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)
A legal literary legend.
— USA TodayA mighty narrative talent and an unerring eye for hot-button issues.
— Chicago Sun-TimesGrisham is a marvelous storyteller who works readers the way a good trial lawyer works a jury.
— Philadelphia InquirerJohn Grisham is about as good a storyteller as we’ve got in the United States these days.
— The New York Times Book ReviewWith 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 WeeklyThe 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 TimesThe 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 magazineNO 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" not my favourite John Gresham book, unfortunately "
— Soh, 2/13/2014" Liked it, typical Grisham, but my first e-book. :-) "
— Adam, 2/11/2014" 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" Quick, fun read. Nothing ground breaking, but I read it fast and didn't want to put it down. "
— Kristi, 1/1/2014" 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" 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" Loved it, typical Grisham.. Great read! "
— Emma, 12/8/2013" 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" Made me cry but again shows that our justice system in not perfect. "
— Lena, 11/30/2013" 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" Not bad. Not great. But it did hold my attention. "
— Cfenno, 10/23/2013" Anyone who is undecided on their stance on the death penalty should read this book. It changed my mind. "
— Mary, 8/25/2013" 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" 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" Reasonably good book. But the suspense ends midway thru the book. However, John Grisham tells a good tale. "
— Arun, 2/15/2013" I loved it. it made me rethink the death penalty. "
— Wendy, 2/12/2013" Loved this book. Kept me interested from the start. Very descriptive and well written. "
— Christie, 1/19/2013" 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" fast read! (done in 2 days). Very suspenseful! "
— Jodi, 12/9/2012" 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" 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" 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" Page by page I was on the edge of my seat! Just READ it! "
— Rose, 6/21/2012" Not perhaps his best book... but an interesting concept about what justice really is... and what closure means... "
— Mairi, 3/26/2012" I stepped outside of my literary box to try something new. Going back in now. "
— Lorie, 3/23/2012" 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" this was a predicable Grisham book but entertaining. "
— Jane, 7/13/2011" 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" Typical Grisham. Fast paced, can't put it down. "
— Tony, 5/24/2011" Typical John Grisham. Knew what to expect and so I enjoyed it. "
— Laurel, 5/23/2011" 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" 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" 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" 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" First John Grisham I've read in a while. Liked it plenty. "
— Ally, 5/21/2011" 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, 5/20/2011John 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
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.