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Ford County

by John Grisham (Goodreads Author)

3.44 of 5 stars 3.44 · rating details · 8,083 ratings · 1,184 reviews

In his first collection of short stories John Grisham takes us back to Ford County, Mississippi, the setting of his first novel, A Time to Kill.

Wheelchair-bound Inez Graney and her two older sons, Leon and Butch, take a bizarre road trip through the Mississippi Delta to visit the youngest Graney brother, Raymond, who's been locked away on death row for eleven years. It cou...more In his first collection of short stories John Grisham takes us back to Ford County, Mississippi, the setting of his first novel, A Time to Kill.

Wheelchair-bound Inez Graney and her two older sons, Leon and Butch, take a bizarre road trip through the Mississippi Delta to visit the youngest Graney brother, Raymond, who's been locked away on death row for eleven years. It could well be their last visit.

Mack Stafford, a hard-drinking and low-grossing run-of-the-mill divorce lawyer gets a miracle phone call with a completely unexpected offer to settle some old, forgotten cases for more money than he has ever seen. Mack is suddenly bored with the law, fed up with his wife and his life, and makes drastic plans to finally escape.

Quiet, dull Sidney, a data collector for an insurance company, perfects his blackjack skills in hopes of bringing down the casino empire of Clanton's most ambitious hustler, Bobby Carl Leach, who, among other crimes, has stolen Sidney's wife.

Three good ol' boys from rural Ford County begin a journey to the big city of Memphis to give blood to a grievously injured friend. However, they are unable to drive past a beer store as the trip takes longer and longer. The journey comes to an abrupt end when they make a fateful stop at a Memphis strip club.

The Quiet Haven Retirement Home is the final stop for the elderly of Clanton. It's a sad, languid place with little controversy, until Gilbert arrives. Posing as a lowly paid bedpan boy, he is in reality a brilliant stalker with an uncanny ability to sniff out the assets of those "seniors" he professes to love.

One of the hazards of litigating against people in a small town is that one day, long after the trial, you will probably come face-to-face with someone you've beaten in a lawsuit. Lawyer Stanley Wade bumps into an old adversary, a man with a long memory, and the encounter becomes a violent ordeal.

Clanton is rocked with the rumor that the gay son of a prominent family has finally come home, to die. Of AIDS. Fear permeates the town as gossip runs unabated. But in Lowtown, the colored section of Clanton, the young man finds a soul mate in his final days.

Featuring a cast of characters you'll never forget, these stories bring Ford County to vivid and colorful life. Often hilarious, frequently moving, and always entertaining, this collection makes it abundantly clear why John Grisham is our most popular storyteller.(less)

Hardcover, 308 pages

Published November 3rd 2009 by Doubleday (first published 2009)

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May 06, 2012 Nancy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Nancy Price - Short Stories: Ford County by John Grisham

"Ford County," is collection of seven short stories set in a small Mississippi town. They're written about the fictional Southern town of Clanton, population 10,000. The stories move steadily along. The first “Blood Drive” is about three young guys that set out to donate blood for and man injured in a construction accident, misfortune follows them on their journey. The second story is “Fetching Raymond” about two brothers who go to a nearby...more

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Apr 11, 2012 Sharon rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks

I picked Ford County up to listen to as I was traveling to a conference. Interestingly enough, I have not read any other John Grisham novels, but this appealed to me because it consisted of short stories. I like listening to short stories because you can listen for short blocks of time and take a rest without forgetting necessary details to keep you in the plot (as with listening to a novel).

Ford County consists of seven short stories set in and around Clanton, Mississippi. The stories are rathe...more

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Apr 17, 2010 Michael rated it 1 of 5 stars

This book was so bad I couldn't finish it. I normally have enjoyed every other Grisham book and can depend on them for good light entertainment and occasionally a very well done, enlightening story. Ford County must have been written because Grisham had a commitmment with his publisher to churn something out. The book is a series of seven short stories abouth life in Ford County, Mississippi the scene of an early Grisham novel. I went through the first two stories and wondered; why did he bother...more

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Jan 08, 2013 Dave marked it as to-read

