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The Reckoning: A Novel

Author:
John Grisham
Read by:
Michael Beck
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Unabridged Audiobook

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Ratings
Book
959
Narrator
77
Release Date
October 23, 2018
Duration
17 hours 37 minutes
Summary
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER • John Grisham's most powerful, surprising, and suspenseful thriller yet • “A murder mystery, a courtroom drama, a family saga.” —USA Today

October 1946, Clanton, Mississippi

Pete Banning was Clanton, Mississippi’s favorite son—a decorated World War II hero, the patriarch of a prominent family, a farmer, father, neighbor, and a faithful member of the Methodist church. Then one cool October morning he rose early, drove into town, and committed a shocking crime. Pete's only statement about it—to the sheriff, to his lawyers, to the judge, to the jury, and to his family—was: 'I have nothing to say.' He was not afraid of death and was willing to take his motive to the grave.

In a major novel unlike anything he has written before, John Grisham takes us on an incredible journey, from the Jim Crow South to the jungles of the Philippines during World War II; from an insane asylum filled with secrets to the Clanton courtroom where Pete’s defense attorney tries desperately to save him.

Reminiscent of the finest tradition of Southern Gothic storytelling, The Reckoning would not be complete without Grisham’s signature layers of legal suspense, and he delivers on every page.
Reviews
Profile Avatar Savannah S. Nov 2018

Amazing story, enthralling. Great narrator

Profile Avatar Robert G. Jan 2019

I’m surprised with the previous listeners reviews. My feelings about this book are completely contrary to those reviewers. The book was extremely slow. I would describe it as boring. The mystery is no mystery at all. If you half half a brain you will be able to predict the ending. I would not recommend this book. Very disappointing.

Profile Avatar Janice M. Nov 2018

Grisham never disappoints! Another fantastic book, each book just gets better and better.. I will be thinking about this one for awhile.. this was a complete surprise ending.. can’t wait till his next one!

Profile Avatar Brandie R. Nov 2018

This book kept me wondering all the way through, so realistic and human.

Profile Avatar Katherine K. Feb 2019

I’ve read or listened to all John Grisham’s works...and until The Reckoning, liked them all. This one took much of my fortitude to get thru because for me, it was a depressing, sad horror story. I’ll think twice about buying any of his books in the future...this one completely turned me off!

Profile Avatar Chris D. Dec 2018

Way too long of a story, I just didn't like it.

Profile Avatar Richard S. Dec 2018

Truly great book. I really enjoyed listening to this book and made me think even after it was finished. Strongly recommend and hold onto your seat, it will have you coming back for more!

Profile Avatar Arthur B. Nov 2018

Good story Terrible southern accent

Profile Avatar Robert E. Nov 2018

A very good story. Looking forward to the next John Grisham volume

Profile Avatar Jeffrey M. Nov 2018

Wow! I endured it. Too much between the covers that keeps repeating. Too simple of plot, too predictive of what happens next. I am a Grisham fan, so I stayed with it. But this was too much to endure. Narration was fine, but SLOW.

Profile Avatar Marie I. Aug 2023

Great story. Ending had a twist!

Profile Avatar Barbara S. Jul 2023

A little too long

Profile Avatar Donna J. Jul 2023

Perfect

Profile Avatar Anonymous Jan 2023

I had just finished Boys from Biloxi. I thought I was going to get a little break from the suspense. This audio book had me captivated. What added even more to the experience was that I drive from just north of Jackson 2hrs north east for work. Driving through all the cotton fields and seeing all the farms help to really relate to this book. It was also masterfully read. The narrator gave a very diverse personality to each character through the reading. It helped it to flow and kept me engaged.

Profile Avatar Tim S. Dec 2022

Have been a Grisham fan for years but this book was the very best so far... I was stunned, shocked, and awed by the twist at the end. The narrator is also the best, the way he changes his voice for each character is outstanding.

Profile Avatar ric kastner Sep 2022

Can't beat Gresham great narration

Profile Avatar Anonymous Jan 2022

I like Grisham's books, but this one was slow moving. I didn't like the ending.

