The Confession - John Grisham

 

THE CONFESSION

ISBN - 978-0-099-54582-8
FIRST PUBLISHED - 2010
PAGES - 457
PUBLISHER - Random House 
GENRE - Thriller
BINDING - Paperback
SOURCE - Publishers

AUTHOR - John Grisham

BEST-SELLERS - The Firm, The Pelican Brief, The Rainmaker

SYNOPSIS - [From the back cover]

Travis Boyette is a murderer.

In 1998, in a small East Texas city of Sloan, he abducted, raped and strangled a popular high-school cheerleader. He buried her body so that it would never be found, then watched and waited as police and prosecutors arrested Donte Drumm, a local football star with no connection to the crime. Tried, convicted and sentenced, Drumm was sent to the death row: his fate had been decided.

Nine years later, Donte Drumm is four days from execution. Over 400 miles away in Kansas, Travis faces a fate of his own: an inoperable brain tumour will soon deliver the end. Reflecting on his miserable life, he decides to do what's right. After years of silence he is ready to confess.

But how can a guilty man convince lawyers, judges and politicians that they're about to execute an innocent man?

QUOTES - 

"You count the days, and then there are none left. You ask yourself on your last morning if you are really ready. You search for courage, but the bravery is fading. When it's over, no one really wants to die.”  

“You burn a man's pickup, and he's ready for war.”  

“Prisons are hate factories, Pastor, and society wants more and more of them.” 

FL Speak - Its been ages since I read a Grisham novel. I almost forgot that this man is a master at what he does.

This is not a typical legal thriller. And yet, it so good that I finished it in one reading. 5 hours non-stop last night and am still high. I need another one of his and I've one on my shelf.

The Confession is addictive. It will keep you glued from page one. Right from the moment when Travis visits a Pastor in Kansas and cryptically confesses his sin. Keith, the Pastor is now dragged first-hand to the case which has been on going for the last nine years. And the city of Sloan is about to go up in flames.

Donte Drumm is black. And when Robbie Flak, his white lawyer points out all the mistakes in the police's murder assessment, the black community of Sloan is outraged at the accusation. But Donte Drumm confessed to the crime. Robbie knows the police forced him to confess, he knew the police paid snitches to lie at court but the judge still held against release. Even when the body of the missing girl was not found, the judge ruled guilty in favour of Donte and he has been awarded the death penalty.

9 years later, the date for execution is set and Travis Boyette makes an appearance. But to save the innocent, Travis must travel to Texas and show them the body of the girl. But Travis is on parole and Keith must now decide if he should help Travis escape the state or let an innocent man die. With time against them, Travis and Keith meet up with Robbie and the defence team, and pray for a miracle. Less than 12 hours and only the hand of God can now save Donte.

The city of Sloan is on a short fuse. The blacks and whites take up guns against each other and wait for the spark. The Governor declined the 30-day reprieve for Donte. The entire city was on the brink of a war. They needed a miracle.

And sometimes, miracles don't happen.

Thanks to corrupt police officers and judges, Robbie's team was denied pleas at every junction the the last moments. Even when there was ample proof that Donte was innocent and even when Robbie had the real killer with them, the State gave the green signal to the execution. 

The town blew apart. The state which boasted of the fastest death penalty rate stood up to its name. It didn't matter who was caught. His/her fate was sealed. Devastated Robbie and Keith worked with the real killer to find the body. And then the rapist and murderer escaped.

This is a book that will touch your heart. This is a book that will make you think. This is a book that will make you question death penalty.

My Rating - 4.5/5 stars

PRICE - INR 299/-