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Jake Brigance #2
Sycamore Row
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
Don’t miss an original essay by John Grisham in the back of the book.
John Grisham takes you back to where it all began. One of the most popular novels of our time, A Time to Kill established John Grisham as the master of the legal thriller. Now we return to Ford County as Jake Brigance finds himself embroiled in a fiercely controversial trial that exposes a tortured history of racial tension.
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 many 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?
Look for special features inside. Join the Random House Reader’s Circle for author chats and more.
Praise for Sycamore Row
“Powerful . . . immensely readable . . . the best of his books.”—The Washington Post
“Welcome back, Jake. . . . [Brigance] is one of the most fully developed and engaging characters in all of Grisham’s novels.”—USA Today
“One of [Grisham’s] finest . . . Sycamore Row is a true literary event.” —The New York Times Book Review
From the Trade Paperback edition.
Don’t miss an original essay by John Grisham in the back of the book.
John Grisham takes you back to where it all began. One of the most popular novels of our time, A Time to Kill established John Grisham as the master of the legal thriller. Now we return to Ford County as Jake Brigance finds himself embroiled in a fiercely controversial trial that exposes a tortured history of racial tension.
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 many 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?
Look for special features inside. Join the Random House Reader’s Circle for author chats and more.
Praise for Sycamore Row
“Powerful . . . immensely readable . . . the best of his books.”—The Washington Post
“Welcome back, Jake. . . . [Brigance] is one of the most fully developed and engaging characters in all of Grisham’s novels.”—USA Today
“One of [Grisham’s] finest . . . Sycamore Row is a true literary event.” —The New York Times Book Review
From the Trade Paperback edition.
455 pages, ebook
First published October 22, 2013
11154 people are currently reading
46113 people want to read
About the author
John Grisham
492 books90.2k followersJohn Grisham is the author of more than fifty consecutive #1 bestsellers, which have been translated into nearly fifty languages. His recent books include Framed, Camino Ghosts and The Exchange: After the Firm.
Grisham is a two-time winner of the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction and was honored with the Library of Congress Creative Achievement Award for Fiction.
When he's not writing, Grisham serves on the board of directors of the Innocence Project and of Centurion Ministries, two national organizations dedicated to exonerating those who have been wrongfully convicted. Much of his fiction explores deep-seated problems in our criminal justice system.
John lives on a farm in central Virginia.
Grisham is a two-time winner of the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction and was honored with the Library of Congress Creative Achievement Award for Fiction.
When he's not writing, Grisham serves on the board of directors of the Innocence Project and of Centurion Ministries, two national organizations dedicated to exonerating those who have been wrongfully convicted. Much of his fiction explores deep-seated problems in our criminal justice system.
John lives on a farm in central Virginia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 11,556 reviews
November 16, 2018
Now, I know I'll probably get bashed for this, but this is one boring read. For me personally, it would actually be a 2.5-star rating as Grisham's writing is commendable, but he has written so much better stuff. Firstly, I didn't see why this had to be set back in the late eighties (did so many people really have car phones back then?) and although I read A Time to Kill, to which this has been dubbed a sequel of sorts, I read it more than 15 years ago and remember it being a lot better than this.
I admit this is a review for the Unabridged Audible version of the book, that had some cliche Afro-American voices and all the usual redneck-ness that readers throw into Grisham's books, but the story itself was just too slow. I really didn't get to root for or even relate to Jake, and the fact that his personal life was so hidden seemed strange. There was no big surprise at the end which I was hoping for to bring this lackluster book up a notch, just a predictable explanation to the whole scenario. I even resisted the temptation on more than one occasion to skip sections as started repeating itself.
This is far from being a 'page-turner', and if you're looking for something with a bit more 'thrill' along the same lines, check out Connelly's The Fifth Witness or if you prefer to stay within Grisham's repertoire The Litigators is a Courtroom hoot.
I admit this is a review for the Unabridged Audible version of the book, that had some cliche Afro-American voices and all the usual redneck-ness that readers throw into Grisham's books, but the story itself was just too slow. I really didn't get to root for or even relate to Jake, and the fact that his personal life was so hidden seemed strange. There was no big surprise at the end which I was hoping for to bring this lackluster book up a notch, just a predictable explanation to the whole scenario. I even resisted the temptation on more than one occasion to skip sections as started repeating itself.
This is far from being a 'page-turner', and if you're looking for something with a bit more 'thrill' along the same lines, check out Connelly's The Fifth Witness or if you prefer to stay within Grisham's repertoire The Litigators is a Courtroom hoot.
October 12, 2013
Reading the first fifty pages of Sycamore Row I experienced two very different emotions. Firstly, and I can’t remember this happening before, I couldn’t help but grin as I lost myself in every page, in fact I wasn’t aware I was grinning until I heard my mobile ringing and looked away from the book – smiling! The second emotion was anger. Not of Grisham’s writing, his narrative or style, but Seth’s distant family. Racist, obnoxious, opinionated and just plain vile – you can’t help but feel for Lettie the black housekeeper, a housekeeper tasked with looking after the house and an ailing Seth Hubbard for the last three years. Upon his death and his family’s arrival Lettie is cast aside like a mess on a shoe, left to fend for her family and unemployed.
Now that I’ve finished Sycamore Row I can categorically say that those emotions never went away. They would bubble and fester, they weren’t always present but it was as if they were stuck in limbo, waiting to emerge just like a pocket of air escaping water throughout the entire story. You never quite knew where the bubble would burst but you knew it would at some point.
This is without doubt the best legal thriller I’ve read this year, hands down the best. Set at a terrific pace this multi layered story evolves and evolves and just when you think it can’t go anywhere, that the end is in nigh, the book suddenly branches off in a fresh direction, a new perspective, and Grisham introduces a new witness or a different focus to the investigation. This really is clever and sharp witted stuff!
Characterisation is key to any book and it was so satisfying for me to find out what happens to Jake Brigance and his family following the trial of Carl Lee Hailey. Three years down the line he’s still dining out on the plaudits and fame from the case – even if the money and rewards aren’t as forthcoming - and finds himself stuck in a rut doing the same old cases day in day out. Our protagonist had hoped to have moved on to bigger and better things but alas his loss is our literary gain.
John Grisham has brought together an eclectic mix of old and new characters. They all play their part in a legal thriller that is both entertaining and evocative. Even the nasty characters are enjoyable; they all help to add depth and colour to the book but Jake, Ozzie and Lucien carry the book as far as I’m concerned.
I enjoyed where the book takes the reader and where it ends and hopefully in a few years’ time we’ll be allowed to revisit Ford County and experience life in Reuben Atlee’s courtroom once again through the eyes of Jake Brigance. With sharp dialogue, atmospheric narrative and a sagacious storyline, Sycamore Row is one not to be missed. Highly recommended.
Now that I’ve finished Sycamore Row I can categorically say that those emotions never went away. They would bubble and fester, they weren’t always present but it was as if they were stuck in limbo, waiting to emerge just like a pocket of air escaping water throughout the entire story. You never quite knew where the bubble would burst but you knew it would at some point.
This is without doubt the best legal thriller I’ve read this year, hands down the best. Set at a terrific pace this multi layered story evolves and evolves and just when you think it can’t go anywhere, that the end is in nigh, the book suddenly branches off in a fresh direction, a new perspective, and Grisham introduces a new witness or a different focus to the investigation. This really is clever and sharp witted stuff!
Characterisation is key to any book and it was so satisfying for me to find out what happens to Jake Brigance and his family following the trial of Carl Lee Hailey. Three years down the line he’s still dining out on the plaudits and fame from the case – even if the money and rewards aren’t as forthcoming - and finds himself stuck in a rut doing the same old cases day in day out. Our protagonist had hoped to have moved on to bigger and better things but alas his loss is our literary gain.
