 Front cover | |
| Author | John Grisham |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Legal thriller |
| Publisher | Doubleday |
Publication date | October 15, 2019 |
| Pages | 384 |
| ISBN | 978-0385544184 |
The Guardians is a legal thriller novel by John Grisham, focusing on the world of wrongful convictions and the struggles faced by defense attorneys in exonerating innocent people. [1]
The novel revolves around the murder of Keith Russo, a young lawyer in the small town of Seabrook, Florida. Keith was fatally shot at his desk during a late-night work session. The case quickly grew cold due to a lack of evidence, witnesses, and discernible motives. However, the investigation led to the arrest of Quincy Miller, a young Black man and former client of Keith. Despite proclaiming his innocence, Quincy was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. Over the course of twenty-two years, Quincy remained in prison, persistently claiming his innocence but finding no one to champion his cause. With no legal support or advocates, Quincy reached out in desperation to Guardian Ministries, a modest non-profit organization. The group, led by Cullen Post — a lawyer and Episcopal minister — is known for taking on a limited number of innocence cases, focusing on individuals wrongfully convicted and forgotten by the legal system. Cullen Post, while working on Quincy's case, uncovers a complex web of deceit involving powerful entities responsible for the murder of Keith Russo. These individuals are determined to keep Quincy incarcerated to conceal their involvement. The narrative escalates as Post realizes the peril involved in pursuing justice in this case, acknowledging that those who murdered Keith would not hesitate to kill another lawyer to protect their secrets. The story unfolds as Post navigates these dangerous waters, aiming to exonerate Quincy while confronting formidable and ruthless opposition. [1] [2]
The novel was published on October 15, 2019. It is available in various formats including hardcover, paperbook, ebook, and audiobook. [1] [3]
The Guardians by John Grisham has been well-received for its engaging exploration of complex legal and ethical issues, presented through a suspenseful narrative. Grisham's background as a lawyer and his involvement in legal causes have added depth and authenticity to the novel's portrayal of the legal system. Critics have praised Grisham's storytelling ability. Kirkus Reviews described the novel as suspenseful and adept at addressing significant issues within the American legal system. [1] [4] Jeff Ayers' review in The Philadelphia Inquirer highlighted the novel's exploration of the challenges defense attorneys face. [2]
Book Reporter emphasized the novel's focus on wrongful convictions and the detailed process of exoneration, reflecting Grisham's passion for this subject, which is rooted in his experience as a practicing attorney. [5] "What's Good To Read" pointed out the novel's engagement with themes of legal corruption and prejudice in the U.S. legal system, noting Grisham's legal background and involvement with the Innocence Project. [6]
Book Marks reviews showcased a spectrum of opinions on The Guardians, from high praise for its suspenseful and thematic depth to critiques on certain aspects of its narrative and thematic development. [7]
John Ray Grisham Jr. is an American novelist, lawyer, and former member of the Mississippi House of Representatives, known for his best-selling legal thrillers. According to the American Academy of Achievement, Grisham has written 37 consecutive number-one fiction bestsellers, and his books have sold 300 million copies worldwide. Along with Tom Clancy and J. K. Rowling, Grisham is one of only three anglophone authors to have sold two million copies on the first printing.
Innocence Project, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal organization that is committed to exonerating individuals who have been wrongly convicted, through the use of DNA testing and working to reform the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice. The group cites various studies estimating that in the United States between 1% and 10% of all prisoners are innocent. The Innocence Project was founded in 1992 by Barry Scheck and Peter Neufeld who gained national attention in the mid-1990s as part of the "Dream Team" of lawyers who formed part of the defense in the O. J. Simpson murder case.
The legal thriller genre is a type of crime fiction genre that focuses on the proceedings of the investigation, with particular reference to the impacts on courtroom proceedings and the lives of characters.
A miscarriage of justice occurs when an unfair outcome occurs in a criminal or civil proceeding, such as the conviction and punishment of a person for a crime they did not commit. Miscarriages are also known as wrongful convictions. Innocent people have sometimes ended up in prison for years before their conviction has eventually been overturned. They may be exonerated if new evidence comes to light or it is determined that the police or prosecutor committed some kind of misconduct at the original trial. In some jurisdictions this leads to the payment of compensation.
