by John Grisham
First published 1994
Young lawyer Adam Hall volunteers to defend his racist grandfather Sam Cayhall, a Klansman on death row for a deadly bombing. As Adam uncovers his family's dark secrets, he must find a way to connect with the unrepentant old man before it's too late. In a race against time, Adam and Sam are forced to confront the sins of the past and forge an unlikely bond, even in the face of death.
Genres: historical-fiction, crime, family-drama, legal-thriller
Vibes: emotional, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, redemption
Setting: Mississippi, Greenville, Chicago, Mississippi State Prison, Parchman, Memphis
Period: 1967, 1990
486 pages · Hardcover · Century
Content warnings: racism, violence