Quit reading after a particularly sickening violent section, but went back & finished later. Certainly not one of my favourite Grishams.

BIBLIOGRAPHIC DETAILS:
(Available in Print: 10/15/2019; PUBLISHER: Doubleday; First Edition; ISBN: 978-0385544184; PAGES: 384; Unabridged.)
(Available as Digital)
*This edition-Audio: COPYRIGHT: 1/21/2005; PUBLISHER: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing; DURATION: 11:56:41; PARTS: 10; Unabridged; FILE SIZE: 341173 KB
Feature Film or tv: I don’t think so—at least not yet.

SERIES:
No

Major characters: (Not comprehensive--I was listening rather than reading, so may not have spelled names correctly)
Duke Russel—wrongfully convicted prisoner
Post—Minister/Lawyer/Defender
Vicki Gourley—Founder of Guardians and part of Post’s team
Francois (Frankie) Tatum—Freelances for The Guardians
Quincy-wrongfully convicted prisoner
June Walker-Quincy’s x-wife

SUMMARY/ EVALUATION:
This book grabs your attention from the very start and holds it to the end. It’s got heart, and does an excellent job of pointing out . . . strengths, yes; but primarily, the inadequacies of the Justice System. I’ve always liked Grisham, but I guess because so many of his novels were made into movies that I have seen, I haven’t undertaken listening to his books in chronological order. This one made it clear that I need to remedy that and listen to the many Grisham books I’ve missed.

AUTHOR:
John Grisham : “John Ray Grisham Jr. (/ˈɡrɪʃəm/; born February 8, 1955 in Jonesboro, Arkansas)[1][2] is an American novelist and lawyer known for his popular legal thrillers. According to the American Academy of Achievement, Grisham has written 28 consecutive number one fiction bestsellers, and his books have sold 300 million copies worldwide.[3] Along with Tom Clancy and J. K. Rowling, Grisham is one of only three authors to have sold two million copies on a first printing.[4][5]” __Wikipedia

NARRATOR:
Michael Beck: “John Michael Beck Taylor (born February 4, 1949), commonly known as Michael Beck, is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Swan in The Warriors (1979) and Sonny Malone in Xanadu (1980).” __Wikipedia
John Grisham’s newest legal thriller, THE RECKONING, marks a return to the Southern Gothic setting his fans love, and is a shocking and suspenseful tale, made even more heart-pounding when told by a skilled storyteller. Enter narrator Michael Beck, who has been the voice of many Grisham audiobooks, and for good reason. Booklist has described his range as “brilliant” and AudioFile exclaims, “Few authors can compete with John Grisham in the genre of courtroom dramas. Narrator Michael Beck performs with equal skill.”__RandomHouseAudio.com
Michael is an excellent narrator!

GENRE:
Fiction; Suspense; Thriller

LOCATIONS:
National--Florida; Savannah, Georgia; Alabama among others.

TIME FRAME:
Contemporary

SUBJECTS:
Incarceration; Innocence; Exoneration; Criminal Justice System, Criminal Justice System—Flaws; Criminals; Corruption; Gangs; Mobsters; International Gangs; Murder; Detectives; Ministries; Public Defenders; Innocence Projects; Wrongful Convictions; James (Jim) McCloskey; Centurion Ministries; Legal system; Laws

DEDICATION:
To James McCloskey
"The Exonerator"

SAMPLE QUOTATION:
“Since we are in rural Alabama, we greet each other with a handshake, as opposed to a man hug we might otherwise consider. Two men, one black and the other white, hugging in a crowded truck stop might attract a look or two, not that we really care. Frankie has more money than all these guys combined, and he’s still lean and quick from his prison days. He doesn’t start fights. He simply has the air and confidence to discourage them.
‘Congrats, ’ he says. ‘That was pretty close.’
‘Duke had just started his last meal when the call came. Had to eat in a hurry.’
‘But you seemed confident.’
‘I was faking, the old tough lawyer routine. Inside, my guts were boiling.’
‘Speaking of which. I’m sure you’re starving.’
‘Yes, I am. I called Carter as I left the prison. Couldn’t help myself.’
He frowns slightly and says, ‘Okay. I’m sure there was a reason.’
‘Not a good one. I was just too pissed not to. The guy was sitting there counting the minutes until Duke got the needle. Can you imagine what that’s like, being the real killer and silently cheering from the sideline as somebody else is executed? We gotta nail him, Frankie.’
‘We will.’
A waitress appears and I order eggs and coffee. Frankie wants pancakes and sausage.
He knows as much about my cases as I do. He reads every file, memo, report, and trial transcript. Fun for Frankie is easing into a place like Verona, Alabama, where no one has ever seen him, and digging for information. He’s fearless but he never takes chances because he is not going to get caught. His new life is too good, his freedom especially valuable because he suffered so long without it.
‘We have to get Carter’s DNA,’ I say. ‘One way or the other.’
‘I know, I know. I’m working on it. You need some rest, boss.’
‘Don’t I always? And, as we well know, being a lawyer I can’t obtain his DNA by illegal means.’
‘But I can, right?’ He smiles and sips his coffee. The waitress delivers mine and fills his cup.
‘Maybe. Let’s discuss it later. For the next few weeks, he’ll be spooked because of my call. Good for him. He’ll make a mistake at some point and we’ll be there.’


RATING:
5 stars.

STARTED READING – FINISHED READING
5-7-2022 to 5-15-22 ( )

This is the story of Cullen Post a part time Pastor and full time lawyer he works for a company that exonerated long term innocent men on death Row or locked up for a long time. Post and his colleagues have had a bit of success and manage to free 8 men so far. Latest case is a black man called Quincy Miller who has been locked up for over 22 years. This case is proving difficult, lots of people originally lied to set Quincy up. Lock and his colleague Frankie proper dig deep and eventually manage to get Quincy's case re opened. Quincy does get attacked in jail first though nearly dies but pulls through and becomes a free man. OK book. ( )

A slower-paced legal story with a bit too long run up to moving the story forward. However, it was a fascinating exposé in its own way of the incompetence and potential corruption amongst greedy lawyers and lazy judges. The author's afterword was valuable in showing how he related his story in the novel to real-life scenarios where innocent (usually impoverished) folks are wrongfully imprisoned. Well worth reading. ( )

A truly meaningful plot that is driven by an original protagonist, a dichotomous character that is a minister and practicing lawyer. The Guardians by Grisham is as intriguing as it is sobering. There is a protagonist that we cheer on, he is a man, a lawyer of all people, that puts meaning and integrity first by having made it his life mission to set free the wrongfully convicted.
Yet, The Guardians is as intriguing as it is sobering as the author skillfully introduces statistics of the many innocently incarcerated but also of the duration of the legal process of releasing these unfortunates - both large numbers, indeed.
This is Grisham true to form. This is recommended reading. ( )