Shelves: calibre, fiction

EDITORIAL REVIEW: In his first collection of short stories John Grisham takes us back to Ford County, Mississippi, the setting of his first novel, *A Time to Kill*.Wheelchair-bound Inez Graney and her two older sons, Leon and Butch, take a bizarre road trip through the Mississippi Delta to visit the youngest Graney brother, Raymond, who's been locked away on death row for eleven years. It could well be their last visit.Mack Stafford, a hard-drinking and low-grossing run-of-the-mill divorce lawye...more EDITORIAL REVIEW: In his first collection of short stories John Grisham takes us back to Ford County, Mississippi, the setting of his first novel, *A Time to Kill*.Wheelchair-bound Inez Graney and her two older sons, Leon and Butch, take a bizarre road trip through the Mississippi Delta to visit the youngest Graney brother, Raymond, who's been locked away on death row for eleven years. It could well be their last visit.Mack Stafford, a hard-drinking and low-grossing run-of-the-mill divorce lawyer gets a miracle phone call with a completely unexpected offer to settle some old, forgotten cases for more money than he has ever seen. Mack is suddenly bored with the law, fed up with his wife and his life, and makes drastic plans to finally escape.Quiet, dull Sidney, a data collector for an insurance company, perfects his blackjack skills in hopes of bringing down the casino empire of Clanton's most ambitious hustler, Bobby Carl Leach, who, among other crimes, has stolen Sidney's wife.Three good ol' boys from rural Ford County begin a journey to the big city of Memphis to give blood to a grievously injured friend. However, they are unable to drive past a beer store as the trip takes longer and longer. The journey comes to an abrupt end when they make a fateful stop at a Memphis strip club.The Quiet Haven Retirement Home is the final stop for the elderly of Clanton. It's a sad, languid place with little controversy, until Gilbert arrives. Posing as a lowly paid bedpan boy, he is in reality a brilliant stalker with an uncanny ability to sniff out the assets of those "seniors" he professes to love.One of the hazards of litigating against people in a small town is that one day, long after the trial, you will probably come face-to-face with someone you've beaten in a lawsuit. Lawyer Stanley Wade bumps into an old adversary, a man with a long memory, and the encounter becomes a violent ordeal.Clanton is rocked with the rumor that the gay son of a prominent family has finally come home, to die. Of AIDS. Fear permeates the town as gossip runs unabated. But in Lowtown, the colored section of Clanton, the young man finds a soul mate in his final days.Featuring a cast of characters you'll never forget, these stories bring Ford County to vivid and colorful life. Often hilarious, frequently moving, and always entertaining, this collection makes it abundantly clear why John Grisham is our most popular storyteller.(less)

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Jun 14, 2012 Alex Markman rated it 5 of 5 stars

John Grisham's Wonderful Sense of Humour

Distinct features of Grisham’s novels are intrigues, struggle for justice and tough moral dilemmas for his characters. This kind of plot usually does not leave space for humour. Rather, it could be even detrimental to the main idea of it, distracting the reader’s attention and diluting suspense with unnecessary components. There is one of Grisham’s short stories though, that accommodates both suspense and humour: Quiet Heaven.
The very title is sarcastic,...more John Grisham's Wonderful Sense of Humour

Distinct features of Grisham’s novels are intrigues, struggle for justice and tough moral dilemmas for his characters. This kind of plot usually does not leave space for humour. Rather, it could be even detrimental to the main idea of it, distracting the reader’s attention and diluting suspense with unnecessary components. There is one of Grisham’s short stories though, that accommodates both suspense and humour: Quiet Heaven.
The very title is sarcastic, as it is the name of a nursing home where old people spend their last years, usually in deteriorating mental and physical health. The story is narrated by a sophisticated crook, who discovered the way to profit from other people’s misery. His previous job was at Heaven’s Gate, a similar final station for a human life. So, both in Heaven’s Gate and in Quiet Heaven, his experience was almost the same.
In the past, a few great authors wrote stories about the life in institutions where people, whose only expectation was death, found the last refuge. The best two novellas, which come to my mind, are Sanatorium by Somerset Maugham, and Heaven Has No Favourites by Eric Maria Remarque. There are certainly some others, but it is a matter of personal preference to consider only these worth mentioning.
Under the surface of an intriguing plot, both stories reveal the sad and merciless truth about human destiny. John Grisham however, had overcome the natural impulse for funeral mood and grim philosophy, which such places inflict on us. Instead, he adopted a sarcastic and humorous tone, which still did not obscure the serious thoughts of the author, but at the same time made the story fun to read.
Gilbert Griffin, a professional crook, applies for a job in Quiet Heaven, and is hired right away, as it is hard to find someone willing to accept a minimum wage for the most dirty and ungrateful work at night shifts. He does not mind, as his earnings will eventually amount to tens of thousands, or even hundred thousands dollars.
More: http://mark4man.wordpress.com/
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Dec 04, 2011 Thom Swennes rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a collection of seven independent short stories depicting a variety of different characters from Ford County, Mississippi. These characters are vividly brought to life and the humid air of the Deep South can almost be felt. Some of these stories show a subtle humor even when the plot is everything but. The language reminds me of Bill Bryson’s romp through a strange country. I can almost taste the grits and black-eyed peas.
The seven stories offer a rare and unique glimpse in a rural life...more

