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| The Last Juror |
From the moment I opened this book to its very last sentence, I was enthralled. I loved the quirky characters who made Clanton, Mississippi, their home. I became as wrapped up in the Danny Padgitt trial as the citizens themselves. Like Willie, I felt the ups and downs of the paper, The Ford County Times, and enjoyed every Thursday lunch with Miss Callie.
In 1970, Willie Traynor stumbles upon the town of Clanton and opportunity when he buys the (failing) local paper known for its obituaries. Shortly after Willie's purchase of the paper, Rhoda Kassellaw, a young mother of two, is brutally murdered in her home. A member of a local crime family, Danny Padgitt is arrested for the crime and quickly put to trial.
Willie is brave enough to report on the horrors of the trial, as he tried to fit in the town of Clanton. Nine years later, those who served on the jury begin dying one by one, as the killer works to gain revenge.
I highly recommend this book to people who enjoy mysteries, drama, and thrillers. I also would recommend it to people who have enjoyed other books written by John Grisham. Essentially, the story is a coming of age story for Willie, as he finds his niche in the world with the newspaper and his new friends. The other characters are believable and quirky enough to be fascinating.
