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The Confession (Abridged): A Novel Audiobook, by John Grisham Play Audiobook Sample

The Confession (Abridged): A Novel Audiobook

The Confession (Abridged): A Novel Audiobook, by John Grisham Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Scott Sowers Publisher: Random House Audio Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 4.33 hours at 1.5x Speed 3.25 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: October 2010 Format: Abridged Audiobook ISBN: 9780739376188

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

93

Longest Chapter Length:

05:09 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

36 seconds

Average Chapter Length:

04:07 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

56

Other Audiobooks Written by John Grisham: > View All...

Listeners Also Enjoyed: > View All...

Publisher Description

An innocent man is about to be executed.

Only a guilty man can save him.

For every innocent man sent to prison, there is a guilty one left on the outside. He doesn’t understand how the police and prosecutors got the wrong man, and he certainly doesn’t care. He just can’t believe his good luck. Time passes and he realizes that the mistake will not be corrected: the authorities believe in their case and are determined to get a conviction. He may even watch the trial of the person wrongly accused of his crime. He is relieved when the verdict is guilty. He laughs when the police and prosecutors congratulate themselves. He is content to allow an innocent person to go to prison, to serve hard time, even to be executed.

Travis Boyette is such a man. In 1998, in the 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 in amazement as police and prosecutors arrested and convicted Donté Drumm, a local football star, and marched him off to death row.

Now nine years have passed. Travis has just been paroled in Kansas for a different crime; Donté is four days away from his execution. Travis suffers from an inoperable brain tumor. For the first time in his miserable life, he decides to do what’s right and confess.

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

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"I love John Grisham as an author so I wasn't very surprised that this book was excellent. I must say, I've always felt the need for a happy ending and in this, Mr Grisham gave a twist that had me puzzled. I heard it through the grapevine that this was a nonfiction book but I'm not so sure. If so, it would be a sad commentary on our society. We are more concerned about saving face then admitting a mistake. This book explored injustice in its true form and left me scratching my head, not to mention disappointed in the outcome. This innocent man was exonerated - after being wrongly executed. Where is the justice in that?"

— Faith (5 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • A legal literary legend.

    — USA Today
  • A mighty narrative talent and an unerring eye for hot-button issues.

    — Chicago Sun-Times
  • Grisham is a marvelous storyteller who works readers the way a good trial lawyer works a jury.

    — Philadelphia Inquirer
  • John Grisham is about as good a storyteller as we’ve got in the United States these days.

    — The New York Times Book Review
  • With every new book I appreciate John Grisham a little more, for his feisty critiques of the legal system, his compassion for the underdog, and his willingness to strike out in new directions.

    — Entertainment Weekly
  • The law, by its nature, creates drama, and a new Grisham promises us an inside look at the dirty machineries of process and power, with plenty of entertainment

    — Los Angeles Times
  • The secrets of Grisham’s success are no secret at all. There are two of them: his pacing, which ranges from fast to breakneck, and his Theme—little guy takes on big conspiracy with the little guy getting the win in the end.

    — Time magazine
  • NO ONE KEEPS YOU IN SUSPENSE LIKE AMERICA’S FAVORITE STORYTELLER

  • Grisham is the master of the legal thriller.

    — USA Today
  • "The Confession is the kind of grab-a-reader-by-the-shoulders suspense story that demands to be inhaled as quickly as possible. But it's also a superb work of social criticism in the literary troublemaker tradition of Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle....Brilliant

    — Washington Post
  • “[A] grab-a-reader-by-the-shoulders suspense story.”

    — Washington Post
  • “[John Grisham] is a master at pacing…The book starts fast and finishes faster.”

    — Los Angeles Times
  • “Packed with tension, legal roadblocks, and shocking revelations.”

    — USA Today
  • “There’s no doubt that Grisham has his finger on the pulse of America.”

    — Orlando Sentinel
  • “John Grisham at the top of his form.”

    — Barnes & Noble, editorial review

Awards

  • A #1 New York Times bestseller
  • A #1 USA Today bestseller
  • A Barnes & Noble bestseller
  • A 2010 Washington Post Best Book for Fiction

The Confession Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 3.638888888888889 out of 53.638888888888889 out of 53.638888888888889 out of 53.638888888888889 out of 53.638888888888889 out of 5 (3.64)
5 Stars: 10
4 Stars: 8
3 Stars: 13
2 Stars: 5
1 Stars: 0
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " not my favourite John Gresham book, unfortunately "

    — Soh, 2/13/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Liked it, typical Grisham, but my first e-book. :-) "

    — Adam, 2/11/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Grisham continues to write work that is suitably depressing about the state of the US legal system. It frequently reflects my despair that nothing ever improves. This book continues perfectly in this vein. "

    — Gabrielle, 1/3/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Quick, fun read. Nothing ground breaking, but I read it fast and didn't want to put it down. "