John Grisham has brought together an eclectic mix of old and new characters. They all play their part in a legal thriller that is both entertaining and evocative. Even the nasty characters are enjoyable; they all help to add depth and colour to the book but Jake, Ozzie and Lucien carry the book as far as I’m concerned.
I enjoyed where the book takes the reader and where it ends and hopefully in a few years’ time we’ll be allowed to revisit Ford County and experience life in Reuben Atlee’s courtroom once again through the eyes of Jake Brigance. With sharp dialogue, atmospheric narrative and a sagacious storyline, Sycamore Row is one not to be missed. Highly recommended.
March 19, 2017
Seth Hubbard was a wealthy white man. He was also dying of lung cancer. After months of suffering, he decided he’d had enough, so he planned his own suicide and one of his workers finds Seth hanging from a Sycamore tree, on his own property, in Clanton, Mississippi. Before his death, Seth Hubbard leaves a suicide note, with burial instructions. He also re-did his will, the day before, having researched the laws in the State of Mississippi. Seth Hubbard knew that the hand written will, drafted by his own hand, without the presence of a witness was legal and it revoked all others.
After writing it, Seth mailed it to one Jake Brigance, Attorney-At-Law. The same Jake Brigance, who years earlier presided over the Carl Lee Haley trial and won. Though Seth had never met Mr. Brigance, he knew he would uphold Seth’s wishes till the bitter end. And this battle? It became as bitter as they get. Why? The handwritten will left 90% of Seth’s estate to his black maid, and caregiver, Lettie Lang, 5% to his long-lost brother, Ancil Hubbard, and 5% to his church. Seth’s children and grandchildren were cut out completely, even though they received the bulk of the estate in the prior will.
As you can imagine, this causes quite the commotion and Seth’s children and grandchildren commence a lawsuit to fight for the money. Jake Brigance was given specific instructions to do whatever it takes to make sure the handwritten will was enforced and a jury trial commences. Things get complicated and ugly fast, with Seth’s family trying to disparage Lettie at every turn so that they can convince the jury that Seth Hubbard was not in his right mind when he wrote the handwritten will. They want that money and will stop at nothing to get it. His handwritten will raises so many questions .. Why would Seth Hubbard leave Lettie Lang all of his money? And was he in his right mind when he wrote it? .. the list goes on.
Until Sycamore Row, the last John Grisham book I had picked up was The Pelican Brief, over twenty-five years ago. (And I only remembered to add his books to m GR read list this morning). I thoroughly enjoyed Sycamore Row and have no idea why I waited so long to pick up another one of Grisham’s novels. The pacing was good, the characters were interesting. Further, I remember liking the character of Jake Brigance from A Time to Kill and liked him better here. Grisham kept me interested throughout even though this novel was fairly complicated. Based on my enjoyment of this one, I will definitely be reading (and/or listening to) some of John Grisham’s others.
Published on Goodreads and Amazon on 3/19/17.
After writing it, Seth mailed it to one Jake Brigance, Attorney-At-Law. The same Jake Brigance, who years earlier presided over the Carl Lee Haley trial and won. Though Seth had never met Mr. Brigance, he knew he would uphold Seth’s wishes till the bitter end. And this battle? It became as bitter as they get. Why? The handwritten will left 90% of Seth’s estate to his black maid, and caregiver, Lettie Lang, 5% to his long-lost brother, Ancil Hubbard, and 5% to his church. Seth’s children and grandchildren were cut out completely, even though they received the bulk of the estate in the prior will.
As you can imagine, this causes quite the commotion and Seth’s children and grandchildren commence a lawsuit to fight for the money. Jake Brigance was given specific instructions to do whatever it takes to make sure the handwritten will was enforced and a jury trial commences. Things get complicated and ugly fast, with Seth’s family trying to disparage Lettie at every turn so that they can convince the jury that Seth Hubbard was not in his right mind when he wrote the handwritten will. They want that money and will stop at nothing to get it. His handwritten will raises so many questions .. Why would Seth Hubbard leave Lettie Lang all of his money? And was he in his right mind when he wrote it? .. the list goes on.
Until Sycamore Row, the last John Grisham book I had picked up was The Pelican Brief, over twenty-five years ago. (And I only remembered to add his books to m GR read list this morning). I thoroughly enjoyed Sycamore Row and have no idea why I waited so long to pick up another one of Grisham’s novels. The pacing was good, the characters were interesting. Further, I remember liking the character of Jake Brigance from A Time to Kill and liked him better here. Grisham kept me interested throughout even though this novel was fairly complicated. Based on my enjoyment of this one, I will definitely be reading (and/or listening to) some of John Grisham’s others.
Published on Goodreads and Amazon on 3/19/17.
December 5, 2013
This review has spoilers.
I could not believe how dull this book was. I haven't read a Grisham novel for several years and although I often had issues with his plot lines, his books generally held my interest. The story is absorbing at the start when a wealthy man in Clanton, Ford County hangs himself in a very deliberate and planned fashion. There is no question about his death, but there are a lot of questions about his estate. Days before his suicide, he changed his will, cut off his children and grandchildren and left the bulk of his estate to his black housekeeper/nurse.
The story starts to drag when it becomes apparent that there is nothing to be done besides rehash the same subjects over and over again. There is some interest in the lives of the characters affected, the housekeeper and her family, the humiliated children of the deceased and his past. But too often the legal sections get mired in the same old greedy lawyers attempting to manipulate one another. I like legal suspense stories but there is no suspense here.
The worst part of the book is when the trial starts. Page after page of lawyers asking questions and hearing testimony about everything the reader already knows. I had to skim pages and pages because I just couldn't read what hadn't been that interesting the first time through. There are no real surprises and the only suspense is the subplot of one lawyer pursuing the deceased's long lost brother who has landed in Alaska, homeless, seriously injured, and about to be arrested.
The brother turns out to be a key - hardly surprising given the subplot - to the dead man's past, with a story about a childhood trauma of witnessing a horrible crime. This is supposed to be a twist but honestly, most readers will see it coming since it is telegraphed all the way through the book that something awful happened in the housekeeper's family past, connected to the dead man's family past.
Worst book that I've read by John Grisham and I only finished it because of my interest in the brother's subplot, which I knew would turn out to influence the ending. And so it did but wasn't worth wading through all the pages to get to it.
I could not believe how dull this book was. I haven't read a Grisham novel for several years and although I often had issues with his plot lines, his books generally held my interest. The story is absorbing at the start when a wealthy man in Clanton, Ford County hangs himself in a very deliberate and planned fashion. There is no question about his death, but there are a lot of questions about his estate. Days before his suicide, he changed his will, cut off his children and grandchildren and left the bulk of his estate to his black housekeeper/nurse.
The story starts to drag when it becomes apparent that there is nothing to be done besides rehash the same subjects over and over again. There is some interest in the lives of the characters affected, the housekeeper and her family, the humiliated children of the deceased and his past. But too often the legal sections get mired in the same old greedy lawyers attempting to manipulate one another. I like legal suspense stories but there is no suspense here.
The worst part of the book is when the trial starts. Page after page of lawyers asking questions and hearing testimony about everything the reader already knows. I had to skim pages and pages because I just couldn't read what hadn't been that interesting the first time through. There are no real surprises and the only suspense is the subplot of one lawyer pursuing the deceased's long lost brother who has landed in Alaska, homeless, seriously injured, and about to be arrested.
The brother turns out to be a key - hardly surprising given the subplot - to the dead man's past, with a story about a childhood trauma of witnessing a horrible crime. This is supposed to be a twist but honestly, most readers will see it coming since it is telegraphed all the way through the book that something awful happened in the housekeeper's family past, connected to the dead man's family past.
Worst book that I've read by John Grisham and I only finished it because of my interest in the brother's subplot, which I knew would turn out to influence the ending. And so it did but wasn't worth wading through all the pages to get to it.