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Aug 03, 2011 James Korsmo added it

In this fascinating collection of short stories, Grisham shows his characteristic flare for interesting characters and situations, as well as his ability to turn a plot on a legal storyline. The seven stories in this collection demonstrate a nice variety of characters and plot, some having tinges of a more traditional Grisham legal thriller and some having no legal theme at all. They are all held together, though, by their setting in Ford County, Mississippi, which readers will recall from books...more

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May 19, 2011 Mike The Situation rated it 4 of 5 stars

Great book! After the first chapter, i was hooked. This book isn't just one story, it is a compilation of stories, all of them taking place in Ford County. The book was written in an interesting and different way. At first I didn't like the way the book was written, however as the book went on I began to like it.
The book was not about just one topic, each chapter was a different story with different characters, but the same setting, Ford County. He is able to introduce the reader to the situati...more

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May 15, 2011 David rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: completed

Did you ever read a book about an area and decide that you might want to go and visit or perhaps retire in that area? John Grisham's Ford County, a collection of stories, had the reverse effect on me. I don't ever want to even get close to that geographical area. Why? It appears that Ford County, if Grisham's works here are any indication, is the capitol of Deep, Dark, Depression, U.S.A. The people in these stories are all so sad and their situations are so dark that on would need the light from...more Did you ever read a book about an area and decide that you might want to go and visit or perhaps retire in that area? John Grisham's Ford County, a collection of stories, had the reverse effect on me. I don't ever want to even get close to that geographical area. Why? It appears that Ford County, if Grisham's works here are any indication, is the capitol of Deep, Dark, Depression, U.S.A. The people in these stories are all so sad and their situations are so dark that on would need the light from a nuclear explosion to provide the light that a candle provides to a dark room.

One recurring theme in the stories is the small-town rumor mill. From the first story about an injured worker in the city to the final story about a hometown boy returning home with AIDS-- almost every story featured the small-town rumor mill working overtime. In some cases the rumors were comical, in others they were depressing.

The other recurring theme is a sense of hopelessness for some folks. For example, one family goes up to the prison to visit their relative who is on death row. The hopelessness and the stark reality of facing his fate and the cessation of further stays of execution was utterly depressing. The lawyer, who is brought face-to-face with the family on the other side of a case and their brain-damaged child offers no hope, just utter sorrow for how some folks are forced to live. The slow and agonizing death of the AIDS afflicted man in a town where he is ostracized by both his lifestyle and disease was a discouragement. The guys who go to the big city in order to give blood for an injured friend, but end up making it a drunken journey leave the reader stunned with their callous behavior.

The stories were all depressing. The fact that they were well written means little. I've read books with hit-or-miss stories-- some impressing me with their tale and others forcing me to skip over them. These all were compelling enough to make me feel the need to complete them, but each one left me wondering, "Why did the author bother to write this interesting story that has such unsatisfying conclusions."

