12 Apr Book Review: A Time for Mercy by John Grisham

John Grisham is one of those authors who can take a legal thriller and turn it into a nuanced exploration of morality, justice, and the weight of difficult choices. A Time for Mercy, the third book in the Jake Brigance series (after A Time to Kill and Sycamore Row), brings us back to the small, deeply divided town of Clanton, Mississippi, where justice is anything but simple. Grisham is in his element here, tackling a case that doesn’t have a clear right or wrong answer, but where the stakes are painfully high. If you’re a fan of courtroom drama that makes you think as much as it entertains, this one hits the mark.

What’s it about?

Set in 1990, A Time for Mercy opens with a brutal and heartbreaking crime. Drew Gamble, a sixteen-year-old boy, is arrested for killing his mother’s boyfriend, Stuart Kofer, a respected deputy sheriff. But what seems like an open-and-shut case of cold-blooded murder quickly becomes far more complicated when the truth begins to unravel.

Stuart wasn’t the upstanding officer everyone believed him to be. Behind closed doors, he was an abusive, violent man who terrorized Drew, his younger sister Kiera, and their mother, Josie. On the night of the shooting, Drew believed he was protecting his family from yet another brutal beating—this time one that might have been fatal. But despite the horrifying circumstances, Drew is charged with murder and faces the death penalty. Under Mississippi law, he can be tried as an adult, and the town wants blood. To them, Stuart was a hero, and Drew is a cold-blooded killer.

Enter Jake Brigance. Jake is reluctantly pulled into the case after being appointed by the court to defend Drew. He’s already swamped with another high-profile civil case that could change his career, and the last thing he wants is to take on a deeply unpopular case that pits him against powerful enemies. But Jake is Jake—he can’t turn away from a kid who doesn’t stand a chance without him.

As Jake begins to investigate, he uncovers layers of complexity. There’s no question that Drew pulled the trigger, but was it murder or self-defense? Did he act in the heat of the moment or out of calculated fear for his family’s safety? And what does justice look like when a boy kills a man who deserved it, but the law doesn’t care about context?

The courtroom drama unfolds with all the tension and high stakes you expect from Grisham. Jake’s efforts to save Drew from execution are met with fierce resistance from the town and the victim’s family, who see no reason to forgive or look deeper into what really happened. As Jake battles public opinion, a vindictive prosecutor, and his own doubts, he’s forced to confront not only the legal challenges but also the moral dilemma of defending someone who did what was technically wrong but arguably justified.

The case puts Jake in an impossible position—protecting a boy who might not survive the legal system, even if he wins. And the emotional toll of the case seeps into Jake’s personal life, affecting his relationship with his wife Carla and testing his commitment to justice.

Grisham masterfully weaves together courtroom intrigue, small-town politics, and deeply personal stakes. The pacing builds steadily, and while the legal twists and turns keep you guessing, it’s the human element—the heartbreak of Drew’s situation, the weight Jake carries, and the impossible choices everyone faces—that lingers long after the final verdict.

What This Chick Thinks

Jake Brigance is as compelling as ever

Jake is one of those characters who feels real, flaws and all. He’s not a perfect hero, but that’s what makes him so interesting. He’s deeply principled, but he’s also pragmatic. He knows how the system works, and he’s painfully aware of how little power he has to change it. What I love about Jake is that he doesn’t take the easy way out. He fights for the people who can’t fight for themselves, even when it costs him. And in this book, that cost feels heavier than ever.

Drew’s story is heartbreaking and complicated

Drew isn’t a typical defendant. He’s a scared, traumatized kid who acted out of desperation. But Grisham doesn’t make him a perfect victim. Drew’s fear and rage are real, and while you sympathize with him, you also understand why the town sees him as a killer. The ambiguity is what makes the story so gripping. You want Jake to save Drew, but you also feel the weight of the town’s grief for Stuart, even if he wasn’t the man they believed him to be.

Moral ambiguity done right

What sets A Time for Mercy apart from other legal thrillers is its refusal to give easy answers. It doesn’t tie things up in a neat bow. The justice system isn’t designed to handle cases like Drew’s, and Grisham doesn’t pretend otherwise. The moral gray areas—where right and wrong aren’t so easily defined—are where the story lives. And that’s what makes it so compelling.

The pacing is classic Grisham

Grisham knows how to build tension. The courtroom scenes are taut and nerve-wracking, but he also takes his time laying the groundwork. The slow unraveling of Stuart’s secrets, the small-town politics at play, and the growing pressure on Jake all contribute to a sense of dread that builds with each chapter. By the time the trial hits its peak, you’re fully invested, even if you’re not sure what outcome you’re hoping for.

Final Thoughts

A Time for Mercy is classic John Grisham—gritty, morally complex, and impossible to put down. It’s a courtroom thriller that asks hard questions and refuses to give easy answers. Jake Brigance’s return is a welcome one, and the stakes feel higher than ever. This isn’t just a story about a legal battle. It’s about justice, mercy, and the impossible choices that come with both.

Rating: 9/10

Try it if you like

• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee – Another legal drama that explores morality, prejudice, and small-town justice.
• Defending Jacob by William Landay – A gripping courtroom thriller about a family torn apart by a murder accusation.
• The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly – For more high-stakes legal drama where the lines between right and wrong blur.