The Reckoning

The Reckoning by John Grisham is a riveting legal thriller set in the post-World War II South. The novel transports readers to the small town of Clanton, Mississippi, where Pete Banning, a decorated war hero and a beloved figure in his community, commits a shocking act of violence. On a cool October morning in 1946, Pete inexplicably kills the respected Reverend Dexter Bell in cold blood. The gravity of the crime shakes the town to its core.

Despite the uproar, Pete remains eerily silent about his motives, offering no explanation to the sheriff, his defence attorney, the judge, or even his family. His only statement, 'I have nothing to say,' leaves everyone bewildered. The mystery of Pete's actions and his unyielding silence become the heart of the novel, compelling readers to delve deeper into the psyches of the characters and the secrets they harbour.

As the narrative unfolds, Grisham skilfully weaves together threads of Southern life, the repercussions of war, and the complexities of justice. The novel's exploration of themes such as heroism, loyalty, and the grey areas of morality is both engaging and thought-provoking.

"I couldn't help thinking of Harper Lee's great American novel To Kill a Mockingbird while reading The Reckoning... [Grisham] knows how to spin a yarn" - Chicago Sun-Times

"May be his greatest work yet" - David Grann, New York Times bestselling author of Killers of the Flower Moon

Why did Pete Banning, who was once a pillar of the Clanton community, become a cold-hearted killer? What devastating truth would drive him to such extreme actions and compel him to keep such a consequential secret? The repercussions of his crime echo throughout the town and haunt those closest to him, leaving readers to uncover the chilling reasons behind his silence.

Further praise for The Reckoning

"Beautifully constructed... weaves a truly magical spell" - Daily Mail

"In this saga of love and war, John Grisham has given us a sprawling and engrossing story about a Southern family, a global conflict, and the kinds of secrets that can shape all of us. From the courtrooms and jails of rural Mississippi to the war-torn Pacific, Grisham spins a tale that is at once entertaining and illuminating" - Jon Meacham, New York Times bestselling author of The Soul of America

"John Grisham is the master of legal fiction, and his latest starts with a literal bang - and then travels backward through the horrors of war to explore what makes a hero, what makes a villain, and how thin the line between the two might be" - Jodi Picoult, internationally bestselling author of A Spark of Light and Small Great Things

"When a master of storytelling and suspense takes on one of the most wrenching stories in history, the result is a book that will break your heart, set your blood pumping and your mind racing, and leave you gasping for breath by the final page. I'm still trying to recover from The Reckoning" - Candice Millard, New York Times bestselling author of The River of Doubt and Destiny of the Republic

The Innocent Man by John Grisham is now a major six-part documentary series on Netflix