Finally, it hit me. Grisham was writting to the people of that area. Perhaps he was subtly telling them to get a life. Either way, for me, it was a message that was meant for someone else. Rather than feeling a naughty thrill from reading someone else's mail, I felt it was sort of like reading my mother-in-laws promitional letters from publisher's clearing house. Not worthy of much interest, so move on.
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Feb 03, 2011 Neil Mudde rated it 5 of 5 stars

An absolute delight to read, I am not usually a short story reader, and was surprised this was, off course having read all Grisham's earlier and som sensational work, I was not sure if I was going to read it, glad I did.
He was able to take me to Ford County and give me a glimpse of what the people are like, as in every situation he portrays only a specific kind of family or person. I do not want to get into the story detail and by doing so spoil it for those people who are intending to read this...more

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Dec 27, 2010 Todd Cannon rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I got this book for Christmas and finished it already. I love John Grisham's writing so I was really looking forward to reading it. Although not all of the stories have lawyers as the main characer all of the stories deal with the judicial system in some way if only in a minor way. Unfortunately, many of the lawyers are a little, and sometimes alot, shady in their dealings with clients and other parties. This makes me a little sad because I want lawyers to all be good guys or to at least try to...more I got this book for Christmas and finished it already. I love John Grisham's writing so I was really looking forward to reading it. Although not all of the stories have lawyers as the main characer all of the stories deal with the judicial system in some way if only in a minor way. Unfortunately, many of the lawyers are a little, and sometimes alot, shady in their dealings with clients and other parties. This makes me a little sad because I want lawyers to all be good guys or to at least try to be ethical. One story, Michael's Room, made me think a bit about what Grisham was trying to say and how I feel about our judicial system. In this story the lawyer is accosted and actually kidnapped by a father that sued a doctor for malpractice several years before. The lawyer represented the doctor and his insurance company and won the case. No money for the poor family, and that is probably how you are suppose to feel. This poor family was beat up by the judicial system and this lawyer in Court. The father goes through the "lies" that the lawyer either told or facilitated during the trial. Most, however, are a matter of competeing expert opinions such as how long the father's child would live, how expensive future treatment would be and what level of care would be required. There was not even a hint of withheld documents or purjured testimony or anything like that. So the lawyer was not really lying, he was wrong. It's easy to see that 8 years after the trial but that's not really fair to the process. The family certainly had a lawyer and experts as well at trial but the jury sided with the doctor and the insurance company. Our judicial system is an aversarial system where both lawyers zealaously represent their clients and the truth should come out. I'm not going to say that the system is fool proof but what other system would you like? I know that in a close or complicated case that the best lawyer often wins not the best case. I also know that the best lawyers are often the most expensive lawyers so that rich people or comapnies with deep pockets get "better" justice. But how would you fix that? We could make all lawyers public employees and pay them all the same and just assign the cases out. Of course, the best lawyer will still win the close or complicated cases. We could make the system non-adversarial and just have one lawyer or a judge that just decides who is right but how do you do that? Then we will have stories written about how unfair that system is. I like mediation but it only works if the parties are both really willing to see the other side. I think until we enter Christ's Millenial Reign we are stuck with people doing the best that they can and a judicial system doing the same thing. I liked the book I just wanted to get on my soap box about this one thing. I wonder if Grisham, who practiced law at one time but is now a full time author, even likes lawyers.(less)

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Dec 03, 2010 Roberta rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: legalthriller

An enjoyable series if stories. One story is about 3 rednecks who go to donate blood and get afoul of the law. Another story is about a lawyer who defends a doctor and the loser of the case kidnaps him to show him why he's wrong. Another story is about a husband whose wife leaves him and how he gambles his way to get her back. Another story about lawyer that cheats his clients and leaves his wife. Another story about a death row inmate and his possible last day with his family. Still another sto...more

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Aug 05, 2010 June Ahern rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have enjoyed John Grisham's books for years and this is one , "Ford County" with it's several short stories is no exception. Once again Mr. Grisham's use of language has entertained me again. This book is different from the author's usual complete novels, but each story has a conflict, a lesson (of sorts) and a resolution or satisfying ending.

"Blood Drive" with it's three Ford County young men who embark on a trip to Memphis to donate blood to a fellow FC who had an accident is very funny. "C...more

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May 17, 2010 Wendell rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

At the end of this collection of stories, the reader is left with a deep, unsettling ambivalence. On the one hand, Grisham wields a sense of place and of language with a confidence that’s hard to beat. He places his characters in memorable, finely wrought settings, he gives them richly evoked material to work with, he writes dialogue that has the ring of truth to it. And then he observes those characters, as they move, live, and (mostly) suffer, with a chilly, anthropological detachment and emot...more

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Mar 24, 2010 Jamie rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have always loved short stories and most of the time wish many novels would have been handled as such, but THEY JUST DON'T MAKE MONEY for the publishing houses so unless your name is John Grisham, the editors and agents will take a good short story and S T R E T C H it out until it is novel length.

