A Time to Kill - John Grisham > Reviews

Advantages: Good plot, makes you think
Disadvantages: Slightly predictable ending

...though it is just as a thriller it also carries a message that certainly made me think. The basic plot is two racist rednecks in Mississippi kidnap and rape a 10-year-old black girl. They are arrested but the girl's father, unconvinced that he will get justice, decides to take matters into his own hands and he machines guns them down. He is charged with pre-meditated murder and faces execution if convicted. Along comes the hotshot lawyer who wants ... Read review

Advantages: Readable, tightly plotted novel which is unafraid to grapple with some sensitive issues
Disadvantages: Harrowing opening chapter

...the highly successful author of a string of legal thrillers, many of which have been made into high-profile films – among the best known of which are The Firm and The Pelican Brief. Grisham, an ex-lawyer (no surprise there) is probably the best-known and most successful, though certainly not the only, exponent of this genre. However, his first novel, A Time to Kill, which was first published in 1989, did not originally attract that much attention. ... Read review

Advantages: Very addictive book with good solid storyline
Disadvantages: Maybe a bit too addictive

...time I started to edit a load of my old ops, well not edit as such, more like completely rewrite. So to follow up from my ops the other day on The Pelican Brief I’ve decided to start this editing process with another of Grisham’s books. In fact I believe this was in fact the first novel he wrote. For anyone whose not aware of Grisham’s work he is an ex lawyer, who after writing a couple of successful novels decided to pack in ... Read review

Advantages: Great writing, strong characters
Disadvantages: It ends, and I am left to find a new book!

A Time To Kill was the debut from John Grisham, and this was the book that made him decide whether to continue with a career in law, or to become a full time author. Luckily for fans of Grisham, the book was a success and he moved onwards and upwards, and is now a world renowned best selling author. A lot of Grisham books are set in the deep south of America, as is this one. It is set in Mississippi, in a small town with a tight knit community. ... Read review

Advantages: Simply my favourite book
Disadvantages: You won't want to put it down

...first saw the film of A Time To Kill starring Matthew McConaughy and Sandra Bullock amongst others in a very strong cast and I was deeply moved. I decided to try the book but I had never read a John Grisham book before as I had always imagined that they would be too legally difficult to understand. I was pleasantly surprised, despite being a former lawyer himself , with an incredible understanding and insight into American law, John Grisham can ... Read review

Advantages: Excellent Story
Disadvantages: Hard pushed to find one, you may lose sleep!

... The story is about a 10 year old black girl who is brutally raped and left for dead by a couple of young white men. When the case goes to trial the victims father shoots both of the accused on their way to the courtroom. The case is suddenly the father being tried for the murder of the two men. The case attracts national media attention and the town of Clanton is filled with media, black activists and the Ku Klux Klan. Grisham based this book on ... Read review

Advantages: Addictive
Disadvantages: none

...is looking for not only a good book but also an emotional story. The summation of the case given by Jake Brigance at the end is very powerful. All I can say is that unless you read it you won’t know what it is about and how it can affect a person perspective on situations around themselves. 5 stars all the way for this book. ... Read review

Advantages: Outstanding writing
Disadvantages: None

...too. It tells the story of a small town lawyer trying to use a case to make his name. What he doesn't bargin for is the way he ends up feeling about his client and the case, and what effect it will have, not only on his career, but his life and the lives of all those he holds dear. It is an age old story of people taking sides on the grounds of race, rather than the facts of the case. When Carl Lee Hailey shoots the two guys who have raped his ... Read review

Advantages: a good book
Disadvantages: nothing

I read A Time to Kill a the first time few years ago and I have reread it many times after. it is one book that I have not gotten sick of. The characters are really well written. The pull of the lawyer to cheat on his wife with his law student is great. I am sure many of us have felt the pull of another person but we turn it down. Very well done. Now on to the basic story line This is the story of a father who kills the men who raped his little ... Read review

Advantages: -
Disadvantages: -

...film.... A time to Kill is a film that will make you think about the world we live in, and hope the images portrayed un the film are never witnessed by us. As we should accept that we live in a multicultural society and that everyone should get on, regardless of their differences, whether it be race, religion etc. This film is a strong movie, which shows the problems of racism, and how they can lead to tougher problems. It has a strong cast ... Read review

Advantages: powerful film done well
Disadvantages: none

A time to kill came on the other week on BBC1 but I have already seen it before, but that did not stop me watching this film. It’s a powerful film, which highlights racism to the extreme. The cast are outstanding wit good contributions from Samuel L. Jackson, Sandra Bullock, Kevin Spacey, and Matthew McConaughy. The story line is about some white racist yobs who come into a village and rape an innocent black girl who happens to be at the ... Read review

Advantages: VERY DRAMATIC MOVIE
Disadvantages: -

In a small South American town, a 10-year-old black girl is brutally raped by two rednecks in a pickup truck. As the rapists make their way into the court room, her father, Carl Lee Hailey (Samuel L. Jackson), shoots and kills them and wounds the deputy in the process. With the Klu Klux Klan (led by Keifer Sutherland), still over-running the town, they start to take revenge on his family and everyone that defends Carl, including his white lawyer ... Read review