Very intriguing as the author switched in between settings. The description of the harsh realities of war was amazing. I did not like the ending though. ( )

The author's description of struggles of Americans captured in the Philippines in WWII was well done, but its mix with the murder by the ex-soldier from this war just didn't add up. The main story - the murder in the small southern town - seemed to go nowhere and ended in whimper. ( )

While I enjoyed the story, it fell flat at the end since I'd hoped for a twist rather than the predictable. Fast paced, the historical elements from the war were of interest, and characters believable. By no means do I feel this is Grisham's best work, nor would I expect to see it optioned for film. Regardless, I'm glad I read it in spite of the lackluster ending. ( )

This is Grisham at his best, written the way he wrote [b:The Chamber|5355|The Chamber|John Grisham|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388336784s/5355.jpg|1254155] and [b:A Time to Kill|32542|A Time to Kill (Jake Brigance, #1)|John Grisham|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1390195915s/32542.jpg|1804929]. It’s been a long time since I have given one of his books 5 stars, and I’m so pleased to be able to do so now.

There is, of course, the legal wrangling that is the heart of all Grisham novels. The story is told in three parts, and the murder and trial happen right up front. Part 2 is a bonus, not just a flashback to build the story but a history lesson as well. I learned a lot about fighting in the Philippines during World War II, about the Bataan death march and the American/Filipino guerilla forces that were formed by the few soldiers who were able to evade or escape capture. Part 3 takes us back to Clanton, Mississippi, to the sad aftermath of the events in Part 1.

I had such a strong emotional reaction to the story. Masterful writing, Mr. Grisham, just masterful. It’s good to have you back! ( )

This was a very hard-hitting read! The end of the first part made me cry. And the second part took me a long time to get through because I could only bear short doses of the horrors of the Bataan Death March and Japanese prisoner of war camps. It had links with [b:To Kill a Mockingbird|2657|To Kill a Mockingbird (To Kill a Mockingbird, #1)|Harper Lee|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1553383690l/2657._SY75_.jpg|3275794] in its portrayal of racism in the south of America in the early twentieth century.
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