So it was fun to read these 6 stories. You are able to get such a glimpse into small town Mississippi life through the eyes of vastly different charachters in such a short time. Ultimately these sto...more

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Dec 28, 2009 Michael rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: everyone

Recommended to Michael by: Saw the book on a list

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Nov 18, 2009 Richard rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: The first story to anyone. The rest I would suggest you ignore.

Recommended to Richard by: I read all Mr. Grisham's work.

This is a collection of seven short stories from the ridiculous to most poignant, all set in rural Mississippi. The first story, Blood Drive, is in the finest tradition of Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou? Three casual acquaintances rush off in all directions to get to Memphis to donate blood for another young citizen who may have been hurt or even killed in an industrial accident. One is not seen again for a year after last being seen having unseen persons shooting at him in a parking lot.

Although s...more

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Feb 05, 2010 Nanette Bulebosh rated it 4 of 5 stars

Loved it. He makes the people he writes about in Mississippi so believable. Several weeks after reading it, I am still thinking of some of the portraits he gives us:

- the impoverished mother and her two grown sons traveling to the state prison for the third son's execution for murder. She's in a wheelchair strapped to the floor of a van they had to borrow from the older son's boss. The family's last meeting before the prisoner enters the gas chamber is quite poignant. This is the most tragic st...more

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Jan 28, 2010 Nicole rated it 1 of 5 stars

I normally like Grisham and I did like his writing style in this book. My complaint is that the characters were all stereotypical red-necks. Yes, Clanton, Mississippi is rural, but not everyone living there is prejudiced, immoral, lazy, or scheming. For example, one story was about a gay man who returns to Clanton to die of AIDS in 1989. He is shunned by his wealthy family (and everyone else) and must live in the black section of town with a spinster who stands to inherit her house from the man'...more

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Jan 08, 2010 Shaun rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was excited to read this collection of short stories by John Grisham. While not a Grisham devotee per se, I've read a few of his books and enjoyed most of them (I give thumbs up to The Firm, Pelican Brief, The Client and The Partner. No thumbs to The Chamber and A Time to Kill, mostly because I can't get through them.)

Overall, I enjoyed Ford County. Some of the stories ended a bit abruptly (my usual gripe about short stories)with a few head scratching endings. Engaging characterizations and a...more

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Mar 06, 2013 Donna rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ford County (which my e-reader still insists is titled "Ford Country") is a compilation of Grisham's short stories about Ford County, Mississippi. His wry sense of humor and deft pacing are enjoyable, and if he had not yielded to his eternal topic of lawyers, lawyers, and more lawyers, this would be a four-star review.

The first short story is NOT about lawyers, and fortunately, is the lengthiest. It begins with a sense of built-up suspense akin to that in The Lottery. A disreputable individual,...more Ford County (which my e-reader still insists is titled "Ford Country") is a compilation of Grisham's short stories about Ford County, Mississippi. His wry sense of humor and deft pacing are enjoyable, and if he had not yielded to his eternal topic of lawyers, lawyers, and more lawyers, this would be a four-star review.

The first short story is NOT about lawyers, and fortunately, is the lengthiest. It begins with a sense of built-up suspense akin to that in The Lottery. A disreputable individual, well-known in this sparcely populated county, is borrowing a van, and its owner tells him that some people don't approve of what they are doing.

We wonder, what might that be? He isn't telling.

When finally we find out, however, there isn't the stark horror and sudden end that The Lottery offered. Instead, there is a slight reduction of tension despite the circumstances, and we are instead treated to a bit of Grisham's droll, dark humor instead. It's a treat. If you get the book, this is what I'd say it's worth, unless you are new to Grisham's writing or have not yet tired of lawyer stories, or even maybe if you are a lawyer, yet have time to read fiction.

The next few that fill the volume are exactly that: lawyers who are not successful and have their wildest dreams fulfilled; lawyers who are dirty sneaks and get what they deserve; and so on. Meh.

The final story is another standout. Grisham deals realistically but with a kind voice in his tale of a native son who has AIDS and has come home to Ford County to die. This is also worth reading.

