A Time To Kill

Written by John Grisham

Narrated by Michael Beck

When Carl Lee Hailey guns down the hoodlums who have raped his ten-year-old daughter, the people of Clanton see it as a crime of blood and call for his acquittal. But when extremists outside Clanton hear that a black man has killed two white men, they invade the town, determined to destroy anything and anyone that opposes their sense of justice.

Jake Brigance has been hired to defend Hailey. It's the kind of case that can make or break a young lawyer. But in the maelstrom of Clanton, it is also the kind of case that could get a young lawyer killed.

A Random House UK audio production.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House UK Audio
• Release date: Sep 29, 2005
• ISBN: 9781846575143

Reviews for A Time To Kill

[leslie398 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Although this book has plenty of suspense, I just found the overall premise one that I disagree with so strongly that I couldn't enjoy it. I don't think that Carl was right in shooting the 2 rapists, especially since they were in custody.

[jaimitaylor · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the book that hooked me on author, John Grisham.

[kaitlinm_27 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I read this my freshman year of highschool and fell in love with his writing. This book is one of the most moving, compelling and morally-immoral books I've ever read. I've it over countless times and will continue to do so until the day I die.

[camc0506 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is such a good book. It's really interesting and keeps you on your toes!

[lferris_10 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Not my typical cup of tea, but BF had it on during our weekend road trip and I got hooked on the story. Not for the sensitive as the N word was tossed around pretty freely, but as a period Southern piece it was done true to form of the piece. At 46 chapters, we didn't quite get through the whole book during the trip so I found myself sitting in the car over my lunch hours the first couple of days back just to wind it all up.

[lisamaria_c · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This is a story set in the fictional small town of Clanton, Mississippi in the near past. It's a town that boasts the only black sheriff in the state, but who has under him deputies who casually use the N-word, and where de facto segregation still exists. There are three coffee shops in the town center, and one is Black, one upscale White, and the third blue-collar White, and generally the three don't mix. Things are shaken up when two "rednecks" (complete with Confederate flag displayed in the back of their pickup) in the county brutally rape a ten-year-old black girl. And then the girl's father, Carl Lee Hailey, murders both men before they can come to trial, wounding an officer, and his White lawyer, Jake Brigance, tries to use the "they needed killing" defense on the White jury. Not an impressive book--this isn't To Kill a Mockingbird by any means, and doesn't offer up any insights into racial relations or the moral complexities of vigilantism. There's nothing here--prose style, skillful unexpected twists of plot, strong characters, striking lines, humor or suspense to make wading through the hundreds of pages worth it. Many of the turns of plot strike me as ludicrous--legally or just in terms of how real people act. Maybe this left me cold because, as despicable as those rapists were, this situation just doesn't pose a moral dilemma for me. I don't believe in any excuse for premeditated murder, especially before the legal process is played out. If Hailey is so afraid a White jury wouldn't do justice to his daughter, why does he think they'd do an injustice and let him off? And how does it redress the balance if he then goes to prison or is executed? I didn't want Hailey to get off and Brigance so often appalled me with his actions and inactions.

[phyllis01_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Grisham's first legal thriller. Underappreciated.

[jshillingford_2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The debut legal thriller of John Grisham. Carl Lee Hailey's little girl is viciously raped and beaten by two local punks. On the way to the courthouse, he opens fire and kills them. Hot young lawyer Jake Briggance, hoping to make a name for himself, takes his case. The story was interesting because just about everyone knows Carl Lee was perfectly sane when it happened, and the crime was premeditated. But, the men savagely attacked his little girl. Would an all-white jury, in a deep Southern town, acquit him? Though the attack is very disturbing to read, the book is riveting. I could not put it down and it made me a fan on the spot.I have ready many, many John Grisham books since this one, including the more famous "The Firm" and "Pelican Brief." Of all, I still think this is his best work. The characters are in your face believable, the tension is superbly manipulated, and the ending was perfectly played. This was the first legal thriller I read that still had me guessing the outcome until the final pages. Overall, highly recommended!

[tallyprosence · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is by far one of my all time favorite books, and my favorite of Grisham's. This book is filled with surprises, and always keeps you guessing and on your feet! This is another book that I couldn't put down, finishing it in less than two days. The character's in this book are drastically diverse, and are each filled with their own personality that adds so perfectly to the story. The politics of this book make you think hard about your views. John Grisham has created a masterpiece, along with an intriguing and sacred plot that makes you want to jump into it yourself!

[lizparker_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When a young black girl is raped and tortured in a small Mississippi town, her father, a vietnam vet, cold bloodedly executes the white men responsible in the courthouse. Full of questions about the inequality of black versus white, and racism in the south, I think the core message is what would any of us do for their child.Grishams best novel to date, it is one I have read more than twice.

[tinydancer11_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A fantastic (and very real) depiction of a father whose young daughter is brutally raped. I went through a wave of emotions while reading. Throughout the book I was pissed, heartbroken, excited and touched...which means the author did a fantastic job.

