Sycamore Row

By: John Grisham

Narrated by: Michael Beck

Length: 20 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Finalist, Thriller/Suspense, 2014

John Grisham takes you back to where it all began...

John Grisham's A Time to Kill is one of the most popular novels of our time. Now we return to that famous courthouse in Clanton as Jake Brigance once again finds himself embroiled in a fiercely controversial trial - a trial that will expose old racial tensions and force Ford County to confront its tortured history.

Seth Hubbard is a wealthy man dying of lung cancer. He trusts no one. Before he hangs himself from a sycamore tree, Hubbard leaves a new, handwritten, will. It is an act that drags his adult children, his Black maid, and Jake into a conflict as riveting and dramatic as the murder trial that made Brigance one of Ford County's most notorious citizens, just three years earlier.

The second will raises far more questions than it answers. Why would Hubbard leave nearly all of his fortune to his maid? Had chemotherapy and painkillers affected his ability to think clearly? And what does it all have to do with a piece of land once known as Sycamore Row?

In Sycamore Row, John Grisham returns to the setting and the compelling characters that first established him as America's favorite storyteller. Here, in his most assured and thrilling novel yet, is a powerful testament to the fact that Grisham remains the master of the legal thriller, nearly 25 years after the publication of A Time to Kill.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2013 Belfry Holdings, Inc (P)2013 Random House Audio

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

"John Grisham is exceptionally good at what he does—indeed, right now in this country, nobody does it better." —Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post

"Grisham is a marvelous storyteller who works readers the way a good trial lawyer works a jury." — Philadelphia Inquirer

"John Grisham owns the legal thriller." —The Denver Post

"John Grisham is not just popular, he is one of the most popular novelists of our time. He is a craftsman and he writes good stories, engaging characters, and clever plots." — Seattle Times

"A legal literary legend." — USA Today

Superb Narration of Southern Accents, Compelling P

What was one of the most memorable moments of Sycamore Row?

The Grisham plot builds and builds around a legal and cultural mystery of, "Why would a Mississippi businessman leave more than $20 million in his will to his black housekeeper while providing nothing for his family"? The ending, as many others have said, will not disappoint. It had me sitting in my car after my commute with the engine turned off, wondering what would happen to convince the jury. The ending did not disappoint.

What does Michael Beck bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Best narration of any audible book I have listened to. The Southern accents are impeccable. He can even do black Southern women fairly convincingly.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I did shed a tear as I listened to the riveting scene in which the father of two sons killed by a drunken driver reached out to the family of the driver to say he and his wife are Christians who forgive the man because that's what Christ calls them to do. In the book, this left the lawyer protagonist speechless. It left me thinking about what it truly means to be a Christian. I heard that a few days before Easter and it choked me up.

Any additional comments?

The story has lots and lots of legal and courtroom details, such as somewhat tedious reviews of depositions. But these add texture and credibility to the story. Grisham gets close to the line of too much legal explanation and examples but for the most part does not, in my opinion, cross it. A great read and listen!

Powerful Ending

I never miss a John Grisham story. I love them, eventhough I know his basic theme is so often the same and just reworked to incorporate a few changes here and there. Rich white guy dies, leaves fortune, cuts family out of will, and hires a lawyer to make sure his wishes are carried out (in this case Jake Brigance.) The publisher's summary gives us all the information to set the stage for the legal battle to ensue---so I won't go into details.

Overall I thought this novel was pretty bland and didn't have any of those "aha" moments I expected--UNTIl toward the end when I literally could not put the ipod down as I had to see what happened. Everything is explained as the lawyers find a lost piece of the puzzle-- the last deposition was gripping and heart wrenching.

Great performance by Michael Beck too!

Awesome! Could not shut it off.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely. Some of his best work ever. Sequels are usually not near as good, but this is better.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Sycamore Row?

The last chapter where the whole story came together and you understood a lot of what you guessed at through the story.

Did Michael Beck do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Yes. By using different voices and inflections. I was never confused as to who a character was like some productions.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes and no. I could have but taking a break to think about the storyline and wondering what comes next helps with the suspense.

Any additional comments?

Loved it on audiobook. Will buy the hardcover as well. A lot of authors are not worth spending the extra money so I Wait for the paperback. I buy all of his books in hardcover so I can enjoy it several times

in the years to come.

Really enjoyable.. Grisham never lets you down.

I've been reading Grisham since the days of "The Firm" and this is one of his best. If you like court room thrillers this is a must to read. Lots of twist and turns that keeps you guessing until the end.

The narrator did a great job as well. His southern accent was a good fit for this story.

Highly recommended!

Finally Finally Finally! The old Grisham is back!

If you could sum up Sycamore Row in three words, what would they be?

Grisham is back!

Have you listened to any of Michael Beck’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Michael Beck is brilliant! Enjoyed very single minute of listening to him.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

YES!

As always John Grisham rocks!

Just what you would expect from a Grisham novel! Keeps you glued to the book till the very end.

Not what I expected

It is difficult to hear parts of this because, even though it's fiction, you know that people actually had to live through this. The story is about a curmudgeon of an old White man disinheriting his entire family and leaving 90% of everything he had (worth over $20 million) to his Black housekeeper. That may sound like it would be boring but the story holds your attention completely. The narrator is simply amazing; his voice is spellbinding. I was never in doubt as to who was speaking because every voice was distinct.

If you read A Time to Kill, this takes place three years after Jake won the acquittal of his Black client.

Worth every dime and every minute of your listening time.

Grisham at His Best

This was like the old Grisham, where the characters are fully developed and entertaining, lovable and hate-able, an ending I should have seen coming but was surprised by, and excellent commentary on our history to boot. Listened to it again with my husband and it was totally enjoyable a second time. Loved it, recommend it!

Great story

Michael Beck is the best narrator for Grisham novels. I always enjoy listening to these great books.

Earth shattering

A moving and emotional story. A shameful historical account of chickens coming home to roost.