A Time to Kill

By: John Grisham

Narrated by: Michael Beck

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • John Grisham’s first novel is a searing courtroom drama that probes the savage depths of racial violence and introduced the world to fearless lawyer Jake Brigance.

“John Grisham may well be the best American storyteller writing today.”—The Philadelphia Inquirer

The life of a ten-year-old black girl is shattered by two drunken and remorseless white men. The mostly white town of Clanton in Ford County, Mississippi, reacts with shock and horror at the inhuman crime—until the girl’s father acquires an assault rifle and takes justice into his own hands.

For ten days, as burning crosses and the crack of sniper fire spread through the streets of Clanton, the nation sits spellbound as defense attorney Jake Brigance struggles to save his client’s life—and then his own.

Look for all of John Grisham’s gripping Jake Brigance novels:
A Time to Kill
Sycamore Row
A Time for Mercy©1992 John Grisham; (P)1992 Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, A Division of Random House Inc.

Critic reviews

Praise for the novels of John Grisham

“John Grisham is about as good a storyteller as we’ve got in the United States these days.”—The New York Times Book Review

“In all of Grisham’s best books . . . the reader gets good company, a vigorous runaround and . . . a bit of a legal education.”—Janet Maslin, The New York Times

“Grisham’s books are smart, imaginative, and funny, populated by complex, interesting people.”—The Washington Post

“The 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 Times

“John Grisham owns the legal thriller.” —The Denver Post

AMAZING PERFORMANCE

If you could sum up A Time to Kill in three words, what would they be?

A political thriller well describing a racial reality in the South.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Time to Kill?

The beginning and the end. Can't spoil it for the audience

What about Michael Beck’s performance did you like?

Michael Beck is AMAZING. He can change so many voices and be consistent with each one of the characters, including women! The accent is outstanding! He is the one that really brings the book alive. The book would be slightly more boring in some parts if it were not for BECK.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Many moments moved me, and others made me laugh too!

Any additional comments?

Awesome book with an OUTSTANDING performance by Michael Beck

Excellent book and narration!

The plot is intriguing, the characters are well-developed, and the narrator is the best I’ve heard. I will be looking for other selections narrated by Michael Beck.

Narrator cannot perform Boston accent

All good except the abundance of squeaky voices and the British accent for the 2 Boston characters.

great!

I have read this book multiple times and seen the movie! its a tear jerker but one of my all time favorites! the author brings the story to life!

Remarkable writing

It is a remarkable gift to write a story that will captivate the reader and draw them into the story with all its tension and drama. Grisham is so gifted. The same has to be said of the performance of Beck.
The story mirrors the history of the south and its racial tensions and the issues of death penalty with great respect to all the different sides of the issues with an ending that is satisfying.