[conniejackson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Grisham's best book.I think that "A Time To Kill" is Mr. Grisham's best book so far. I've read many of his other novels, some are great, and some are so-so, but this novel ranks at the top. It is full of different issues like rape, murder, kkk, racism, etc. The plot just keeps on building and building. Just when you think that it is about to slow down something else happens.I recommend this book to all the folks. Enjoy it!

[viannin · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Good but intense. A quick read.

[anagarika0sean · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A great first novel! Mr. Grisham couldn't have done better.

[lmackay3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the first of several Grisham books that I have read but this one made the greatest emotional impact on me. The reader can help but ask themselves about the ethical issues presented. It provides an opportunity to learn something about yourself as well as present a believable story about the injustices of the times. I'm not sure why my book list shows this as 2009?

[davejeanralston · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

excellent story, very griping end. Great movie.

[bale_5 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

John Grisham's, first novel, "A Time to Kill", is of special interest, because it deals with ethical issues relating to race discrimination. It poses the moral question, what would you do under this set of circumstances, as a parent and then as a juror. Would you make the same decision if the person was white (in the book, the protagonist/ defendant was black). Grisham uses the voice of one of his (deadlocked) co- jurors to determine the fate of the defendant. It changes the mind of enough jurors to result in a "not guilty" verdict. We all feel and know that murder is wrong in any form. This novel forces is to consider what we are intrinsically against, when a decent, loving man, husband and father is faced with the brutal rape and beating of his nine year old daughter and takes justice in his own hands.

[blazingice0608 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

One of the authours best, the only reason it loses a star is that the ending felt rather rushed to me, it didnt live up to the wonderful detail and characterzation that was given in the first 500-600 pages of the book. With that being said though, its still a great book with a lot of controversial legal and racial issues embedded in it.

[adeej_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another great read from John Grisham. This book took me quite a while to read but that wasn't the fault of the author. I was just really busy and didn't have much time for leisure reading. The end was as I predicted, which was ok, because that's the way I really wanted the story to end. Although that was predictable, there were some exciting twists and turns along the way that definitely kept my attention up. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good court thriller.

[boneslv · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the best books I have ever read.

[mazda502001 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is John Grisham's first novel. Good book, but found his later books better.Back Cover Blurb:A black girl is raped by two drunken rednecks. The town reacts with horror until the girl's father takes justice into his own hands. He kills the two whites on their way to jail. For days the nation sits spellbound as the defence lawyer struggles to save his clients life and then his own.

[mcollier_41 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The main character, Jake Brigance, is, in my opinion, really arrogant and self centered. Apart from that, the plot is actually compelling and some of the minor characters are even funny. (Lucien, Jake's old boss, is hilarious!)**SPOILER**I don't think the jury was right to find Carl Lee not guilty. He DID shoot the boys in cold blood. I know I'm supossed to feel sympathic that Tonya was raped, and I am, but that doesn't justify Carl Lee shooting them. It like saying it's ok to shoot some people as long as they are bad people.

[christopherturner_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Read it back to back with To Kill A Mockingbird, it's interesting to see how much of the language we've allowed in to mainstream culture that describes racial abuse. Read the Demon Haunted World right after, it would make some trilogy.

[msliblady · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is still his best!

[bravekelso · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Modern take on "To Kill a Mockingbird" and other courtroom mystery-dramas replete with violent revenge fantasies.

[babygirl25661 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book will always be my favorite from Grisham. It definelty has you thinking. There is no way you can read this book and not ask yourself what you would do if you were put into that kind of situation. I was in a trance until i finally finished it. This is one was of those books that had me thinking about it days later. Great read!!!

[seldombites · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book begins with a shockingly graphic account of the brutal rape of ten-year-old Tonya Hailey. It then tracks the fallout of this crime before reverting to a highly charged courtroom drama. This is the first book John Grisham wrote and the first of his books that I read. In my opinion, it is also the best.The controversy in Clanton after Carl Lee's action causes us to search our own hearts and souls. What would we have done if Tonya were our daughter? How would we vote if we were on the jury? Would we, in our deepest souls feel differently if he were white?I am not a big fan of Grisham generally but I love A Time to Kill. I have read it several times and still feel the thrills and suspense long after other novels become old hash. This is a book that should be on everyone's reading list.

[obrien8341 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book! I've read a few other Grisham books, and this one is definitely my favorite! It was extremely intense and gripping from beginning to end as it depicted a story of racial violence in the deep south and the desire for justice.

[sels61 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My favorite Grisham book -- in my opinion, his best.

[katie_h_11 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is Grisham's first novel, and is as thrilling and addictive as his other books that I've read. As a page turner that does not require too much concentration, it was the perfect choice for my plane trip. As expected from Grisham, the story is a legal mystery, and the plot is set in rural Mississippi where a 10 year old black girl is brutally beaten and raped by two racist white men. She survives the horrific event, but understandably, her father shoots and kills the men in an act of revenge. Now he is on trial for his life, facing the death penalty, in front of an all white jury. The book is grim and disturbing in parts, but overall, it was a compelling and entertaining read for someone who enjoys legal fiction.