Book : The Confession A Novel - Grisham, John

-Titulo Original : The Confession A Novel

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Anchor

-Descripcion Original:

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * An innocent man is about to be executed. Only a guilty man can save him. In 1998, in the small East Texas city of Sloan, Travis Boyette abducted, raped, and strangled a popular high school cheerleader. He buried her body so that it would never be found, then watched in amazement as police and prosecutors arrested and convicted Donte Drumm, a local football star, and marched him off to death row. Now nine years have passed. Travis has just been paroled in Kansas for a different crime; Donte is four days away from his execution. Travis suffers from an inoperable brain tumor. For the first time in his miserable life, he decides to do what’s right and confess. But how can a guilty man convince lawyers, judges, and politicians that they’re about to execute an innocent man? Review “[A] grab-a-reader-by-the-shoulders suspense story.”-The Washington Post “[John Grisham] is a master at pacing. . . . The book starts fast and finishes faster.”-Los Angeles Times “Packed with tension, legal roadblocks and shocking revelations.”-USA Today “There’s no doubt that Grisham has his finger on the pulse of America.”-Orlando Sentinel About the Author John Grisham is the author of twenty-three novels, including, most recently, The Litigators; one work of nonfiction; a collection of stories; and a series for young readers. The recipient of the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction, he is also the chairman of the board of directors of the Mississippi Innocence Project at the University of Mississippi School of Law. He lives in Virginia and Mississippi. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Chapter 1 The custodian at St. Mark’s had just scraped three inches of snow off the sidewalks when the man with the cane appeared. The sun was up, but the winds were howling; the temperature was stuck at the freezing mark. The man wore only a pair of thin dungarees, a summer shirt, well-worn hiking boots, and a light Windbreaker that stood little chance against the chill. But he did not appear to be uncomfortable, nor was he in a hurry. He was on foot, walking with a limp and a slight tilt to his left, the side aided by the cane. He shuf ed along the sidewalk near the chapel and stopped at a side door with the word “Of ce” painted in dark red. He did not knock and the door was not locked. He stepped inside just as another gust of wind hit him in the back. The room was a reception area with the cluttered, dusty look one would expect to nd in an old church. In the center was a desk with a nameplate that announced the presence of Charlotte Junger, who sat not far behind her name. She said with a smile, “Good morning.” “Good morning,” the man said. A pause. “It’s very cold out there.” “It is indeed,” she said as she quickly sized him up. The obvious problem was that he had no coat and nothing on his hands or head. “I assume you’re Ms. Junger,” he said, staring at her name. “No, Ms. Junger is out today. The u. I’m Dana Schroeder, the minister’s wife, just lling in. What can we do for you?” There was one empty chair and the man looked hopefully at it. “May I?” “Of course,” she said. He carefully sat down, as if all movements needed forethought. “Is the minister in?” he asked as he looked at a large, closed door off to the left. “Yes, but he’s in a meeting. What can we do for you?” She was petite, with a nice chest, tight sweater. He couldn’t see anything below the waist, under the desk. He had always preferred the smaller ones. Cute face, big blue eyes, high cheekbones, a wholesome pretty girl, the perfect little minister’s wife. It had been so long since he’d touched a woman. “I need to see Reverend Schroeder,” he said as he folded his hands together prayerfully. “I was in church yesterday, listened to his sermon, and, well, I need some guidance.” “He’s very busy today,” she said with a smile. Really nice teeth. “I’m in a