(Published by Arrow)
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In The Last Juror, Grisham returns to Ford County for the first time since A Time to Kill. The beauty of A Time to Kill and A Painted House – his best book by far – was that Grisham took the time to develop characters living in the richly evoked and described cities of America.
With The Last Juror, Grisham reverts to the winning formula that we haven’t seen so much of in his recent work. Based in the small town called Clanton deep in Mississippi, a young college graduate, William (Willie) Traynor, find himself the owner of a small town newspaper with a limited audience.
Born in Memphis and educated at Syracuse University, Willie is a 23-year-old “Yankee” who moves to Clanton in 1970 to work as a reporter for the weekly newspaper, the Ford County Times. Within months he owns the paper and finds himself involved in the trial of the century – the rape and murder of Rhoda Kassellaw. This murder, the trial of her killer Danny Padgitt and his parole nearly ten years later are the key plot points of the book.
For once, though, Grisham doesn’t allow the plot to drive the novel, but instead uses it to show the reader through the eyes of Willie, the history of Clanton and the citizens.
Willie witnesses, amongst other things, the desegregation of the schools – an event that nearly destroyed the town – until a young black man leads the local High School football team to victory. One of the most interesting locals is Calia Ruffin, a black woman who through years of hard toil has managed to send seven of her eight children to college, and they in turn have become college professors.
Willie chronicles all the events that change Clanton forever; the death of its youngsters in Vietnam, the corruption of its politicians, the hold on the county exerted by the corrupt Padgitt family.
While the plot doesn’t drive the book it is a good one and will keep the reader interested enough to keep turning the pages. The murder is gruesome, witnessed by children and as always with Grisham there are twists and turns that you would never expect. However the pace is somewhat leisurely as Grisham gradually draws you into the lives of the occupants of Clanton.
The Last Juror sees Grisham at his finest – highly recommended. 
Also by John Grisham
The Painted House