Overall, here's my take: if you can borrow a copy or get one at a reduced or used price, go for it. I would not pay the full cover price of a hard-backed copy unless you have a good deal of money and plenty of time.

Grisham has proven with his two bookend short stories here, and with his separate novel, A Painted House, that he is more versatile than he appears from a casual perusal of his published works. He has clearly profited by all the law-based novels that he has written, but he lost me after The Runaway Jury, which I thought was a lot of fun, and afterward, I decided, after scanning what came after, enough. He is skilled enough to stretch himself artistically, and now that he has likely made enough on his crank-em-out legal thrillers to retire on, I hope that he will show us and himself more of what he can do outside of his usual comfort zone.(less)

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Mar 06, 2012 Matt rated it 4 of 5 stars

A great collection of short stories by Grisham, that illustrates the ways of the South. As Grisham is not a series man (save his new Theodore Boone work), there are no recurring characters to tie these tales to (at least to the best of my recollection). Each is masterful in its own way and acts as an excellent stand-alone.

The six stories are well-developed and share nothing in common, other than the county in which they are set. Ford County shows the various forks in the path that a group of peo...more

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Sep 29, 2010 Mom rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jul 09, 2012 Annette rated it 3 of 5 stars

I grabbed this because it is four short stories and the first of John Grisham's collection. All four stories are set in Ford County, so I was expecting some back woods, good ol' boy tales, and I suppose John G. delivered. He is a master story teller after all.
The first story is about four boys on a bizarre road trip through the Mississippi Delta to get to a blood drive as one of their buddies needs blood. Theydrink beers while driving, have a run in with a Sheriff, go to a strip club and it goes...more

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Jan 01, 2012 Frederick Bingham rated it 4 of 5 stars

These are short stories set in the fictional town of Clanton, Mississippi. They explore small town life in the south.

One that I especially liked is called "Funny Boy". It is set in the late 1980's. A guy from a wealthy family in town realizes he is gay and moves to San Francisco to live in a more tolerant place. He contracts AIDS, and returns home to Clanton to die. His family does not want him in their home, so he is put in the care of an elderly black tenant of theirs. The two face the combina...more

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Jul 09, 2012 Pam rated it 3 of 5 stars

I have the hardcover plus I rented the audio. First, let me say that there are only a few short stories that I've enjoyed but when I do, I like them a lot!
These were fun if you understand what I think he was trying to do. The subjects are mostly unhappy and depressing but somehow he writes them in such a way, that they are humorous and interesting. I think I enjoyed them more by listening to Grisham read them than reading them myself. I've seen complaints about his rendition but I think he told...more

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Nov 09, 2009 Tom Mueller rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: southern-lit

Back to what I think of as Grisham's roots; Ford County, MS. This is where it all started, with _A Time to Kill_. The tragic humor in some of these stories reminds me of favorite authors, Larry Brown and Harry Crews.

*SPOILER BELOW*
Especially moving is Grisham's short story "Funny Boy", the poignant end of life story of a young man estranged from his moneyed Southern family. Having been ostracized by his entire town (on his return from San Fran), he is sent by his family to live the rest of his l...more

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Oct 15, 2010 Forrest rated it 3 of 5 stars

I found this book to be very entertaining. My wife started reading this, and after the second short story - said that she could not take it any more, and stopped reading it. I found all 7 of the short stories entertaining. Grisham brilliantly sets up each story with characters and settings and then weaves an interesting story of intrigue and mystery. He, the story teller, is detached from the story, but yet in the same sense, exposes the reader to all kinds of emotions. This book treads on some...more

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Jul 29, 2011 Michael Robinson rated it 3 of 5 stars

Ford County is a book of short stories written by John Grisham.

Those familiar with Grishams writing will recognize this southern location in Missisippi as it was referenced in a few of this other novels.

Grisham does a wonderful job of with his writing to make you feel at home in Ford County. If you have ever lived or worked in small town surrounded by a rural setting you might find Ford County similar.

The stories are engaging, and the characters quite colorful. Grisham is quite a story teller...more

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Feb 19, 2010 JoAnn/QuAppelle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Tonight I finished this book of stories by John Grisham. I thought the book was very well-done. I am very particular about short stories and think they are a difficult format in which to write. To write an economical piece that is also "complete" has to be a great challenge for a writer, and Grisham has succeeded. Some of the stories were better than others, but all were good.

