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The Confession
The Confession
Author: John Grisham
In 1998, in the small East Texas city of Sloan, Travis Boyette abducted, raped, and strangled a popular high school cheerleader. He buried her body so that it would never be found, then watched in amazement as police and prosecutors arrested and convicted Donté Drumm, a local football star, and marched him off to death row.   — Now ni...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9780345534552
ISBN-10: 0345534557
Publication Date: 3/20/2012
Pages: 448
Rating:
  • Currently 3.7/5 Stars.
 10

3.7 stars, based on 10 ratings
Publisher: Bantam
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio CD
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed The Confession on + 6 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
Mr. Grisham, you've done it again. I don't think I've enjoyed a book as much as I did the early ones lately, but this one got consumed in two days; no dishes wash, dusting done, dog didn't get walked kind of book. Keith Shroeder is a minister who is visited by Travis Boyette, a serial rapist with an inoperable brain tumor and a crime on his conscience. A man in the great state of Texas is due to be put to death for the crime that's been worrying him. The story is that of Keith and Travis, and Donte, the man set for execution in 48 hours, his lawyer and many interesting minor characters. All come together for a gripping story that teaches the reader about the death penalty, showing how it might go horribly wrong. Will he convince Boyette to confess? Will it matter to the prosecutors? Read it and see. Five stars without a doubt.
IndulgeYourself avatar reviewed The Confession on + 100 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
I have not read John Grisham in a long time since his earlier hits. But the storyline on this one interested me so I gave it a shot. I'm glad I did -- this was a VERY GOOD book, very emotional. I think it accurately portrays how pathetic humankind can be in so many ways. I highly recommend!
reviewed The Confession on + 11 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
I couln't put this book down from page 1. If I didn't have to go to work, I would have read this book in 24 hrs for sure. But since I have to go to work, it took me a week...I could see this becoming a movie in the coming years.

You get to know and love the caracters linda like you were with them living their lives,which I admire in a book. I would read this again and again, its a keeper!!
kimdep avatar reviewed The Confession on + 39 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
It was like all the author had was a good idea for a story and didn't take the time to really flesh out what the impact would really be on the characters. The characters were very superficial and uninteresting.
reviewed The Confession on + 162 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is another exellent Grisham novel involving a young man on death row, his lawyer who's fighting with all he has to get his client a stay, the felon who is on the loose for other crimes & the young pastor who hears the felon admit he did the crime the young man on death row was convicted of. Add to all this the state of Texas & your have a very realistic & tense drama. What will each of the people involved do? I appreciated the roll of the pastor & his part in the story. I highly recommend this book.
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reviewed The Confession on
Good Book. Not as good as other by this author but I still enjoyed it
reviewed The Confession on + 3 more book reviews
Another good one from Grisham.
rgray-numbersense avatar reviewed The Confession on + 26 more book reviews
I have read every John Grisham book, and this was his worst. The characters are shallow and one dimensional, and that problem goes beyond just the lead characters to almost every actor in the book. The entire setting is a cliche, without any real understanding or effort at development or thorough description. The story line offers no real suprises or twists, just a steady drumbeat on a single theme.

In reading a book, I hope to be informed of new places, or to learn of new cultures, lifestyles, occupations, etc. Another potential is to be entertained, or taken away from worldly cares or concerns. This book fails from both a journalist's and a novelist's perspective.

I am opposed to the death penalty and would vote to abolish it if that option was presented as a straight option up-or-down vote. This book does not advance that cause, being nothing more than a preaching screed with ugly overtones and strong personal bias shallowly concealed as literature.

Here in his own words is a passage from the author's note that completes this lecture. "There are mistakes in this book, as always, and as long as I continue to loathe research, while at the same time remaining perfectly content to occasionally dress up the facts, I'm afraid the mistakes will continue. My hope is that the errors are insignificant in nature."

They were not, and were compounded by bad storytelling.

For a primer on how return to writing meaningful books about sensitive, complex issues in our lives, I would point Mr. Grisham to "Cast of Shadows" by Kevin Guilfoile. Or perhaps even "A Painted House".
MKSbooklady avatar reviewed The Confession on + 945 more book reviews
Another nail biter by John Grisham. Well written, and full of drama.
chesse avatar reviewed The Confession on + 129 more book reviews
Intense page turner. Grisham's agenda is obvious and he makes the case with a great story.
reviewed The Confession on + 11 more book reviews
Riveing story. Had me holding my breath at points, waiting in anticipation for each sentence


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