May 1, 2024
I've read the precursor to this book, A Time to Kill, but don't remember much about it - it was a long time ago. What I do know is that this is a brilliantly crafted courtroom drama in its own right. It's worth reading whether you caught ATtK or not. Having recently read another excellent courtroom yarn, in Michael Connelly's latest offering, The Gods of Guilt, I had little hope this would compare favourably. I was wrong. It's as good if not better.
I love the Deep South setting and the characters Grisham develops here. The tale is compelling, and there are elements here that drove me close to tears. It's just brilliant.
I read all the early Grisham novels but then tired of what felt like a well trodden, if not worn out, format. Then, I read a good review of The Confession and picked it up. I loved it and have read all the books he's written since, each of them of the highest quality. Actually, that's true with the exception of his last book (Gray Mountain), which was a huge disappointment. I'm hoping he springs back to form with his next book.
I love the Deep South setting and the characters Grisham develops here. The tale is compelling, and there are elements here that drove me close to tears. It's just brilliant.
I read all the early Grisham novels but then tired of what felt like a well trodden, if not worn out, format. Then, I read a good review of The Confession and picked it up. I loved it and have read all the books he's written since, each of them of the highest quality. Actually, that's true with the exception of his last book (Gray Mountain), which was a huge disappointment. I'm hoping he springs back to form with his next book.
March 11, 2023
3.5 stars
In this 2nd book in the 'Jake Brigance' series, the attorney gets involved in a monumental fight over a will. The novel works fine as a standalone.
*****
Elderly Seth Hubbard of Clanton, Mississippi - suffering from cancer - commits suicide. Just before he takes his life, however, Seth writes a handwritten will.
The will specifically cuts out his family and leaves almost all of his considerable estate to his black housekeeper, Lettie Lang.
In a letter mailed just before he died, Seth asks attorney Jake Brigance to fight to the death to preserve this new will.....
......which he expects will be vigorously contested by his his son Herschel and daughter Ramona.
This starts a legal circus with a multitude of lawyers.
While Jake argues on behalf of the estate, other attorneys represent Lettie (and her shiftless husband Simeon).....
......Herschel, Herschel's kids, Ramona, and Ramona's kids. The legal fight over the will makes up the crux of the story. Every kind of attorney, from a black rights firebrand to a corporate hotshot to a disbarred alcoholic to earnest Jake Brigance makes an appearance, all of which inflames the community and creates a deep divide between local whites and blacks.
All sides decide to have a jury trial to determine if the handwritten will is legal and binding - that is, if Seth was of sound mind when he prepared the will and not unduly influenced by Lettie. If not, a previous will - which benefitted the family - would be enforced. While preparing for the trial one of the Hubbard family lawyers unearths information about Lettie's past and about Seth that he thinks will derail Lettie's claim. He cleverly (and unethically) maneuvers to hide the information from Jake until the trial is well under way.
There's plenty of pleasurable suspense leading up to the revelation of this information.
The courtroom scenes are interesting (if a bit slow) with plenty of direct examination and cross-examination and intricate legal wrangling.
The characters are well-written, compelling, and realistic - behaving true to their depicted personalities.
Before and during the trial a big question in everyone's mind (both the characters and the reader) is 'why did Seth do this'? Eventually, this question does seem to be answered. Still, I kept thinking 'Seth could just have given Lettie the money before he committed suicide and saved everyone a lot of bother.' Why he didn't do this is never satisfactorily answered (for me, anyway).
Overall, this is an enjoyable and informative legal thriller, recommended for fans of the genre.
You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com/
November 8, 2013
Wow! Grisham is back with another excellently written stunner. A smart, fast moving story about the legality of a Holographic Will. The sudden suicide of a family's Patriarch and his twenty-four hour old, handwritten Will, have his family up in arms when it is revealed that he has left millions to his black maid. Jake Brigance and the, "Time to Kill", original gang return with another southern, court room, roller coaster.
Jake Brigance is a handsome, lawyer who has a reputation for his ability to woo a jury. His mentor Lucien, a disbarred, alcoholic attorney and Harry Rex, a devious divorce attorney, all return for a second act in the ongoing saga of race equality during the early 80's in Mississippi. Lawyers and family members start popping out of the woodwork when the dollar amount of the Will is revealed and then it is off to the races.
An original storyline that had the characters just jumping off the page. This is a must read for those of you that enjoy legal thrillers. A first rate narrative by Michael Beck mixed with an intensely emotional, surprise ending made this one of my favorites of the year.
Jake Brigance is a handsome, lawyer who has a reputation for his ability to woo a jury. His mentor Lucien, a disbarred, alcoholic attorney and Harry Rex, a devious divorce attorney, all return for a second act in the ongoing saga of race equality during the early 80's in Mississippi. Lawyers and family members start popping out of the woodwork when the dollar amount of the Will is revealed and then it is off to the races.
An original storyline that had the characters just jumping off the page. This is a must read for those of you that enjoy legal thrillers. A first rate narrative by Michael Beck mixed with an intensely emotional, surprise ending made this one of my favorites of the year.
February 5, 2015
A Good Story!
This is quite a good story especially if you are interested in a career as a lawyer. There is a lot of detail on preparing for the trial, seeking witnesses, and the actual trial itself. I was captivated right at the beginning and found it to be an easy satisfying read right to the end.
This is quite a good story especially if you are interested in a career as a lawyer. There is a lot of detail on preparing for the trial, seeking witnesses, and the actual trial itself. I was captivated right at the beginning and found it to be an easy satisfying read right to the end.
February 7, 2016
This was my first John Grishaw book and I never read the first book in this series, A Time To Kill but I was pretty disappointed after reading this book. Many reviews and some of my friends rated this as a definite must-read, highly praising the plot but I found many parts boring. The story wasn't very gripping as it's a story about the legal struggle over the legitimacy of a will. Seth Hubbard hangs himself, leaving a newly written will which leaves a massive sum of money to his housekeeper and numerous parties. However, he doesn't leave anything to his kids or grandkids which erupts a legal battle that questions Seth's state of mind when he was writing the will and whether he was coached.
The plot description definitely grabbed my attention as I assumed it would involve more exciting aspects but this wasn't the case. The only real exciting moment of the book happens at the end but at the point I was disinterested in the looming mystery of why Seth really did it. The opening really dragged on with little excitement along with the middle of the book. I wouldn't label this book as a thriller as it really wasn't a page-turner.
However, I did enjoy Jake's narrative as I think he is a fantastic character along with many others in the book.For me, the characters are the best part as they're written so well and the interaction between them is just brilliant especially with Jake and Harry or Jake and Ozzie.
References to the first book did spark my interest and I think I'll follow up on on that book as apparently it's much better than this one.I enjoyed parts of the book but on a whole it was a disappointment due to the high expectations that are attached to this novel.In terms of law fiction, the novel excels and I'd recommend it to anyone interested in that area but personally, I wouldn't categorize it as a thriller.
The plot description definitely grabbed my attention as I assumed it would involve more exciting aspects but this wasn't the case. The only real exciting moment of the book happens at the end but at the point I was disinterested in the looming mystery of why Seth really did it. The opening really dragged on with little excitement along with the middle of the book. I wouldn't label this book as a thriller as it really wasn't a page-turner.
However, I did enjoy Jake's narrative as I think he is a fantastic character along with many others in the book.For me, the characters are the best part as they're written so well and the interaction between them is just brilliant especially with Jake and Harry or Jake and Ozzie.
References to the first book did spark my interest and I think I'll follow up on on that book as apparently it's much better than this one.I enjoyed parts of the book but on a whole it was a disappointment due to the high expectations that are attached to this novel.In terms of law fiction, the novel excels and I'd recommend it to anyone interested in that area but personally, I wouldn't categorize it as a thriller.
January 14, 2014
Initially I wasn't going to write a review for this forgettable novel but surprisingly I couldn't forget it. No, Sycamore Row is not a great followup to A Time to KIll. It doesn't even compare to Grisham's The Chamber. Neither does it compare to the one that Tom Cruise starred in. I can't remember the name at this time... but we all know which one I'm talking about. I'm pretty much a die-hard Grisham fan so I will not filter this review. He can afford to get one semi-rant-hateful-disjointed review. So... here we go!
