A Time to Kill

     A Time to Kill by John Grisham is set in Ford County Mississippi where people are treated differently based on their heritage. Carl Lee Hailey's 10 year old daughter was raped, beaten and nearly killed by two drunk and drug influenced, ignorant men. The catch is that this sweet young girl is black and the two men were white. Enraged, Hailey decides to take the law into his own hands and kills the two men with an M-16, accidentally wounding an officer in the process.
     The main protagonist is a lawyer named Jake Brigance who represented Hailey's brother when he was tried for murder. Hailey confides in Jake before he commits the crime and trusts Jake to defend him so that he may be returned to his family. Jake questions weather Hailey can get a fair trial in a county that is predominately white and conservative. Though getting paid next to nothing, Jake can't help but pour himself into the case at the expense of his safety and that of his wife and small child.
     The book delves into the legal world of defending a man accused of murder, but Grisham does so in a way that though filled with jargon is easy to comprehend. While Jake works he has to explain his decisions to his cliet and allows the reader to understand what is going on as well. The piranha like reporters jump into the mix with the KKK and peaceful protesters this books is a good combination of drama and action. By the end of the book you hoping the jury will be unbiased, but Grisham keeps you guessing until the very end. I can see why Grisham is a favorite at Sollers Point.

     If you like this read and wanted something else along the same vein you could try The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly or Smash Cut by Sandra Brown.