Sycamore Row: 4 Stars

Sycamore Row by John Grisham

In the latest Grisham novel, we see something we have never seen from him before: a sequel. Sycamore Row is a sequel to A Time to Kill, his very first novel.

The book take place a few years after the Carl Lee Hailey case.  Lawyer Jake Brigance is not doing so well financially. He is still in battle with his insurance company over his burned down house and he hasn't had a decent case in quite awhile. Until he gets a letter in the mail from a man he has never met.

Seth Hubbard is a lonely white man who is twice divorced and never sees his adult children or grandchildren. He was dying of cancer when he decided to hang himself.  He wrote a letter to Jake just before he died with a new handwritten will, asking Jake to defend this will until the end.  What's the big deal?  Seth is worth $24 million and he cut out his children and grandchildren completely.  He has left 90% of his estate to his black maid.

The fight begins. 

This story is much slower paced than A Time to Kill. It is more about Jake's battle to find out all he can with those involved, while trying to not be financially deprived and keep his old business partner, Lucien Wilbanks from re-taking the bar ad becoming a lawyer again, making Jake's life miserable.

I really enjoyed this book. I was caught a little off-guard by the slowness of the book, but once I understood the pace, I really enjoyed it.  We even got a little shout out from The Last Juror by the mention of Willie Trainer, who also lives in the fictional town of Clayton.

Rating: PG