Seth Hubbard is dying of cancer and can't take it any longer so he decides it's high time for him to commit suicide. Before he commits suicide he writes a handwritten will that names his black maid as the beneficiary of 90% of his estate What an estate it is. She is to inherit over 20 million dollars from a mysterious man that entices people to question his sanity or motivation. Before long his maid and his blood children find themselves in a legal brawl that will determine who gets the wealth that will change all of their lives.
So? What did I like about this novel? Not much besides the fact that it reads with the ease that accompanies all Grisham novels. Although I was generally bored with all the repetition I was still enthralled and ready to see to it to the end. I just HAD to know who won the settlement. It wasn't so much that I liked any of the characters. Seth Hubbard's children are vile people who cared nothing about their father until they pictured dollar signs upon his death. I wanted to reach through the pages and wring all their necks. Let's not mention the lawyers. They all see dollars signs and don't care who bares the burden of their court fees. As long as they recoup their losses and make a million + on the verdict, the rest didn't really matter. On to the housekeeper Lettie.
Lettie had/has the potential to be a great character that is a beacon of light in the sea of vultures. The problem with the housekeeper is that she wasn't developed enough to surpass being a caricature. Sure, she's the lowly housemaid that was subjected to taking care of a man who was on his way out. Then she was subjected to a small towns' speculation. She was assumed to be his lover, his manipulator, and his puppet-master. A woman who deserved none of these titles yet withstood the ridicule of of so much... crap. I wish I could feel anything for her but I didn't. An orphan that garnered no sympathy from me is a miracle.
I guess I'm done with my rant until I remember what made me dislike this novel. Let's focus on what I liked about this sequel to A Time to Kill. This novel picks up 3 years after the verdict that set Carl Lee Hailey free against all odds. Jake Brigance is living off of that former glory thinking that it matters. His house is left in ashes yet the insurance company doesn't care one ounce about that. He was paid $900 for a not guilty verdict yet is living in a rented home with his wife and young daughter. The Seth Hubbard estate is the only thing that keeps him afloat in these trying times. Surprisingly, he almost falls victim to being clouded by the color green. Honestly, Jake Brigance let me down.
I have to stop ranting and say what I couldn't shake about this novel. Initially my main interest was centered around who would get the pot of gold. I stuck around all 400+ pages to see who would win the verdict. I suffered through repetition, boredom, and no suspense at all to see who would get the money. Would it be the crappy offspring or the maid? This is what makes Grisham novels addictive. He paints the courtroom portrait like none other. In the midst of a boring novel he plops down a scene in the courtroom that pulls me in once more. I swear that I could picture Matthew McConaughey pacing around and addressing the court like he owns the place. I liked this novel because it made me pace with apprehension. Would my family members be ok? My grandfather died a little more than a year ago with his wishes obvious and concrete. His two sons weren't fighting over the house. His four daughters weren't counting the money and wondering when their windfall would provide them with a life of relative luxury. This made me consider whether or not at the ripe ol' age of 29, if I have my affairs in order.
I'm sorry that this review of Sycamore Row was disjointed and full of incoherent rants but I just had to unload. I raced to finish this title before my digital loan copy was expired. Besides the vile characters and the constant repetition, I enjoyed this title. No it doesn't compare to The Testament, A Painted House, or The Pelican Brief, it still has a relevant message. Have your affairs in order. Yes, it's honorable to pay for the sins of the past. I think I'll stop my rant now. I'll still be waiting for John Grisham's next blockbuster.
Seth Hubbard is dying of cancer and can't take it any longer so he decides it's high time for him to commit suicide. Before he commits suicide he writes a handwritten will that names his black maid as the beneficiary of 90% of his estate What an estate it is. She is to inherit over 20 million dollars from a mysterious man that entices people to question his sanity or motivation. Before long his maid and his blood children find themselves in a legal brawl that will determine who gets the wealth that will change all of their lives.
So? What did I like about this novel? Not much besides the fact that it reads with the ease that accompanies all Grisham novels. Although I was generally bored with all the repetition I was still enthralled and ready to see to it to the end. I just HAD to know who won the settlement. It wasn't so much that I liked any of the characters. Seth Hubbard's children are vile people who cared nothing about their father until they pictured dollar signs upon his death. I wanted to reach through the pages and wring all their necks. Let's not mention the lawyers. They all see dollars signs and don't care who bares the burden of their court fees. As long as they recoup their losses and make a million + on the verdict, the rest didn't really matter. On to the housekeeper Lettie.
Lettie had/has the potential to be a great character that is a beacon of light in the sea of vultures. The problem with the housekeeper is that she wasn't developed enough to surpass being a caricature. Sure, she's the lowly housemaid that was subjected to taking care of a man who was on his way out. Then she was subjected to a small towns' speculation. She was assumed to be his lover, his manipulator, and his puppet-master. A woman who deserved none of these titles yet withstood the ridicule of of so much... crap. I wish I could feel anything for her but I didn't. An orphan that garnered no sympathy from me is a miracle.
I guess I'm done with my rant until I remember what made me dislike this novel. Let's focus on what I liked about this sequel to A Time to Kill. This novel picks up 3 years after the verdict that set Carl Lee Hailey free against all odds. Jake Brigance is living off of that former glory thinking that it matters. His house is left in ashes yet the insurance company doesn't care one ounce about that. He was paid $900 for a not guilty verdict yet is living in a rented home with his wife and young daughter. The Seth Hubbard estate is the only thing that keeps him afloat in these trying times. Surprisingly, he almost falls victim to being clouded by the color green. Honestly, Jake Brigance let me down.
I have to stop ranting and say what I couldn't shake about this novel. Initially my main interest was centered around who would get the pot of gold. I stuck around all 400+ pages to see who would win the verdict. I suffered through repetition, boredom, and no suspense at all to see who would get the money. Would it be the crappy offspring or the maid? This is what makes Grisham novels addictive. He paints the courtroom portrait like none other. In the midst of a boring novel he plops down a scene in the courtroom that pulls me in once more. I swear that I could picture Matthew McConaughey pacing around and addressing the court like he owns the place. I liked this novel because it made me pace with apprehension. Would my family members be ok? My grandfather died a little more than a year ago with his wishes obvious and concrete. His two sons weren't fighting over the house. His four daughters weren't counting the money and wondering when their windfall would provide them with a life of relative luxury. This made me consider whether or not at the ripe ol' age of 29, if I have my affairs in order.
I'm sorry that this review of Sycamore Row was disjointed and full of incoherent rants but I just had to unload. I raced to finish this title before my digital loan copy was expired. Besides the vile characters and the constant repetition, I enjoyed this title. No it doesn't compare to The Testament, A Painted House, or The Pelican Brief, it still has a relevant message. Have your affairs in order. Yes, it's honorable to pay for the sins of the past. I think I'll stop my rant now. I'll still be waiting for John Grisham's next blockbuster.
December 19, 2024
I have been on an interesting John Grisham reading adventure lately...
Which...Has been reading them, in between my other books.
And...Typically when they have been donated to my Little Free Library Shed.
With this latest one...Readers are left to wonder why an individual would leave his estate to his Black housekeeper? We come to learn that he is bitter towards his estranged family...
But...Is that really his reason...Or...Did she influence him – or was there something else?
There is something about the South, and history and our need to know more as readers that kept me turning pages.
Still...It isn't until we get to Court that everything falls into place, and not in the way we would expect.
Which...Has been reading them, in between my other books.
And...Typically when they have been donated to my Little Free Library Shed.
With this latest one...Readers are left to wonder why an individual would leave his estate to his Black housekeeper? We come to learn that he is bitter towards his estranged family...
But...Is that really his reason...Or...Did she influence him – or was there something else?
