Author: John Grisham
Publisher: Doubleday
Publication Date: October 2013
Genre: General Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible
Description: Seth Hubbard is a wealthy man dying of lung cancer. He trusts no one. Before he hangs himself from a sycamore tree, Hubbard leaves a new, handwritten, will. It is an act that drags his adult children, his black maid, and Jake into a conflict as riveting and dramatic as the murder trial that made Brigance one of Ford County's most notorious citizens, just three years earlier.
The second will raises far more questions than it answers. Why would Hubbard leave nearly all his fortune to his maid? Had chemotherapy and painkillers affected his ability to think clearly? And what does it all have to do with a piece of land once known as Sycamore Row?
My Thoughts: With Sycamore Row, the very talented John Grisham takes us back to Clanton, Mississippi and back to Jake Brigance and other much-loved characters in Clanton that left a large imprint from A Time to Kill. A few years have passed, and Jake is still struggling to make his law firm a success and dealing with the fallout of having his home torched and trying to settle the insurance claim. He doesn’t give much thought to the suicide of a wealthy man, though everyone is talking about it.
Two days after the suicide, Jake receives a letter from Seth Hubbard requesting he probate his new will, which cuts out his children and grandchildren and leaves 90% of his over $20 million estate to his black housekeeper, Lettie Lang. His letter tells Jake that there will be a fight contesting the new will and insists that Jake needs to fight to uphold the new will. Having never met Seth Hubbard before, Jake is shocked and secretly pleased that he was chosen by Mr. Hubbard to probate his will and so begins a very complex story.
Throughout this book, I, along with all the residents of Ford County, wondered why Seth Hubbard would bequeath such a substantial sum to Lettie. It’s Jake’s job to prove Seth was of sound mind and the new will is valid. Though the story is quite drawn out in the build-up, the results were significant in their impact as Jake utilizes Harry Rex Vonner and Lucien Wilbanks and their extensive skills and knowledge to build his case.
I really enjoyed this story and reuniting with the residents of Clanton again felt like a family gathering. John Grisham does an excellent job of portraying characters that are multi-dimensional but so easy to relate to and care about.
My Final Verdict: I didn’t think this book was as intense as A Time to Kill, but still delivers an interesting story with some very emotional moments that Grisham is known for. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy relationship driven stories featuring characters that leave a lasting impression.
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