Innocence Canada, is a Canadian, non-profit legal organization. Based in Toronto, Innocence Canada identifies, advocates for, and helps exonerate individuals who have been convicted of a serious crime which they did not commit and to preventing future wrongful convictions through education and justice system reform.
Peter J. Neufeld is an American attorney, co-founder, with Barry Scheck of the Innocence Project, and a founding partner in the civil rights law firm Neufeld Scheck & Brustin. Starting from his earliest years as an attorney representing clients at New York's Legal Aid Society, and teaching trial advocacy at Fordham School of Law from 1988 to 1991, he has focused on civil rights and the intersection of science and criminal justice.
The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town is a 2006 true crime book by John Grisham, his only nonfiction title as of 2020. The book tells the story of Ronald 'Ron' Keith Williamson of Ada, Oklahoma, a former minor league baseball player who was wrongly convicted in 1988 of the rape and murder of Debra Sue Carter in Ada and was sentenced to death. After serving 11 years on death row, he was exonerated by DNA evidence and other material introduced by the Innocence Project and was released in 1999.
Exoneration occurs when the conviction for a crime is reversed, either through demonstration of innocence, a flaw in the conviction, or otherwise. Attempts to exonerate convicts are particularly controversial in death penalty cases, especially where new evidence is put forth after the execution has taken place. The transitive verb, "to exonerate" can also mean to informally absolve one from blame.
The Confession is a 2010 legal thriller novel by John Grisham, his second novel to be published in 2010. The novel is about the murder of a high school cheerleader, and an innocent man's arrest for the crime. It was Grisham's first novel to be released simultaneously in digital and hardcover format.
Centurion is a non-profit organization located in Princeton, New Jersey, with a mission to exonerate innocent individuals who have been wrongly convicted and sentenced to life sentences or death.
The Illinois Innocence Project, a member of the national Innocence Project network, is a non-profit legal organization that works to exonerate wrongfully convicted people and reform the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice.
The California Innocence Project is a non-profit based at California Western School of Law in San Diego, California, United States, which provides pro bono legal services to individuals who maintain their factual innocence of crime(s) for which they have been convicted. It is an independent chapter of the Innocence Project. Its mission is to exonerate wrongly convicted inmates through the use of DNA and other evidences.
Making a Murderer is an American true crime documentary television series written and directed by Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos. The show tells the story of Steven Avery, a man from Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, who served 18 years in prison (1985–2003) after his wrongful conviction for the sexual assault and attempted murder of Penny Beerntsen. He was later charged with and convicted of the 2005 murder of Teresa Halbach. The connected story is that of Avery's nephew Brendan Dassey, who was accused and convicted as an accessory in the murder of Halbach.
Nicholas James Yarris is an American writer and storyteller who spent 22 years on death row in Pennsylvania after being wrongfully convicted of murder.
The Reckoning is a best-selling novel by John Grisham. In addition to Grisham's typical legal thriller, the book was also characterized by reviewers as "a murder mystery, a courtroom drama, a family saga, a coming-of-age story," "a period piece", and a war novel.
Steven A. Drizin is an American lawyer and academic. He is a Clinical Professor of Law at the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law in Chicago, where he has been on the faculty since 1991. At Northwestern, Drizin teaches courses on Wrongful Convictions and Juvenile Justice. He has written extensively on the topics of police interrogations and false confessions. Among the general public, Drizin is known for his ongoing representation of Brendan Dassey, one of the protagonists in the Netflix documentary series, Making a Murderer.
A Time for Mercy, a legal thriller novel by American author John Grisham, is the sequel to A Time to Kill and Sycamore Row. The latest book features the return of the character Jake Brigance, a small-town Mississippi lawyer who takes on difficult cases. The novel was released on October 13, 2020.
Kevin Bernard Strickland is an African American man who was wrongfully convicted by an all-white jury in 1979 of killing three people in Kansas City, Missouri. No physical evidence linked him to the scene of the crime and the only alleged witness later recanted her testimony that Strickland was involved, stating that she was coerced by police. Strickland was given a life sentence. In 2021, he garnered national attention after former prosecutors in his case said that he was innocent and called for his release.
The Exchange: After The Firm is a legal thriller novel by John Grisham, serving as a sequel to his famous work The Firm. The book delves into the life of Mitch McDeere, the protagonist of The Firm, exploring his new challenges fifteen years after the events of the first novel.