There is something about the South, and history and our need to know more as readers that kept me turning pages.
Still...It isn't until we get to Court that everything falls into place, and not in the way we would expect.
December 5, 2025
A gripping story of racism in 20th century Mississippi!
Seth Hubbard is a wealthy white man. In fact, he's one of the wealthiest that Ford County, Mississippi, has ever known. But, in his final days, ravaged by the pain of terminal lung cancer, he revokes his previous will, carefully crafted to evade the predations of the IRS, and hand writes a holographic will leaving all of his money to his black housekeeper whom he has known for less than three years. In the process, he heartlessly, vindictively, quite cruelly and to all appearances, entirely capriciously disinherits his son, his daughter and all of his grandchildren. After mailing the will and explicit instructions as to how to deal with it to lawyer, Jake Brigance, he summarily kills himself by hanging. The questions, of course, are obvious. Did Seth Hubbard, given the pain he was certainly suffering and the effects of the drugs that he was taking, retain testamentary capacity and, even if he did, had he been unduly influenced by a wily black woman to change his will in her favour?
The USA of the late twentieth and early twenty-first century would probably like to view itself as a post-racial society. But John Grisham's SYCAMORE ROW, a superbly told, moving and completely compelling story, portrays deep south rural Mississippi as anything but. The drama of the civic trial testing the validity of Seth Hubbard's will manages to be at once banal and work-a-day as well as totally gripping. And the conclusion, well, you'll have to read it for yourself. You'll realize that John Grisham could not possibly choose the enormous cop-out of having a mistrial declared without killing the novel entirely so you'll also be aware that he had to choose one side or another.
How he achieves that in a way that will leave fans of both sides of the issue satisfied is amazing. Grisham's dénouement will not only please you but it will move you and, possibly, just possibly, it will move the USA toward that post-racial society that has so far remained just a societal dream.
Highly recommended.
Paul Weiss
Seth Hubbard is a wealthy white man. In fact, he's one of the wealthiest that Ford County, Mississippi, has ever known. But, in his final days, ravaged by the pain of terminal lung cancer, he revokes his previous will, carefully crafted to evade the predations of the IRS, and hand writes a holographic will leaving all of his money to his black housekeeper whom he has known for less than three years. In the process, he heartlessly, vindictively, quite cruelly and to all appearances, entirely capriciously disinherits his son, his daughter and all of his grandchildren. After mailing the will and explicit instructions as to how to deal with it to lawyer, Jake Brigance, he summarily kills himself by hanging. The questions, of course, are obvious. Did Seth Hubbard, given the pain he was certainly suffering and the effects of the drugs that he was taking, retain testamentary capacity and, even if he did, had he been unduly influenced by a wily black woman to change his will in her favour?
The USA of the late twentieth and early twenty-first century would probably like to view itself as a post-racial society. But John Grisham's SYCAMORE ROW, a superbly told, moving and completely compelling story, portrays deep south rural Mississippi as anything but. The drama of the civic trial testing the validity of Seth Hubbard's will manages to be at once banal and work-a-day as well as totally gripping. And the conclusion, well, you'll have to read it for yourself. You'll realize that John Grisham could not possibly choose the enormous cop-out of having a mistrial declared without killing the novel entirely so you'll also be aware that he had to choose one side or another.
How he achieves that in a way that will leave fans of both sides of the issue satisfied is amazing. Grisham's dénouement will not only please you but it will move you and, possibly, just possibly, it will move the USA toward that post-racial society that has so far remained just a societal dream.
Highly recommended.
Paul Weiss
November 16, 2022
Sycamore Row is a disappointing novel. First, I was not expecting the story to take place in 1988. Mr. Grisham usually writes in the present, and I was more interested in seeing an older Jake Brigance than in seeing the one here, just a few years after A Time To Kill. It did not help that I did not like where we found Jake at the start of this story: broke and not having realized much success after the Hailey trial.
Even accepting those choices Grisham made, I had serious issues with the story. It was too much like A Time To Kill. I enjoy the characters of Lucien and Harry Rex, but they felt a bit stale because there was no change in their relationships. Race was again the driving force of the narrative, but somehow in a scant three years, the n-bomb count in Ford County dropped from about 1,000 in A Time To Kill to 2 in this book. Either Mr. Grisham decided he was no longer comfortable casually mixing in that word, or he’s decided his original depiction was historically inaccurate (I’m guessing it’s the former). Most of all, I thought the answer to the question of why Seth Hubbard left his estate to Lettie Lamg was telegraphed from very early in the story, so there was less mystery than there should have been.
Sycamore Row is not Mr. Grisham's worst book (that's still you, The Street Lawyer), but it's not one of the better ones.
Even accepting those choices Grisham made, I had serious issues with the story. It was too much like A Time To Kill. I enjoy the characters of Lucien and Harry Rex, but they felt a bit stale because there was no change in their relationships. Race was again the driving force of the narrative, but somehow in a scant three years, the n-bomb count in Ford County dropped from about 1,000 in A Time To Kill to 2 in this book. Either Mr. Grisham decided he was no longer comfortable casually mixing in that word, or he’s decided his original depiction was historically inaccurate (I’m guessing it’s the former). Most of all, I thought the answer to the question of why Seth Hubbard left his estate to Lettie Lamg was telegraphed from very early in the story, so there was less mystery than there should have been.
Sycamore Row is not Mr. Grisham's worst book (that's still you, The Street Lawyer), but it's not one of the better ones.
November 10, 2020
Oh how I love these characters and after all these years, it was great to meet up again. No one does the Legals like John Grisham in my opinion. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment in this novel.
December 17, 2013
From my five star rating, I guess you would know I loved this book. This was the author, John Grisham, that I once loved. He was back in full swing with a fast moving wonderful story with a cast of characters that we grew to love and appreciate in Grisham's A Time to Kill.
I believe it is always wonderful to see an author return to his or her roots, the things that made them special and gave readers a thrill to have read them. In this book, Grisham shows what a wonderful storyteller he is as he weaves this tale of life in small town Mississippi and the death of a white man who leaves his considerable fortune not to his children and grandchildren, but to his black housekeeper. Suffice to say the story keeps moving, all 400+ pages of it with lots of twists and turns and things "lawyerly."
I heartily recommend this novel and even though I am not a mystery book lover, this story made me want to rethink my "thinking." Read it and enjoy an author who has in my humble opinion found his way back home.
I believe it is always wonderful to see an author return to his or her roots, the things that made them special and gave readers a thrill to have read them. In this book, Grisham shows what a wonderful storyteller he is as he weaves this tale of life in small town Mississippi and the death of a white man who leaves his considerable fortune not to his children and grandchildren, but to his black housekeeper. Suffice to say the story keeps moving, all 400+ pages of it with lots of twists and turns and things "lawyerly."
I heartily recommend this novel and even though I am not a mystery book lover, this story made me want to rethink my "thinking." Read it and enjoy an author who has in my humble opinion found his way back home.
May 30, 2023
Only John Grisham can make the story of a contested holographic will and make it a page turner! The tale is set during the late 1980’s in the deep south. A rich man named Seth Hubbard is dying of lung cancer. He handwrites a will, drastically replacing a carefully designed will crafted by lawyers and tax accountants. He then hangs himself. Each fact revealed in this case flips the likely outcome and leads to more questions. I couldn’t read fast enough.
Grisham is a master at developing characters despite the fact that he barely describes their physical features. Instead, he uses what they say and do to make them incredible authentic, distinctive, and memorable. Jake, Seth, Lettie, Judge Atlee, Portia, and Lucien became very real to me. Grisham also finds the nearly impossible line of digging deep enough into legal process, proceedings, precedence to make it intriguing, but almost never so deep that it’s boring.
A fascinating legal thriller, populated with interesting characters that will have you, once again rooting for the underdog and turning pages frantically to reveal that final verdict.
