What should Keith, the pastor, do? Should he wash his hands of the situation, keep the secret, or encourage this terrible person to do the right thing and travel to Texas to stop the execution of an innocent man? You can probably guess what choice he makes, but the truly compelling aspect of this novel is that Keith never stops questioning if he made the right choice. This ongoing internal struggle keeps him reevaluating his decision at every turn, which adds to the story's tension.
Of course, there is a looming deadline, a very tight one, regarding the execution of Donté Drumm, whose lawyer, Robbie Flak, possesses a devil-may-care attitude and has been passionately fighting to either dismiss or at least postpone the execution. But this is Texas, and Robbie has to deal with a host of corrupt cops, prosecutors, and judges; his task seems nearly impossible. Everything hinges on Donté Drumm’s confession, a coerced admission that mirrors the many forced confessions we've seen exposed in recent years. When you apply immense pressure on a defendant, the relief that comes from confession can seem like the only escape, allowing the system to sit back and await the execution of an innocent man.
The story unfolds in a straightforward, no-nonsense manner, and the only thing that might slow you down while reading is the nagging feeling that all their efforts might be in vain. Then there’s the real killer, Travis Boyette, a character among Grisham's most memorable villains, who is riddled with a tumor, suffers from severe seizures, and is on the brink of death. Yet, just like the people around him, it’s hard to muster an ounce of empathy for him because he embodies pure evil and terror.
This is a book that twists your stomach, sparks rage, and showcases the fire and determination required to navigate through terrible times. I loved it.