    — Kristi, 1/1/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " John Grisham can be a nice entertaining read to replace TV watching, however, this book is overkill and unbalanced. I loved Runaway Jury tho. "

    — Celina, 12/22/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I listened to this book. I really liked it although it seemed a little long. A book that will make you think about the death penalty. "

    — Vickie, 12/18/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Loved it, typical Grisham.. Great read! "

    — Emma, 12/8/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I've been reading John Grisham since I was a teenager and he is one of my favorite authors. After a few weaker books, in my opinion, he's back in force with a fantastic and serious book that changed my view about the death penalty. "

    — Dado, 12/1/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Made me cry but again shows that our justice system in not perfect. "

    — Lena, 11/30/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Pretty entertaining and suspenseful until about half way through. Then it is just got predictable. The second have wasn't nearly as much fun to read. "

    — Katrina, 11/2/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Not bad. Not great. But it did hold my attention. "

    — Cfenno, 10/23/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Anyone who is undecided on their stance on the death penalty should read this book. It changed my mind. "

    — Mary, 8/25/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This was a fast read, very intriguing with its premise and the exploration of what can go disastrously wrong with our country's allowance of the death penalty. I'd gotten bored with Grisham a few years ago, but now I'm eager to pick him up again. "

    — Jan, 6/20/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Loved every character in this book! From the good guys to the bad. Each one had a strong need to be in the story. Great book from the very beginning to the very end! "

    — Melissa, 4/25/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Reasonably good book. But the suspense ends midway thru the book. However, John Grisham tells a good tale. "

    — Arun, 2/15/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I loved it. it made me rethink the death penalty. "

    — Wendy, 2/12/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Loved this book. Kept me interested from the start. Very descriptive and well written. "

    — Christie, 1/19/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " The good guys were too good, the bad guys too obnoxious, dumb and corrupt and JG took far too long to wrap up his story after the execution. I think he often does much better this one, "

    — Bob, 1/14/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " fast read! (done in 2 days). Very suspenseful! "

    — Jodi, 12/9/2012
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Book finished to thirds in. Author added until he got his quota of words. You wait for a twist which doesn't happen! "

    — Brian, 11/17/2012
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " this is an obvious statement against capital punishment, as Grisham doesn't mask his bias. the plotting is overt and there is little suspense as the ending is a foregone conclusion. "

    — Dave, 8/13/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " i really enjoyed this book, i found it riveting and it tackles a very relevant subject and one that sadly, exists. what happens when an innocent man is sentenced to die. "

    — Laura, 8/3/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Page by page I was on the edge of my seat! Just READ it! "

    — Rose, 6/21/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Not perhaps his best book... but an interesting concept about what justice really is... and what closure means... "

    — Mairi, 3/26/2012
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I stepped outside of my literary box to try something new. Going back in now. "

    — Lorie, 3/23/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I just finished this book over my vacation and it is a typical Grisham book. He gets me sucked in quickly and I enjoy trying to figure out what is going to happen to the characters. "

    — Devon, 1/10/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " this was a predicable Grisham book but entertaining. "

    — Jane, 7/13/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I liked it but it was a bit preachy with regard to the death penalty. The story had some good twists and the pace of the book was great. "

    — Frankie, 5/24/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Typical Grisham. Fast paced, can't put it down. "

    — Tony, 5/24/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Typical John Grisham. Knew what to expect and so I enjoyed it. "

    — Laurel, 5/23/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Loved it! Very Southern and refreshing for him to go back to this genre after venturing to NY with a recent law school grad perspective in the Associate. "

    — Emily, 5/23/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Great read if you have the patience. Typical of John Grisham - the detail. The characters are alive indeed. Not literally, meant when you are reading it. "

    — Aditya, 5/22/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " The first half is suspenseful but once you find out what happens with the execution, it drags on until the end. Way too long! "

    — Shalaka, 5/22/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I thought this book was very entertaining, but like most John Grisham books it was kind of like popcorn. It was fun to read, but that's about it. With that being said, it did bring up some things to think about (the death penalty) and is a really quick read. "

    — Emily, 5/21/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " First John Grisham I've read in a while. Liked it plenty. "

    — Ally, 5/21/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I think I should stop reading John Grisham for a while. It's only my 3rd and I'm now considering law school! Another legal thriller masterpiece from Grisham. "

    — Earl, 5/20/2011

About John Grisham

John Grisham is the author of more than thirty-five novels, one work of nonfiction, a collection of stories, and seven novels for young readers. Thirty-three of his crime thrillers have made the #1 spot on the New York Times bestsellers list

About Scott Sowers

Scott Sowers is an actor and audiobook narrator. AudioFile magazine named him the 2008 Best Voice in Mystery and Suspense. He is the winner of seven Earphones Awards.