Grisham is a master at developing characters despite the fact that he barely describes their physical features. Instead, he uses what they say and do to make them incredible authentic, distinctive, and memorable. Jake, Seth, Lettie, Judge Atlee, Portia, and Lucien became very real to me. Grisham also finds the nearly impossible line of digging deep enough into legal process, proceedings, precedence to make it intriguing, but almost never so deep that it’s boring.
A fascinating legal thriller, populated with interesting characters that will have you, once again rooting for the underdog and turning pages frantically to reveal that final verdict.
July 4, 2022
I finally finished this book! I really enjoyed it but it was a long read for me, very involved and lots going on with many different characters. I had recently watched "A Time to Kill" and decided to read this sequel which I had had in my stack for a while. I like all the main characters, they were all back and Jake is a wonderful lawyer whose character will always look like Matthew McCaugheny (SP?). John Grisham is always a good read and I now want to read other books in this series.
November 19, 2013
Twenty five years ago, the initial print run of John Grisham's first novel, A Time to Kill, was 5000 copies. His second novel propelled him onto the bestseller lists - where every subsequent novel has landed.
In his latest novel, Sycamore Row, Grisham takes us back to Clanton, Mississippi and his first character - 'street lawyer' Jake Brigance. Three years ago, in 1985, Jake successfully defended a black man accused of murder - the murder of the white rapists of his ten year old daughter. The trial and verdict divided the town and racial tension still runs high.
I was waiting for just the right time to crack the spine of Sycamore Row. (Figuratively speaking of course because I would never hurt a book. ;)
I just knew that once I started, I wouldn't want to put it down. And I was right - I was hooked from the opening lines....
"They found Seth Hubbard in the general area where he had promised to be, though not exactly in the condition expected. He was at the end of a rope, six feet off the ground and twisting slightly in the wind."
It turns out that reclusive Seth was extremely wealthy. And that he changed his will in the days before his death. His new handwritten will lands in the office of Jake Brigance, delivered by mail the day after Seth's death. Hubbard has cut out his children and left the bulk of his estate to his housekeeper of three years - a black woman named Lettie Lang. Jake doesn't know Seth Hubbard but is determined to follow Seth's instructions to the letter of the law.
By doing so, he's in for another fight....
Oh man! I loved it, loved it, loved it!!! Nobody does legal thrillers like Grisham. Really, you don't even need the 'legal' qualifier. Grisham is pure and simple, one heck of a storyteller. Absolutely one of the best. His prose flow seamlessly, drawing the reader ever deeper into the story and the town of Clanton. I could picture myself sitting at the diner, with Dell pouring coffee, and listening to the latest gossip.
The characters are really well drawn. Jake is extremely likable, principled and the kind of lawyer you'd want in your corner. I also quite enjoy the other supporting legal players - drunken, but canny Lucien Wilbanks, the pronouncements of Harry Rex and the astuteness of Sheriff Ozzie Walls.
Grisham brings his setting to life - the town, culture, attitudes and more are all detailed and benefit greatly from the author's own past. The legal machinations employed are just as detailed (and interesting) Grisham both grew up in the South and practiced law in Mississippi.
The plotting is excellent, the tension palpable and the journey to the final pages and reveal is oh so good. Absolutely addictive reading, Stick this one in your own stocking - five stars for sure!
In his latest novel, Sycamore Row, Grisham takes us back to Clanton, Mississippi and his first character - 'street lawyer' Jake Brigance. Three years ago, in 1985, Jake successfully defended a black man accused of murder - the murder of the white rapists of his ten year old daughter. The trial and verdict divided the town and racial tension still runs high.
I was waiting for just the right time to crack the spine of Sycamore Row. (Figuratively speaking of course because I would never hurt a book. ;)
I just knew that once I started, I wouldn't want to put it down. And I was right - I was hooked from the opening lines....
"They found Seth Hubbard in the general area where he had promised to be, though not exactly in the condition expected. He was at the end of a rope, six feet off the ground and twisting slightly in the wind."
It turns out that reclusive Seth was extremely wealthy. And that he changed his will in the days before his death. His new handwritten will lands in the office of Jake Brigance, delivered by mail the day after Seth's death. Hubbard has cut out his children and left the bulk of his estate to his housekeeper of three years - a black woman named Lettie Lang. Jake doesn't know Seth Hubbard but is determined to follow Seth's instructions to the letter of the law.
By doing so, he's in for another fight....
Oh man! I loved it, loved it, loved it!!! Nobody does legal thrillers like Grisham. Really, you don't even need the 'legal' qualifier. Grisham is pure and simple, one heck of a storyteller. Absolutely one of the best. His prose flow seamlessly, drawing the reader ever deeper into the story and the town of Clanton. I could picture myself sitting at the diner, with Dell pouring coffee, and listening to the latest gossip.
The characters are really well drawn. Jake is extremely likable, principled and the kind of lawyer you'd want in your corner. I also quite enjoy the other supporting legal players - drunken, but canny Lucien Wilbanks, the pronouncements of Harry Rex and the astuteness of Sheriff Ozzie Walls.
Grisham brings his setting to life - the town, culture, attitudes and more are all detailed and benefit greatly from the author's own past. The legal machinations employed are just as detailed (and interesting) Grisham both grew up in the South and practiced law in Mississippi.
The plotting is excellent, the tension palpable and the journey to the final pages and reveal is oh so good. Absolutely addictive reading, Stick this one in your own stocking - five stars for sure!
February 4, 2017
This was one of the best books by John Grisham that I've read. I highly "recommend" it to anyone that enjoys the writing of JG. To the few people who have not read John Grisham, this title would be a good place to start. This book deals with subjects that effect our lives today: love, lies, greed, racism, hatred, revenge....all woven together in an absorbing story.
February 4, 2016
this book is very slow and boring. I am a die hard fan of john grisham and was deeply disappointed.
May 15, 2014
Grisham welcomes the reader back to Clanton, Mississippi for another visit with Jake Brigance, small-town lawyer. Using his first ever sequel novel (setting aside the young adult series) to take the reader back into the sweltering streets of a racially divided town that's made little progress since the Carl-Lee Haley case three years before, Grisham reminds the reader why Clanton is the ideal setting for a novel. When Seth Hubbard commits suicide, there appears to be little left to do besides probate his lengthy will. However, when Brigance received a holographic (hand-written) will in the mail the day after Hubbard's death, everything changes monumentally. Brigance is now the lawyer for the estate, responsible for upholding its content. The new will tosses the family out on its ear and leaves most of its proceeds to the black housekeeper. While the family tries to nullify this new will, citing Hubbard was not of sound mind, Brigance realises he is involved in a bloodbath. Grisham leads the reader through the intricacies of the probate process and a brilliant courtroom challenge, filled with legal nuances, heightening the drama and leaving a few threads on which to base sub-plots throughout. Using the rag-tag legal team made popular in A Time to Kill, Grisham spins a wonderful tale from the heart of Mississippi, where race will forever play a major role in any legal proceedings. A great follow-up for any admirer of A Time to Kill and Grisham fans alike.
I have read a great deal about the comparison between the two Brigance books, as though one ought to pick up the thread of the other. Needless to say, while Grisham uses the same characters and ties off some of the threads found in the first instalment, the books differ greatly. 'A Time...' was penned back when Grisham was new to the writing scene and had little to no experience, while this is a book with over two decades of writing experience. 'A Time...' seeks to drum up the drama as it relates to murder and the two races (complete with Klan intervention and a nation staring as the courtroom drama rolls out) while a contested will plays centre stage in this book. The depth of legal severity is quite different and it is impossible to compare the two on the same plane, as one would not compare a saltine cracker to a holiday feast. To do so would be both foolish and completely out of hand. The story does well to pick up where the narrative left off. While not essential to read 'A Time...' before taking the plunge, some of the follow-up does make a little more sense.
Kudos, Mr. Grisham on this thoroughly enjoyable piece of work. I loved it and hope you'll find more sequels to pen, as you did this so effectively.
