elytalbot 's review for:

A Time to Kill by John Grisham

4.25

adventurous dark medium-paced

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John Grishams first novel has all the makings of what would make him a household name and a literary pioneer. A time to kill surrounds the happenings of an extremely intense court drama in a small Mississippi town, which would become the common layout of a Grisham book. It has strong morally ambiguous characters that carry the story quickly from event to event. Even from the first 100 pages it’s clear that Grisham has an ability to enthrall the reader in the Deep South and understand the politics and points of view at hand. This book perhaps bit a little more off than I could chew in my opinion. The best of Grisham comes from the big characters and emotions that come from a small story, this story felt a bit over the top compared to his other works. Another critique of Grisham is his inability to write female characters without framing them through the male gaze as items of sexualization or protection. Regardless this book was a fun read that kept the pages turning, not my favorite of his work but definitely enjoyed thoroughly.