Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Search - The Last Juror

The Last Juror
The Last Juror
Author: John Grisham
In 1970, one of Mississippi's more colorful weekly newspapers, The Ford County Times, went bankrupt. To the surprise and dismay of many, ownership was assumed by a 23 year-old college dropout, named Willie Traynor. The future of the paper looked grim until a young mother was brutally raped and murdered by a member of the notorious Padgitt family...  more »
Info icon
ISBN-13: 9780440241577
ISBN-10: 044024157X
Publication Date: 12/14/2004
Pages: 496
Rating:
  • Currently 3.8/5 Stars.
 812

3.8 stars, based on 812 ratings
Publisher: Dell
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio Cassette, Audio CD
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

scrapbooklady avatar reviewed The Last Juror on + 472 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7
In "The Last Juror" Grisham returns to Clanton Mississippi, the setting for "A Time To Kill." When a young widow is brutally raped and murdered, she names her assailant with her last dying breath: Danny Padgitt, a son of the dangerous and powerful crime family that seems to own Clanton. Willie Traynor, the young reporter who buys the local newspaper when it falls into bankruptcy, covers the case in the paper and befriends Miss Callie, the matriarch of the amazing Ruffin family and the first black woman juror in Ford County. Danny is tried and found guilty, but he receives life imprisonment instead of the death penalty. When he is released on parole after only nine years and returns to Clanton, the jurors who convicted him begin to die one by one, and the remaining jurors fear for their lives... This novel features not only the setting of Grisham's earliest novel, but also the reappearance of its lawyers Lucien Wilbanks and Harry Rex Vonner. It covers some of the same issues of race and criminal justice. But if you are expecting this story to be similar to its predecessor, you might be disappointed. For one thing, the protagonist here is Willie Traynor rather than a lawyer. The story does contain some tense courtroom drama, but that comprises only part of the novel. Instead we see the gentler and softer-hearted Grisham as represented in some of his latest works such as "Bleachers" and "Skipping Christmas." After the fast-paced trial and while Danny is in prison, the story changes direction to indulge in some good old-fashioned Southern storytelling.

Through the voice of newspaper owner Traynor, a northerner who views the town with the eyes of an outsider but who comes to care for its inhabitants, Grisham shows his affection for Southern small town life. Grisham's descriptions and characterizations are so lovingly crafted that I felt I had attended a goat barbecue, sampled some powerful moonshine, sat on the balcony above the town square gossiping with and about the locals, played poker in the backwoods, visited every church in the county, and had lunch on Miss Callie's porch. The story is peppered with humor and folk wisdom. The ending, although sad, is satisfying. I strongly recommend this novel for readers who appreciate both the vintage and newer Grisham works.
reviewed The Last Juror on
Helpful Score: 2
I have read all of John Grisham's books. This is easily one of the best. The title is a little misleading, not a legal thriller. We get to know Clanton's colorful characters. They might seem a little too colorful, but as someone who lives in a small southern town, they are very realistic. I was so sad when the book was over, I wanted it to go on forever.
reviewed The Last Juror on + 51 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I enjoy John Grisham's books, despite the fact they tend to be a little predictable. I thought this was a great story with a weak ending. I couldn't help but feeling a little disappointed with the way this one ended. I did think Grisham did a great job with this one bringing the characters to life. I really felt like I knew them and developed emotional attachments to some. Overall, I did enjoy this one quite a bit and would recommend it to others.
reviewed The Last Juror on + 171 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This was my second John Grisham book and I could hardly put it down. I thoroughly enjoyed the outsiders insight on a small southern town. The mystery was a little too slick in the end, but I still thought it was a great read. I do have one bone to pick though - the book is set in Mississippi, but Grisham says that one of the characters grows vidalia onions in her garden. Well, that is impossible. Vidalia onions ONLY grow in and around Vidalia, Georgia. It is the soil that gives the onions their unique and wonderful flavor. You can't grow Vidalia onions in Miss.
mazeface avatar reviewed The Last Juror on + 66 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Suspenseful tale about a small Mississippi town which is tormented by a murderer in the 1970's. A little predictable, but entertaining and filled with interesting characters. This is the second novel by Grisham that I have read and I am eager to read more.
Read All 183 Book Reviews of "The Last Juror"

