 First edition cover | |
| Author | John Grisham |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Legal thrillernovel |
| Publisher | Doubleday |
Publication date | 2004 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Hardcover,Paperback |
| ISBN | 0-385-51043-8 |
The Last Juror is a 2004 legal thrillernovel byJohn Grisham, first published byDoubleday on February 3, 2004.[1]
The story is set in the fictional town of Clanton, Mississippi from 1970 to 1979. Clanton is also the venue for John Grisham's first novelA Time to Kill which was published in 1989. Some of the characters appear in both novels with the same occupation and characteristics. AlthoughA Time to Kill was published 15 years beforeThe Last Juror, it took place in 1985 (on the first page of Chapter 3, it notes the date as Wednesday, May 15), which is a year after Grisham formed the idea forA Time to Kill, his first novel, and began writing it. Therefore, the characters who appear in both novels, such as Lucien Wilbanks and Harry Rex Vonner, have matured inA Time to Kill. Harry Rex Vonner also appears in the novelThe Summons, published in 2002, as an adviser of the protagonist Ray Atlee.
Some references in the book are clearly hinting at things known to readers ofA Time to Kill. For example, in 1970 most blacks in Ford County don't take part in elections - taking for granted that since whites are the great majority in the county, no black candidate would have chance of being elected to local office. However, asA Time to Kill makes clear, a decade later a black Sheriff would be duly elected, with the overwhelming support of blacks and whites alike.
The novel is divided into three parts. The first covers the trial of Danny Padgitt, the second focuses on Willie adjusting to life in Clanton, and the third includes the main events, the murder of the jurors.
In 1970, a 23-year-old college dropout named Willie Traynor realizes that his dreams of becoming aPulitzer-winning journalist will never come true. He moves to Clanton,Mississippi for an internship at the local newspaper,The Ford County Times. However, the aging editor, Wilson Caudle, drives the newspaper intobankruptcy through years of neglect and mismanagement. Willie spontaneously decides to buy the paper for $50,000, using money borrowed from his wealthy grandmother, and becomes the editor and owner of theTimes.
Soon afterwards, Danny Padgitt, a member of a notorious local family, brutallyrapes and murders a young widow, Rhoda Kassellaw. When Traynor publishes a front-page photo of the blood-spattered Padgitt being led into jail, readership increases. However, Willie is accused ofyellow journalism and pre-judging Padgitt. Later, Willie runs ahuman interest story about Callie Ruffin, a local black woman whose seven children (among eight) all gained doctorates and teaching positions in various universities. In the process of researching the story, Willie becomes a close friend of Callie and her family.
In the process ofjury selection for Padgitt's trial, Callie becomes the first black person to serve on a Ford County jury. Though far from enthusiastic about the prospect of having to pass adeath sentence, Callie - who had been active of theCivil Rights Movement - does not shirk her civic duty. In court, Padgitt openly threatens to kill each of the jurors if he's convicted. But though the jury convicts Padgitt, they are divided on whether to sentence him todeath row, so he is sentenced tolife imprisonment at theMississippi State Penitentiary. Unconfirmed rumors persist that Hank Hooten, the deputy prosecutor in the case, had been the lover of the victim - which, if true, would constitute aconflict of interest.
In the ensuing years, as theTimes becomes highly successful and steadily increases circulation, Willie keeps an eye on Padgitt. He campaigns against the extremely favorable conditions which his family procured for him in prison. However, Padgitt isparoled after nine years. Immediately after his return to Clanton, two of the former jurors are killed by asniper rifle and fear spreads through the county. Callie's children and neighbors organize to guard her day and night. The Padgitt family offers alibis as to Danny's whereabouts during the murders. This is taken with great skepticism, but with no tangible proof to the contrary, the authorities hesitate to take action.
Callie reveals that the victims were jurors who voted against sentencing Padgitt to death. A third juror - who also opposed a death sentence - narrowly escapes a bomb sent through the mail. The resulting public uproar forces the authorities' hands, and a warrant is issued for Padgitt's arrest. Against expectations, Padgitt surrenders to police. During hisbail hearing, however, Padgitt is shot and killed by Hooten, who is hiding in the ceiling. Hooten barricades himself in the courthouse tower and, after a short standoff, commits suicide. It is revealed that Padgitt - though guilty of his original crime - was innocent of the murders. Willie discovers that Hooten has indeed been involved with Rhoda Kassellaw, and sought revenge against Padgitt and the three jurors who voted against his death sentence.
A big newspaper chain, extending operations throughout the South, becomes interested in purchasing theTimes. Willie sells the paper for $1.5 million, but his satisfaction is marred when Callie dies of aheart attack. The book ends with Willie writing her obituary.