Author John Grisham takes readers to "The Reckoning" in the Deep South in 1946. The main character, Pete Banning, was a prisoner of war during the Second World War. He was presumed dead at one point, so when he came home, the whole city celebrated. This makes him all the more shocking that he goes to his church one morning and kills the Reverend Dexter Bell. He does nothing to hide the murder, so it's not a surprise when he's arrested.

Banning's defense lawyer demands answers as to why he shot Bell, but he refuses to speak. He does not want to plead madness, and he answers all the questions by saying, "I have nothing to say." His family has no idea what happened to cause such drastic action. but he does not even want to talk to his wife and children. . Bell is suspected of perhaps being too friendly towards Banning's wife while Pete was abroad.

The quest for justice is only the beginning of this saga of the South family. Readers who expect Grisham's usual justice themes and corrupt lawyers will not be disappointed, but he does much more this time. Grisham takes a snapshot of a chaotic period and highlights the world of law and lack of equality for all and sums it up in a family saga package.

"The jugement"

(Doubleday)

John Grisham

CATEGORY B

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