The Last Juror: Summary and book reviews of The Last Juror by John Grisham, plus links to an excerpt from The Last Juror and a biography of John Grisham.

In 1970, one of Mississippi's more colorful weekly newspapers, The Ford County Times, went bankrupt. To the surprise and dismay of many, ownership was assumed by a 23 year-old college dropout, named Willie Traynor. The future of the paper looked grim until a young mother was brutally raped and murdered by a member of the notorious Padgitt family. Willie Traynor reported all the gruesome details, and his newspaper began to prosper. The murderer, Danny Padgitt, was tried before a packed courthouse in Clanton, Mississippi. The trial came to a startling and dramatic end when the defendant threatened revenge against the jurors if they convicted him. Nevertheless, they found him guilty, and he was sentenced to life in prison. But in Mississippi in 1970, "life" didn't necessarily mean "life," and nine years later Danny Padgitt managed to get himself paroled. He returned to Ford County, and the retribution began.

Media Reviews

USA Today - Deirdre Donahue The novel will satisfy those with an appetite for legal thrillers and those who believe Grisham possesses more talent than those breathless page-turners sometimes reveal. It ranks among his best-written and most atmospheric novels.   The New York Times - Janet Maslin Miss Callie might be pure caricature if Mr. Grisham did not write about her with such incontrovertible warmth. Here, as in A Time to Kill, he is able to populate Clanton with flesh-and-blood characters and make readers care about them, which only heightens concern after a renegade Padgitt begins pickin' off the jurors. ...The Last Juror does not need to coast on its author's megapopularity. It's a reminder of how the Grisham juggernaut began.

Recent Reader Reviews

Rated of 5 by kristelle
The Last Juror
i Need to read this book because of such book report project.The first chapter was really boring bur as the chapter continues, the more the climax become near..This book is really awesome and I recommend this book to all ages especially book...   Read More

Rated of 5 by Anonymous
I believe that John Grisham's The Last Juror conveys round characters and a suspenseful plot. The ending is in no way predictable (unless you skipped ahead and read the last chapter as that is the only way you would know the ending). You...   Read More

Rated of 5 by Ben
I am 16 years old and this was the first Grisham book that I have read and I believe that this was a good book. Although I had not read any of his books I have seen a couple of his movies (The Firm and Runaway Jury). When I picked this book up I...   Read More

Rated of 5 by Kathie
this doesn't seem to know what kind of book it wants to be. it is not particularly suspenseful, and rather obvious, however it is a great character study of a small southern town and interesting to see the hero 'grow up' amongst the townfolk.

Rated of 5 by Misty
This is the first Grishom book I've read since A Time to Kill and I thought it was fabulous. I love the way he described the characters, even if they were only there for the moment. The ending was a complete surprise! I began to wonder...   Read More

Rated of 5 by ralphomaha
I think I have read all of John Grisham's books. This is not his best, but it is still a good read. He divided the book into three sections and for a while in the second section it seems to be another book. However at the end he ties the whole...   Read More

...8 More Reader Reviews

Readalikes

If you liked The Last Juror, try these:

---

---

These are 2 of the 4 readalike suggestions for The Last Juror. Members have full access to all readalikes. If you are a member, please login. To find out more about membership, click here.

Books with similar themes

• Thrillers
  
• Legal, Medical & Corporate Thrillers
  
• Ordinary People (Thrillers)
  
• USA 
  
• South 
  
• Mis. Ala. Ga. 
  
• 1960s & '70s