Please Log in to Rate these Book Reviews

reviewed The Last Juror on + 191 more book reviews
I liked this book. However I am puzzeled about how it got its name. The trial etc, was a small part of the book. Mostly it was about the man who bought a small town newspaper and about the people of the town that he wrote about. It was a good story but I kept wondering about the last juror. Maybe I missed something but I don't think that I did. Not quite up to parr with the other John Grisham books that I have read. But if you are a fan of John Grisham you will probably like this book also.
reviewed The Last Juror on + 32 more book reviews
Grisham's The Last Juror follows brutal crime from beginning to end to end (not a typo)
As usual for a Grisham story, the novel is set in Mississippi, but this time in the 1970s.
This one is also set in three parts, rather than in one week or month such as The Runaway Jury which covers the course of a trial.
In 1970, a college dropout (Willie Traynor) decides to buy the newspaper he is interning at he just happens to also have a wealthy grandma. (Nice to be able to buy your own job security, hey?)
Traynor covers the story of the brutal murder of a young widow by Danny Padgitt, the trial and aftermath. A death penalty is proposed for Mr. Padgitt but instead he is sentenced to prison.
What he does when he gets out forms the last third of the novel and I will let you find out how it comes out.
reviewed The Last Juror on + 58 more book reviews
Another page-turner from John Grisham, I wish I could have been in the actual court room!
MKSbooklady avatar reviewed The Last Juror on + 989 more book reviews
It takes awhile for the real meat of the story to get going-The first part is dedicated to the trial of Danny Padgitt. The second part is how life goes on in Clanton, Mississippi. You almost forget there are going to be killings, as forecast on the back cover.
Mr. Grisham has a unique ability to paint a picture of life in small town Mississippi, back in the 1970's. The atmosphere is perfectly painted, the characters drawn to perfection. He puts enough twists to make you pay attention, Willie Traynor is an immensely likable character, full of self doubt and concerns for the truth, and his friends. Recommended reading for all, not just Grisham fans.
drunkenmimes avatar reviewed The Last Juror on + 3 more book reviews
Excellent novel from Grisham, as usual. A good history lesson to boot.
Ashley1010 avatar reviewed The Last Juror on + 67 more book reviews
Interesting title given the story. Story follows in the life of a newspaper editor for the span of about 10 years. A good read by Grisham, even though I think the title is a bit deceiving. Story is violent at times.
reviewed The Last Juror on + 264 more book reviews
Grisham always delivers!
COZYCAT avatar reviewed The Last Juror on + 21 more book reviews
This is as good as Gresham's earlier novels in my opinion. It really captured me from page one and the pace kept going. Strong central character and believable secondary characters, great locale descriptions (rural Mississippi)
reviewed The Last Juror on + 5 more book reviews
An abridged version. This is an enjoyable story with characters who are better developed than in many Grisham books. Great to listen to on a car trip.
reviewed The Last Juror on + 3 more book reviews
Great listening as with many Grisham novels.
reviewed The Last Juror on + 98 more book reviews
The Last Juror by John Grisham
ISBN: 0739309005 Unabridged 8 cassettes 12 hours
Read by: Michael Beck

In 1970, one of Mississippis more colorful weekly newspapers, The Ford County Times, went bankrupt. To the surprise and dismay of many, the ownership was assumed by a twenty-three-year-old college dropout named Willie Traynor. The future of the paper looked grim until a young mother was brutally raped and murdered by a member of the notorious Padgitt family. While Traynor reported all the gruesome details, his newspaper began to prosper.

The murderer, Danny Padgitt, was tried before a packed courthouse in Clanton, Mississippi. The trial came to a startling and dramatic end when the defendant threatened revenge against the jurors if they convicted him. Nevertheless, they found him guilty, and he was sentenced to life in prison.

But in Mississippi in 1970, life didnt necessarily mean life, and nine years later Danny Padgitt managed to get himself paroled. He returned to Ford County, and the retribution began ..
reviewed The Last Juror on + 45 more book reviews
A Listening Pleasure
SuzanneB avatar reviewed The Last Juror on
Unabridged -- 8 cassettes -- beautiful story -- very descriptive -- unexpectedly sentimental at times -- not to be missed.
tripletmom avatar reviewed The Last Juror on + 225 more book reviews
This story line was great. Kept me interested the entire way through. Unabridged.
reviewed The Last Juror on + 10 more book reviews
Great book! :)
reviewed The Last Juror on + 111 more book reviews
Another Grisham whodunnit that grabs you on the first page and doesn't let go till the end. Charm and humor temper the first-person narrative of a newspaperman in the South during days of the Civil Rights movement, and the one awful premeditated murder that takes place in the county.
reviewed The Last Juror on + 10 more book reviews
If it is Grisham what else must be said?
reviewed The Last Juror on + 320 more book reviews
another thriller by Grisham


Genres: