the publishing industry. You’ll be surprised to hear his story regarding the publication and initial failure of A Time to Kill, now one of Grisham’s all-time bestsellers.

Reviewed March 2023