A Time To Kill: An American classic from the No. 1 bestselling thriller writer

· Cornerstone Digital · Narrated by Michael Beck
8 reviews
Audiobook
2 hr 53 min
Unabridged
Eligible
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About this audiobook

Brought to you by Penguin.

John Grisham's first and most shocking novel, adapted as a film starring Samuel L. Jackson and Matthew McConaughey

When Carl Lee Hailey guns down the violent racists who raped his ten-year-old daughter, the people of the small town of Clanton, Mississippi see it as justice done, and call for his acquittal.

But when extremists outside Clanton - including the KKK - hear that a black man has killed two white men, they invade the town, determined to destroy anything and anyone that opposes their sense of justice. A national media circus descends on Clanton.

As tensions mount, Hailey hires the inexperienced Jake Brigance to defend him. It's the kind of case that could make a young lawyer's career.

But it's also the kind of case that could get a young lawyer killed.

The original, epoch-defining Jake Brigance novel. Brigance returns in SYCAMORE ROW and A TIME FOR MERCY.

'A master at the art of deft characterisation and the skilful delivery of hair-raising crescendos' - Irish Independent

'John Grisham is the master of legal fiction' - Jodi Picoult

©1992 Belfry Holdings, Inc. (P)2005 Random House Audiobooks

Brought to you by Penguin. John Grisham's first and most shocking novel, adapted as a film starring Samuel L. Jackson and Matthew McConaughey When Carl Lee Hailey guns down the violent racists who raped his ten-year-old daughter, the people of the small town of Clanton, Mississippi see it as ju...

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Ratings and reviews

8 reviews
C G Davies
June 8, 2026
Michael Beck did a great job being the narrator. The book itself was in keeping with John Grisham and was good at describing the racial climate of that time and of course the court room drama.
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Michael Mcparland
July 31, 2025
very good
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About the author

John Grisham is the author of forty works of fiction and one of non-fiction. His works are translated into forty-two languages. He lives in Virginia.
John Grisham is the author of forty works of fiction and one of non-fiction. His works are translated into forty-two languages. He lives in Virginia.

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Narrated by Michael Beck