Book Review: Sycamore Row by John Grisham

Sycamore Row is the follow up novel to A Time to Kill, which was published in 1989. Sycamore Row was published in 2013, but the story takes place only 3 years after the original book. In my opinion it is not necessary that you read ATTK first, but it will help you gain an understanding and the history of the importance of race in rural Mississippi in the late 80s. Sycamore Row takes place in fictional Clanton, Mississippi and follows lawyer Jake Brigance as he, once again, finds himself involved in a trial of old racial tensions in Ford County.

The story begins with wealthy loner Seth Hubbard, who is dying of lung cancer, hanging himself. Before he did so, he mailed a handwritten will to Jake Brigance, leaving nothing to his two children and grandchildren and renouncing his previous will. Seth's decision to leave the majority of his fortune to a non family member, begins another trial of a lifetime for the small town of Clanton. The Hubbard children feel wronged, and fight to get the handwritten will tossed out. What happens, naturally, is the fight to prove that Seth was in his right mind when he wrote the handwritten will. What comes to fruition is the reason why he did what he did. It is a noble act for a man who kept to himself and appeared to want no relationships with anyone around him.

Now, I am a sucker for trial books. I much prefer to read about them as opposed to watching the dozens of shows about them on television. Add in some interesting racial background and I'm sold! As a fan of the first Brigance book, I have to say that this one is not as enticing --at first. There are some twists and loops near the end, but nothing that I felt was super shocking or unexpected. Grisham is a obviously a solid trial writer, and this book is definitely one I would recommend if you're into that sort of thing.

On Goodreads I gave this book 4/5 stars.