The Confession

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published: 28th October 2010

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the confession

An innocent man is days from execution.

Only a guilty man can save him.


Travis Boyette is a murderer. In 1998, in the small East Texas city of Sloan, he abducted, raped, and strangled a popular high-school cheerleader. He buried her body so that it would never be found, then watched and waited as police and prosecutors arrested Donte Drumm, a local football star with no connection to the crime. Tried, convicted and sentenced, Drumm was sentto death row: his fate had been decided.

Nine years later, Donte Drumm is four days from execution. Over 400 miles away in Kansas, Travis faces a fate of his own: an inoperable brain tumour will soon deliver the end. Reflecting on his miserable life, he decides to do what's right. After years of silence he is ready to confess.

But how can a guilty man convince lawyers, judges and politicians that they're about to execute an innocent man?
Listen to an audio extract:


Critic's Reviews

'Grisham has come up with yet another near-flawless plot… ****'
 Mirror

'John Grisham is of course celebrated for his brilliant legal thrillers and in that field he has few equals…If the customary Grisham tension is reined in here rather than screwed up tight as in such books as The Summons, there is the usual storytelling muscle to match the authorial anger that kick-started the novel.'
Barry Forshaw Daily Express

'The Confession is an airing for the beliefs of the author, but it is also a page-turner. Grisham is careful never to preach … he never forgets his primary purpose which is to entertain … Grishamites will find all their buttons pressed.'
Barry Forshaw Independent

'The Confession is a campaigning novel, attacking the death penalty and a way of doing justice (with a malign nexus of thuggish cops, supine judges and officials elected on promises of being hard on crime) that Texas epitomises ... another engrossing, teeming portrait of the Deep South.'
John Dugdale Sunday Times

'Grisham's storytelling genius reminds us that when it comes to legal drama, the master is in a league of his own.'
Shari Low Daily Record

'The format of The Confession may be slow-burn thriller but it is in fact a devastating indictment of so-called justice in the Deep South...This is education and entertainment of the highest order.'
 Evening Standard

'Nobody knows the inside of a courtroom and the workings of the legal system like a lawyer. That's what makes John Grisham's legal-based thrillers such gripping reading... A master of his genre, Grisham twists and turns you through the legal minefield of last-minute appeals…'
 Press Association, Syndicated review

'Full of suspense, it will have you on tenterhooks reading deep into the night.'
 Stylist

'A masterful storyteller…The Confession stands out as one of the best novels of the year, certainly in this genre, and one of the author’s best novels…Brilliant, gripping, superbly written, this is classic Grisham and can stand proudly with the best of his novels.'
 civilian-reader.blogspot.com

'another great read from Grisham and a welcome return after what seems like a long break.'
 www.crimesquad.com

'Grisham’s The Confession is a masterpiece in suspense. The narrative is taut and has a wonderful flow to it ensuring an enviable pace from beginning to end.'
 Milorambles.com

'As always, Grisham provides a page-turning entertainment'
Declan Burke Irish Examiner Books of the Year

'A classy and fast-moving read'
 Daily Express

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your reviews
19 Reviews
4
Yadnyaseny Nikam
That books is really one of a kind... loved it... this was my 1st book of Grisham's n am eager 2 read another one... :)
5
rajesh kumari
Great,fantastic words are less to appreciate.I did not allow any body to disturb me while reading this book.really innocent person never should be punished.the end of this book made me so glad. thank you John Grisham to give such beautiful end ,which made more stronger my belief in god.
5
jane
Fantastic book. A must read, however was very sad and frustrating, will definitely read another grisham book
5
Luciana Sauré
Brilliant! I could not put it down. It was my second Grisham's book I read and I will definetly go for all the rest. Grisham is a fantastic author. I highly recommend this book
5
Sandra Palmer
Thank you John Grisham - I have not enjoyed a book like this for some time - I just could not stop reading it - I have and will continue to recommend this to friends. Thankfully we don' t have the death penalty int his country - after reading your book I'm so glad we don't!
5
alan horton
people often say you wont be able to put a book down well believe me its true, this is by far the most enjoyable read i have had in years, its the first john grisham book i have read it wont be the last thankyou mr grisham
5
kate foster
This is my first Grisham, it was recommeded by my librarian. I read on my commute and have cried at least three times on the bus this week. It was brilliant and brutal and makes me thank God we don't have the death penalty. I'm now reading the Chamber! Total glutton for punishment.
5
Chris Abbott
My husband read this book first, and warned me I would not be able to put it down. He was right! I cryed frequently, I was angry at the injustice of it all. One of the best books I have ever read. Thank you John Grisham.
5
lawrence James
Having read most of is books, I must say this book is by far the most captivating page turner book i have ever read.
5
mary park
Must be the best yet,read everyone of Grishams books, but this was gripping,tragic and sad. Gripping till the end
5
John Linedale
I doubt that I have ever read such a depressing piece of work! I prefer to believe that it is complete fiction, but if there is even a modicum of truth to it, the the land of the free and the home of the brave is in a parlous state!
4
David Pearson
A very good read could not put it down. The story grabbed me from the start and and had me to the very last page.
3
Priyanka Tamhankar
I've read quite a few of Grisham's books, and I have to say that this one left me a little numb and sad.. Its extremely well written,like all the others, no doubt! But like most of the other books this one didn't have a happy enough ending, for me at least.. It took me much longer to read because I just couldn't make myself go beyond book two, "the punishment."
1
patrick clements
I have returned to reading John Grisham when my son gave me The Confession for Christmas.While I enjoyed several of the early works I thought this latest is in a class of its own. I found myself reading when I really should have been asleep.

Congratulations!
4
Megan
This is the first Grisham work I have read and it was brilliant. I couldn't put the book down and read it in 3 days. Highly recommended. I did notice a typo though. The town was spelt Sloan in the blurb on the inside cover but Slone throughout the book - obviously not picked up by the editor!
5
Sarah Moffatt
Great book I could not put it down
5
Bruno M.J Gayoso
John Grisham's latest book is superb work!
4
Shashank Mangal
I would just like to summarise my experience in the following words, "Nothing Grips Like Grisham". Great book, it seemed as if I was physically a part of the story witnessing everything.
5
Vicky Gotthardt
John Grisham back to his very best...as good as The Chamber which was the only book to make me cry, until reading this one !!