Profile Avatar Dietmar B. Dec 2021

Not great. Too many repetitions. Statements like: "The Japanese had an endless supply of troops" are just silly. The plot was good, but thin. The narration was powerful!

Profile Avatar Dan B. May 2021

Not his best effort. Kinda plodding in the middle, lots of filler. Narration was pretty good.

Profile Avatar Anonymous Apr 2021

Good story but 4 hours too long. Great narrator.

Profile Avatar Frank G. Mar 2021

Way to slow of a story. I finally finished it because I had paid for it already. If not, I would have abandoned it, for sure.

Profile Avatar Anonymous Jan 2021

Enjoyed the story, but the narrator is outstanding!!

Profile Avatar Dennis L. Dec 2020

I am not usually negative but this story is so predicable and goes on forever!!! There is nothing mysterious this book.

Profile Avatar Lee P. Nov 2020

Good listen, definitely not the outcome I wanted.

Profile Avatar Ursula Berliner Nov 2020

Be prepared for a depressing ride. Wonderfully written, but slow and very grim.

Profile Avatar Roxanne M. Sep 2020

The book is very long and detailed. But the accents performed by the narrator were wonderful. It is a very sad book to read. The book is full of twist and turns and I could not stop listening. It takes place in Clanton, Mississippi in the 1930’s and ends about 1950. It follows a family who farm cotton and the farm has been in the family for 100 years. The main characters are Pete and Liza pre and post WWll. There is a saying, “Every lie has a life” and this book is written on that premise. It can be hard to read at times due to the graphic nature of some of the some of the chapters. However. As usual John Grisham does not disappoint.

Profile Avatar Josh P. Jul 2020

1st, I could listen to Michael Beck for ever. His voice has a way of creating a very detailed and heartfelt experience. And as for the “Reckoning” it’s amazing. It even had a little twist at the end that made me gasp, like I was one of the “kids” listening.

Profile Avatar Teresa M. Jun 2020

Unlike some of the others, I did enjoy this book. It was a little long, but that's fine. Sad ending, had an idea of how it might end. So much heartache because of a lie. I always enjoy John Grisholm's work.

Profile Avatar Tim F. May 2020

excellent !!!!!!

Profile Avatar Lupe C. Feb 2020

I really enjoyed it until the end..not what I expected. I find myself feeling a little unsatisfied.

Profile Avatar Vanessa C. Sep 2019

I usually loveGrisham books but this was too long, too repetitive and a boring ending that was predictable. And although the ending may have been somewhat shocking back in the 1940’s, it is more insulting today.

Profile Avatar Jeff N. Aug 2019

arguably the worst ending of a book I've ever read. the story had so much potential but never came together. extremely disappointed in the author. the narrator was great....only good thing about the book.

Profile Avatar Cindi F. Aug 2019

The narrations was great, and the info about World War II was very interesting. However, the overall plot plodded along and the end was not worth the extensive buildup. I have long been a John Grisham fan, but this one was disappionting to me. I kept waiting for the clever twist that was not the obvious mystery solution, but it never came. I was actually more upset that I gave 17 hours to it than anything else. It is not one that I recommend.

Profile Avatar Gary L. Aug 2019

Great story and the ending not what you would believe. Greatly written by Mr Grisham.

Profile Avatar Tina P. Aug 2019

I did not like this book at all. There was way too much detail going and the story seemed to drag out. I thought it would never end. The first part was ok. But part 2 was absolutely horrible. As I said, way too much detail.

Profile Avatar Eric G. Jul 2019

One of the best listens in a long time, John Grisham's attention to accuracy made this an amazing book!

Profile Avatar Charlnita B. May 2019

always been a fan always will be. John Grisham writes a darn good story. The Reckoning is no exception. Not a favorite but definitely a good listen

Profile Avatar Shana B. Apr 2019

This may have been the worst book I’ve ever endured. Don’t waste your time or money!