I have read a great deal about the comparison between the two Brigance books, as though one ought to pick up the thread of the other. Needless to say, while Grisham uses the same characters and ties off some of the threads found in the first instalment, the books differ greatly. 'A Time...' was penned back when Grisham was new to the writing scene and had little to no experience, while this is a book with over two decades of writing experience. 'A Time...' seeks to drum up the drama as it relates to murder and the two races (complete with Klan intervention and a nation staring as the courtroom drama rolls out) while a contested will plays centre stage in this book. The depth of legal severity is quite different and it is impossible to compare the two on the same plane, as one would not compare a saltine cracker to a holiday feast. To do so would be both foolish and completely out of hand. The story does well to pick up where the narrative left off. While not essential to read 'A Time...' before taking the plunge, some of the follow-up does make a little more sense.
Kudos, Mr. Grisham on this thoroughly enjoyable piece of work. I loved it and hope you'll find more sequels to pen, as you did this so effectively.
November 7, 2013
If you have read A Time To Kill and enjoyed it, you will almost certainly enjoy Sycamore Row. All of the characters rerun from the first book. Jake Brigance a lawyer who at times seems to be in way over his head. Lucien his his alcoholic landlord and somewhat mentor. His pal and fellow lawyer Harry Rex, and Ozzie the sherif of Ford county.
The story is about a handwritten will written by a man named Seth Hubbard done so the day before he hangs himself and whether the will is valid or if the one he had professionally prepared 3 years earlier is the one to be executed. The hand written one excludes all family from any money which is a considerable amount. Instead 90 % of the estate is left to Seth's black housekeeper, and Seth is white. This being Mississippi race becomes the main focal point, and for a number of very good reasons.
The author is an expert at writing about law and legal proceedings without ever being boring, and while the ending could lead to a sequel it does not require one.
This was a fantastic book. It is too bad there are not more books out there to say that about.
The story is about a handwritten will written by a man named Seth Hubbard done so the day before he hangs himself and whether the will is valid or if the one he had professionally prepared 3 years earlier is the one to be executed. The hand written one excludes all family from any money which is a considerable amount. Instead 90 % of the estate is left to Seth's black housekeeper, and Seth is white. This being Mississippi race becomes the main focal point, and for a number of very good reasons.
The author is an expert at writing about law and legal proceedings without ever being boring, and while the ending could lead to a sequel it does not require one.
This was a fantastic book. It is too bad there are not more books out there to say that about.
January 1, 2014
4.5 stars. I love Grisham when he is on top of his game. The beginning was wonderful, 5 stars all the way. The middle was a little long in places. But when Grisham writes courtroom scenes, I can see and hear everything. I feel it in my gut, the way he writes it. I just love it. Ending also, five stars all the way.
I also want to add that the last 30 pages of this book are worth the price of admission. Even if you don't think courtroom thrillers are your thing, I think you should give this book a try. Particularly if racial injustice makes you sick. And even moreso if it doesn't.
The audio is wonderful. Makes the book even better, which is what an audio performance should do, IMO. It should make a great book even better. Michael Beck does many of Grisham's books, and in my opinion, he is one of the best.
I also want to add that the last 30 pages of this book are worth the price of admission. Even if you don't think courtroom thrillers are your thing, I think you should give this book a try. Particularly if racial injustice makes you sick. And even moreso if it doesn't.
The audio is wonderful. Makes the book even better, which is what an audio performance should do, IMO. It should make a great book even better. Michael Beck does many of Grisham's books, and in my opinion, he is one of the best.
May 21, 2021
Jake Brigance returns in Grisham's 'Sycamore Road' This novel is a sequel to 'A Time To Kill' but can be read as a stand alone. I went back and scanned just to refresh my memory, but it's not necessary.
The book starts out when a wealthy lumber tycoon named Seth Hubbard hangs himself from a sycamore tree. Before he does that however, he has hand written another will to override the preceding one. He has left the majority of his money to his black housekeeper and not his family. Why ? He has also sent instructions to Jake Brigance to be his attorney and defend this will at all costs. So now you know there is going to be a fight to see if the old man was off his rocker.
This a great courtroom thriller that brings about the subjects of segregation, racial prejudice,handsome white attorney. Just remember, "its not about a fair fight, it's about winning."
Don't I know it ?
As I was reading this, I understand that this is fiction. But so much of it makes me think of some of the things that still go on today. My mother in law grew up in Louisiana and remembers a black man being hung in the town square. Some things are like one step forward, two steps back.
This was a great book and interesting to read. It was another hit for John Grisham in my opinion. Well developed characters, old and new, and a sharp dialogue.
Not to be missed. I highly recommend.
The book starts out when a wealthy lumber tycoon named Seth Hubbard hangs himself from a sycamore tree. Before he does that however, he has hand written another will to override the preceding one. He has left the majority of his money to his black housekeeper and not his family. Why ? He has also sent instructions to Jake Brigance to be his attorney and defend this will at all costs. So now you know there is going to be a fight to see if the old man was off his rocker.
This a great courtroom thriller that brings about the subjects of segregation, racial prejudice,handsome white attorney. Just remember, "its not about a fair fight, it's about winning."
Don't I know it ?
As I was reading this, I understand that this is fiction. But so much of it makes me think of some of the things that still go on today. My mother in law grew up in Louisiana and remembers a black man being hung in the town square. Some things are like one step forward, two steps back.
This was a great book and interesting to read. It was another hit for John Grisham in my opinion. Well developed characters, old and new, and a sharp dialogue.
Not to be missed. I highly recommend.
January 7, 2015
I was pleased to revisit Jake Brigance, who is one of my favorite Grisham lawyers as well as his colorful group of friends (and foes). This is a good story, a few twists and turns, but maybe a bit too predictable all in all. Grisham has done better courtroom drama, but he is still a master at building characters and telling their stories. Expected to love this....but it fell a bit short. Still, it is a Grisham story and always a dependable and enjoyable read.
August 6, 2019
a solid Grisham read that keeps the pages turning ... a credible portrayal of down and dirty Mississippi justice ... plenty of wrinkles and surprises ... intellectually engaging from start to finish ... but I never felt emotionally connected to any of the characters
June 13, 2021
“Ethics are determined by what they catch you doing. If you don’t get caught, then you haven’t violated any ethics.”
― John Grisham, Sycamore Row
Sycamore Row is an extremely well written legal thriller which, for some reason, I didn't like all that much.
Part of my problem is that while it's good, it is extremely slow moving and it did make it tough. I am a fan of Grisham but he has countless others I prefer.
The beginning was great-ending a tour de force. It was the middle that I struggled with.
I did not like it as much as A time to kill. I didn't like it as much as The Firm, The street lawyer, The Associate, etc etc. It moves at a much more leisurely pace. Slow burn kind of book.
It was nice to see Jake back again. Although this is not one of my favorite Grisham books I did not NOT like it. It gains power as it moves along. The ending was riveting. It's just that there is alot to get through to arrive at that ending.
SPOILERS:
The Ending more then made up for any quibbles I may have had. It was strong, intense and powerful.
I really seem to love almost all of Grisham's books. I keep waiting for one I will not like at all but it has not happened yet and somehow I think this is one author where that is not going to happen.
Recommended.
― John Grisham, Sycamore Row
Sycamore Row is an extremely well written legal thriller which, for some reason, I didn't like all that much.
Part of my problem is that while it's good, it is extremely slow moving and it did make it tough. I am a fan of Grisham but he has countless others I prefer.
The beginning was great-ending a tour de force. It was the middle that I struggled with.
I did not like it as much as A time to kill. I didn't like it as much as The Firm, The street lawyer, The Associate, etc etc. It moves at a much more leisurely pace. Slow burn kind of book.
It was nice to see Jake back again. Although this is not one of my favorite Grisham books I did not NOT like it. It gains power as it moves along. The ending was riveting. It's just that there is alot to get through to arrive at that ending.
