The Confession - John Grisham

Justice delayed is justice denied. But what would happen when the system, which imparts justice, fails? What if the judiciary "commits" a "crime"? Can you image a scenario when the fence put up to safeguard the farm starts "destroying" the farm?

Well, "The Confession" is all about this. The author takes the reader on a journey where the story is just a pretext of conveying a very strong message. An eye for an eye should not be the mantra for justice. People who follow "Gandhigiri" will readily agree to the message in the novel. It's not that I disagree, but I personally feel that every crime has to be punished. In the end, no one should feel that "crime pays".

The story is about an innocent Afro-American, Donte Drumm, who is awarded (see the irony) the death sentence for a crime committed by a felon. The felon comes forward at the nth moment to confess his crime. A major struggle follows this confession and every effort is made to conserve justice (rather stop injustice). People who believe that Drumm is innocent willingly take law into their hands. There are protests, riots, disruptions and solidarity expressed even in unusual circumstances. The struggle to save Drumm forms the crux of the novel.
(One other confession, belted out of Drum shows the extent of manipulation is a system.)

The author deftly guides the reader between the past and the present. He narrates the story in such a manner that the history presents itself in a trickle, never killing the curiosity of the reader. The ugly truth on how this carriage of injustice came into being makes the reader empathize with the central character. Though the story looses its fizzle towards the end, Grisham's literary skills compels the reader to finish the novel.

"The Confession" is more about conveying a message. The story just compliments this message. You do miss the courtroom situations and the wry sense of humor for which Grisham is famous. Nevertheless, the book is a good bargain and is definitely worth the money. Go immerse yourself in the message.