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A review by topdragon
A Time for Mercy by John Grisham
4.0
John Grisham has always been a bit of a mixed bag for me. I generally enjoy his traditional legal thrillers as well as his humorous slice-of-life novels but sometimes they get way too preachy. The Jake Brigance series has been near the top of his work, probably because I appreciate the workmanlike approach that Jake takes toward his case work. Grisham still takes the opportunity to push his views on the death penalty however, but, thankfully, that remains mostly in the background.
Jake's case this time around concerns a 16-year old boy who kills a cop in what many would consider justifiable homicide. The details of the legal tactics and strategy and the courtroom scenes are riveting, just as I expected them to be. But the way in which most of the town turns on Jake just because he was appointed by a judge to take the case is as realistic as it is revolting. Our modern world is not a pretty place much of the time and it seems we are always forced to take sides. Seems there is no middle ground anymore and this novel really brings that home.
Regardless, Jake perseveres and pulls off a brilliant defense strategy although "winning" a case such as this does not wrap things up for the family involved. I enjoyed this one but do hope the next Jake Brigance novel brings our guy a little luck.
Jake's case this time around concerns a 16-year old boy who kills a cop in what many would consider justifiable homicide. The details of the legal tactics and strategy and the courtroom scenes are riveting, just as I expected them to be. But the way in which most of the town turns on Jake just because he was appointed by a judge to take the case is as realistic as it is revolting. Our modern world is not a pretty place much of the time and it seems we are always forced to take sides. Seems there is no middle ground anymore and this novel really brings that home.
Regardless, Jake perseveres and pulls off a brilliant defense strategy although "winning" a case such as this does not wrap things up for the family involved. I enjoyed this one but do hope the next Jake Brigance novel brings our guy a little luck.