Profile Avatar Jodie L. Apr 2019

I agree with the reviewer below. As a longtime Grisham reader, I expected far better then this slow, dragged out story. By “part 2” I’m ready to give up. I’ve just had enough. If I can get a refund for this I would. John Grisham used to write exciting stories that captured and kept you reading. This is not the Grisham I remember, I’m sorely disappointed that I wasted money on this terribly boring book.

Profile Avatar Nadine R. Apr 2019

I enjoyed the story but found it a little slow/overly descriptive. Not one of my favorite Grisham novels.

Profile Avatar Sharon H. Mar 2019

Great book with twist and turns that keep you listening. Good narrator.

Profile Avatar Patricia V. Mar 2019

This is a great read Great characters , great writing , surprise ending.

Profile Avatar Travis H. Mar 2019

Its a book that keeps you thinking what could it be.

Profile Avatar Anonymous Mar 2019

Not even close to his prior success. The story drags and fails to launch. Truly disappointed.

Profile Avatar Anonymous Feb 2019

Excellent book.

Profile Avatar Aimee H. Feb 2019

The person reading did an excellent job. I listened whenever I could. Great story.

Profile Avatar Jack B. Jan 2019

In my opinion Grisham’s best work. Normally I can figure out the ending with a 100 pages to go, not so here. This is more like a Faulkner story with lots of broken people, tragic stories and no happy ending. A great read.

Profile Avatar Joseph P. Jan 2019

My first John Grisham novel and absolutely will be the first of all of his work. What a writer. Loved every piece of this book and story and the ending I did not see coming although I’d ran through a hundred scenarios as I listened. Great book. So entertaining.

Profile Avatar Glenice N. Jan 2019

This book hemlock my attention from start to finish. Throughly enjoyed it It kept me guessing from start to finish. Highly recommend this book. Well written and I through the that the narrator did an excellent job.

Profile Avatar Autumn H. Jan 2019

Great story.

Profile Avatar ROBYN M. Jan 2019

I enjoyed the presentation of this novel by the narrator. Driving from South Carolina to Chicago is a long arduous drive however. this novel kept my interest and made the drive much more plesant!!!

Profile Avatar Anonymous Jan 2019

Although this book has the usual great Grisham character development, the plot line is too depressing.

Profile Avatar Gillian W. Jan 2019

It was a read that keep you wanting to find out what really happen. It wasn’t what you thought.

Profile Avatar Kathleen M. Jan 2019

The narrator is good. The story itself is well told, but I found it a bit predictable and disappointing in the end.

Profile Avatar Nancy K. Dec 2018

Grisham’s books are usually good, but this one was somewhat predictable and 5 times too long for the story. Would a man of Clanton’s character and intelligence do what he did and not realize the lasting implications on his family? I don’t believe so.

Profile Avatar Christine H. Dec 2018

Great story. Kept it interesting all the way through and wanting the reader to know the truth. Was a little disappointed with the ending, but it was true to life.

Profile Avatar Jennifer R. Dec 2018

Truly a twist! John Grisham wrote a story that you will NEVER figure out. The narration is BRILLIANT! ONE OF THE BEST!!

Profile Avatar JEFFREY N G. Dec 2018

Sad realistic story that kept getting worse - like life sometimes. I was hoping for some restitutions, but I felt empty and sad. Well written and good narration of the importance of loyalty and truth.

Profile Avatar Anonymous Dec 2018

Never expected a book like this. Cried listening to what our service men went through. I was a young child during the war, even though I do remember the end of the war. What a different book from this writer.

Profile Avatar Anonymous Dec 2018

Master storytelling. Riveting tomorrow the end

Profile Avatar Steffanie C. Dec 2018

You have to be curious and wonder why as you listen to the book. Grisham keeps you wanting to know each character’s motivation and how it plays into the big picture. The second part of the book is lengthy but necessary to establish the motivation of the main character. It keeps you thinking long after the story. I hate to see the bad reviews and people who accused Grisham of creating length for no reason. Every word and every action is necessary to the development of the story. It is a very masterful piece of storytelling.

Profile Avatar Anonymous Dec 2018

Very mediocre.

The Reckoning: A Novel

The Reckoning: A Novel

Author: John Grisham
Read by: Michael Beck
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