SPOILERS:
The Ending more then made up for any quibbles I may have had. It was strong, intense and powerful.
I really seem to love almost all of Grisham's books. I keep waiting for one I will not like at all but it has not happened yet and somehow I think this is one author where that is not going to happen.
Recommended.
October 22, 2013
John Grisham, one of the most popular novelists of our time, first comes to prominence in 1988 with "A Time to Kill”, a story set in a small town called Clanton, Mississippi, about a ten-year-old black girl raped and disfigured by two whites, of an incensed father who takes the law into his own hands, killing the two rapists in a courthouse shooting, and of the young but sharp defense lawyer Jake Brigance who saved him from the gas chamber.
Twenty-five years later, John Grisham brings back Jake Brigance to his stomping ground, the fictional town of Clanton, Mississippi and its courthouse in his new novel, Sycamore Row, which centers on a new trial that exposes Clanton’s uneasy past with race relations. The sequel is about Brigance fighting for justice in a trial that could tear the small town of Clanton apart.
Three years down the line, a semblance of normalcy has been restored to Clanton after Brigance won acquittal for Carl Lee Hailey, but the deep fissure it had created was still smoldering. His house was burned down, and he nearly paid with his own life. But many of those involved in the incident still walked free. Though the case grabbed nation-wide attention, there’s still no drastic change and Jack Brigance is still a small-town lawyer. Nothing out of the ordinary seems to be happening…
Seth Hubbard, a rich old man who is dying of lung cancer hangs himself from a sycamore tree one rainy afternoon. His maid who took care of him for the last three years was kicked out of the house and left to fend for her family (consisting of an alcoholic husband and a son who’s lodged in jail) by Hubbard’s greedy family who arrived soon after his death to stake claim to his property. It’s assumed that they would inherit his estate and all that therein.
But something extraordinary happens. Unknown to others, a day before committing suicide, Seth Hubbard had written a new will, cancelling out the first and cutting out his two children and their children – the original beneficiaries of the original will, leaving five percent to Irish Road Christian Church, another five percent to his brother and a whopping 90 percent which comes to more than $20 million to Lettie Lang, his black housekeeper, and mailed it to Clanton lawyer Jack Brigance, asking him to defend it in the event it was contested. When a copy of the handwritten will arrive in the mail, Brigance knows just how fragile and racially charged the case will be. With the Carl Lee Hailey case still fresh in the townsfolk’s memory, everyone asked the same question: Why should the housekeeper get the fortune? Moreover, the first will was properly drawn up by a reputed firm which made Hubbard’s family the beneficiaries. With two wills in existence, the majority of the inhabitants of Clanton feel that Hubbard’s fortune should go to his two children. No one was willing to let a black maid become the richest person in town.
But the young lawyer is willing to risk everything, and even his reputation, or what was left of it after the Carl Lee Hailey case, and decided to take up cudgels on behalf of Lettie Lang. It is a case fraught with danger, drama and doggedness. How it unfolds is what Grisham’s novels are all about.
Sycamore Row may not be as violent as A Time to Kill, but it is as riveting and enjoyable, if not more. John Grisham is a master of legal thriller and courtroom drama who more than does justice to his story in the book. What is especially characteristic of Grisham’s novels is the way he built up the plot, heart pounding and pulsating with an intense feeling of expectancy, and bringing it to its grand finale. Full of intrigue, conspiracy, suspense, drama and plot twists in the typical Grisham-style, it is a novel which is not to be missed.
Twenty-five years later, John Grisham brings back Jake Brigance to his stomping ground, the fictional town of Clanton, Mississippi and its courthouse in his new novel, Sycamore Row, which centers on a new trial that exposes Clanton’s uneasy past with race relations. The sequel is about Brigance fighting for justice in a trial that could tear the small town of Clanton apart.
Three years down the line, a semblance of normalcy has been restored to Clanton after Brigance won acquittal for Carl Lee Hailey, but the deep fissure it had created was still smoldering. His house was burned down, and he nearly paid with his own life. But many of those involved in the incident still walked free. Though the case grabbed nation-wide attention, there’s still no drastic change and Jack Brigance is still a small-town lawyer. Nothing out of the ordinary seems to be happening…
Seth Hubbard, a rich old man who is dying of lung cancer hangs himself from a sycamore tree one rainy afternoon. His maid who took care of him for the last three years was kicked out of the house and left to fend for her family (consisting of an alcoholic husband and a son who’s lodged in jail) by Hubbard’s greedy family who arrived soon after his death to stake claim to his property. It’s assumed that they would inherit his estate and all that therein.
But something extraordinary happens. Unknown to others, a day before committing suicide, Seth Hubbard had written a new will, cancelling out the first and cutting out his two children and their children – the original beneficiaries of the original will, leaving five percent to Irish Road Christian Church, another five percent to his brother and a whopping 90 percent which comes to more than $20 million to Lettie Lang, his black housekeeper, and mailed it to Clanton lawyer Jack Brigance, asking him to defend it in the event it was contested. When a copy of the handwritten will arrive in the mail, Brigance knows just how fragile and racially charged the case will be. With the Carl Lee Hailey case still fresh in the townsfolk’s memory, everyone asked the same question: Why should the housekeeper get the fortune? Moreover, the first will was properly drawn up by a reputed firm which made Hubbard’s family the beneficiaries. With two wills in existence, the majority of the inhabitants of Clanton feel that Hubbard’s fortune should go to his two children. No one was willing to let a black maid become the richest person in town.
But the young lawyer is willing to risk everything, and even his reputation, or what was left of it after the Carl Lee Hailey case, and decided to take up cudgels on behalf of Lettie Lang. It is a case fraught with danger, drama and doggedness. How it unfolds is what Grisham’s novels are all about.
Sycamore Row may not be as violent as A Time to Kill, but it is as riveting and enjoyable, if not more. John Grisham is a master of legal thriller and courtroom drama who more than does justice to his story in the book. What is especially characteristic of Grisham’s novels is the way he built up the plot, heart pounding and pulsating with an intense feeling of expectancy, and bringing it to its grand finale. Full of intrigue, conspiracy, suspense, drama and plot twists in the typical Grisham-style, it is a novel which is not to be missed.
February 8, 2014
Even courtroom antics cannot derail this fabulous drama rapped around legalese. John Grisham is a masterful story teller, although he prefers to take the long way around at times. 8 of 10 stars
November 8, 2013
I knew Grisham had it in him. He's a hell of a writer of popcorn legal fiction, but his last several novels were uncharacteristically awful. Cranking out his first adult-fiction sequel was a good move, even if he chose his lackluster "A Time to Kill" as the source material. ATtK was reprinted after The Firm became an international best seller. It was a below-average legal thriller with a patently ridiculous climax, but folks were hungry for more Grisham, so it sold well and eventually got turned into a pretty good movie.
Sycamore Row returns three years later (1988) to Clanton, Mississippi and its young legal eagle Jake Brigance. A crusty old bastard offs himself leaving a handwritten will behind to be defended by Jake. Chaos ensues. Colorful characters show up. There's a courtroom battle with twists and turns. You get the idea. It's well-written, fast-paced, and chock full of southern color.
That's not to say it's perfect. It's totally predictable, and folks get lost in the huge cast of characters. Still, it's the best thing Grisham has written in a very long time.
Highly recommended. Looking forward to the movie.
Sycamore Row returns three years later (1988) to Clanton, Mississippi and its young legal eagle Jake Brigance. A crusty old bastard offs himself leaving a handwritten will behind to be defended by Jake. Chaos ensues. Colorful characters show up. There's a courtroom battle with twists and turns. You get the idea. It's well-written, fast-paced, and chock full of southern color.
That's not to say it's perfect. It's totally predictable, and folks get lost in the huge cast of characters. Still, it's the best thing Grisham has written in a very long time.
Highly recommended. Looking forward to the movie.
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