In these stories, he returns to Clanton, the setting of his first novel, A Time to Kill. The characters are real and dive...more

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About John Grisham

"Long before his name became synonymous with the modern legal thriller, he was working 60-70 hours a week at a small Southaven, Mississippi law practice, squeezing in time before going to the office and during courtroom recesses to work on his hobby—writing his first novel.

Born on February 8, 1955 in Jonesboro, Arkansas, to a construction worker and a homemaker, John Grisham as a child dreamed of...more "Long before his name became synonymous with the modern legal thriller, he was working 60-70 hours a week at a small Southaven, Mississippi law practice, squeezing in time before going to the office and during courtroom recesses to work on his hobby—writing his first novel.

Born on February 8, 1955 in Jonesboro, Arkansas, to a construction worker and a homemaker, John Grisham as a child dreamed of being a professional baseball player. Realizing he didn't have the right stuff for a pro career, he shifted gears and majored in accounting at Mississippi State University. After graduating from law school at Ole Miss in 1981, he went on to practice law for nearly a decade in Southaven, specializing in criminal defense and personal injury litigation. In 1983, he was elected to the state House of Representatives and served until 1990.

One day at the DeSoto County courthouse, Grisham overheard the harrowing testimony of a twelve-year-old rape victim and was inspired to start a novel exploring what would have happened if the girl's father had murdered her assailants. Getting up at 5 a.m. every day to get in several hours of writing time before heading off to work, Grisham spent three years on A Time to Kill and finished it in 1987. Initially rejected by many publishers, it was eventually bought by Wynwood Press, who gave it a modest 5,000 copy printing and published it in June 1988.

That might have put an end to Grisham's hobby. However, he had already begun his next book, and it would quickly turn that hobby into a new full-time career—and spark one of publishing's greatest success stories. The day after Grisham completed A Time to Kill, he began work on another novel, the story of a hotshot young attorney lured to an apparently perfect law firm that was not what it appeared. When he sold the film rights to The Firm to Paramount Pictures for $600,000, Grisham suddenly became a hot property among publishers, and book rights were bought by Doubleday. Spending 47 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list, The Firm became the bestselling novel of 1991.

The successes of The Pelican Brief, which hit number one on the New York Times bestseller list, and The Client, which debuted at number one, confirmed Grisham's reputation as the master of the legal thriller. Grisham's success even renewed interest in A Time to Kill, which was republished in hardcover by Doubleday and then in paperback by Dell. This time around, it was a bestseller.

Since first publishing A Time to Kill in 1988, Grisham has written one novel a year (his other books are The Firm, The Pelican Brief, The Client, The Chamber, The Rainmaker, The Runaway Jury, The Partner, The Street Lawyer, The Testament, The Brethren, A Painted House, Skipping Christmas, The Summons, The King of Torts, Bleachers, The Last Juror, and The Broker) and all of them have become international bestsellers. There are currently over 225 million John Grisham books in print worldwide, which have been translated into 29 languages. Nine of his novels have been turned into films (The Firm, The Pelican Brief, The Client, A Time to Kill, The Rainmaker, The Chamber, A Painted House, The Runaway Jury, and Skipping Christmas), as was an original screenplay, The Gingerbread Man. The Innocent Man (October 2006) marks his first foray into non-fiction.

Grisham lives with his wife Renee and their two children Ty and Shea. The family splits their time between their Victorian home on a farm in Mississippi and a plantation near Charlottesville, VA.

Grisham took time off from writing for several months in 1996 to return, after a five-year hiatus, to the courtroom. He was honoring a commitment made before he had retired from the law to become a full-time writer: representing the family of a railroad brakeman killed when he was pinned between two cars. Preparing his case with the same passion and dedication as his books' protagonists, Grisham successfully argued his clients' case, earning them a jur(less)

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“It's as if we spend our entire lives avoiding Jell-O but it is always there at the end, waiting.” — 10 people liked it

“But [Stanley Wade] instead removed his glasses and wiped his eyes. They were moist not from fear but from the harsh reality of being confronted by one of his victims. How many others were out there? Why had he chosen to spend his career screwing these people?

~from "Michael's Room"~” — 1 person liked it

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