THE CONFESSION by John Grisham

THE CONFESSION by John Grisham

Grisham, J. (2010). The confession. New York: Doubleday.

GENRE: Fiction – Political

ANNOTATION: When an innocent man is about to be executed, only the guilty can save him.

SUMMARY: Donte Drumm, a black man, has been convicted of murdering a white female high school classmate. The confession that was coerced out of him is suspect at best as is the witness. Taking place in Texas, the conviction can be attained even if there is no body. The real murder has watched as the innocent Drumm is convicted and sentenced to death. He can't believe that they would really convict an innocent man. Nine years have passed and Drumm is a couple of days from execution when Travis Boyette is released from prison for a different crime. He has an inoperable brain tumor and so decides to come clean. He confesses his crime to a minister in another state. As the plot unfurls, we are left to wonder if his confession is taken seriously enough to stop the execution. He knows details of the crime that another would not know and tells that he can take them to burial spot. Will the State Supreme Court or the Governor take the word of a man convicted of several crimes who as spent most of his life in prison seriously enough to stall the execution?

EVALUATION: 5 - Like Grisham's other courtroom dramas, this is an excellent read. The reader might be reminded of the true case Hurricane Carter. Grisham may compel the reader to consider the ethical factors surrounding the death penalty. Suspense builds as it comes closer and closer to the actual execution of the innocent man. For much of the book the reader is not sure of Boyette is telling the truth, and either way, what would be his motivation? This is a really good read with in interesting twist at the end.