The Guardians: A Novel

A former clergy collar waring lawyer fights with words to get men off of death-row before time runs out for three men behind bars. the book is fast paces, but you need not be a law student to enjoy this book. I use to read the author's books frequently, until the one book after another appeared similarly to his previously written books. Even one of my favorite writers can get burned-out with constant writing. However, I enjoyed the various characters and their varied backgrounds. For instance, the main character had a background in religion and law. He had a nervous breakdown and turns within. This is current, since everyone is speaking of mental health. Good mental health is as important as a health heart, kidneys, the many organ we relay on to make it to retirement. It was refreshing to read about a next door neighbor, and not the wealthy Techy who makes millions of dollars and does not have to worry about paying his office rent and supporting his car notes. The main character is interesting, because, money does not drive him. He needs a balanced life, but he can't afford one and he is aware of his weak areas. I could hardly put the book down. The book was not action-packed, but fast paced, and kept me guessing. Gresham is an excellent writer and I can tell by his story lines that is well-rounded and can place himself in various individuals shoes. I won't wait another ten years before I start reading his books again. I recommend this book, it is a good summer read.

Quick read. Great detail. Fun characters. Always fun to read his books. You’re never quite sure where he’s going. Enjoy.

This is another great book from John Grisham. In my view, he can tell a story like no other author. I highly recommend this book.

Our first audio book, on a long road trip. We really enjoyed and learned a lot of sad truths about our systems and wasted tax dollars.

Grisham IS one of the greatest story tellers of our time and this book only adds to that fact. I absolutely recommend this one to lovers of legal thrillers like myself

We listened to this on a car trip. Good story! Sometimes, I felt like there was a little too much play on stereotypes of Southerners, those involved in the justice and penal systems, etc. so I removed a star.

I wasn’t surprised to learn when reading the author’s note at the end that the book was based on a true story because so much of it reads more like an overly detailed non-fiction account of problems within the justice and prison systems than a fictional legal “thriller.” So, while I appreciate Grisham’s exhaustive research and attempts to remain true to the actual events, it’s a slow read as the protagonist methodically details one painstaking step after another in his attempts to try to get his clients out of prison for crimes they didn’t commit. The minor characters are often boring, disagreeable (or both), and we’re forced to endure quite a number of them. Although the story of an innocent man wrongly convicted and forced to endure year after year in prison is in itself incredibly moving and often heartbreaking, the way the story was told was so cumbersome and tedious there were times I didn’t think I’d make it through to the end.

Great read characters super. Story line clear and addictive easy to read. Great author he never dusappoints

John Grisham's Bücher waren schon immer "page turner" - hochspannend von Anfang an. Die Tatsache, dass wahre Geschichten, verarbeitet sind machen sie oft auch lehrreich zugleich. Das Rechtssystem in den USA entscheidet oft über Leben und Tod. Die hohe Zahl von fälschlicherweise Verurteilte die hierdurch leiden und sterben müsste den korrupten Ermittlungen / Prozessen längst vielmehr einen Riegel vorschieben. Man gewinnt jedoch den Eindruck, dass dies in keiner Weise gewollt ist. Umso dankbarer bin ich für Autoren wie John Grisham, die diese Geschichten offenlegen, sie auch noch gut verpacken um sie mehr Lesern zugänglich zu machen und die Aufmerksamkeit damit geschickt auf die bestehenden Missstände lenken. Das Buch ist ganz offensichtlich ebenso brillant recherchiert wie geschrieben und trotz der traurigen Hintergründe sehr empfehlenswert.

Il libro è ispirato a una storia vera e dimostra quanto sia fragile il sistema giudiziario, non solo americano. Grisham è un maestro e leggerlo in inglese fa apprezzare il suo stile dinamico, incalzante, rapido.

Typical John Grisham, except for one of his books, I haven’t read a lousy story written by him, I won’t mention the one that I didn’t enjoy, because I don’t want to spoil it for anyone else, they might like it, but it wasn’t to my taste. This story was riveting, I breezed through it, couldn’t put it down, keep up the good work John and thank you.

面白かったが、少し物足りない。それは、話が読者の思うような方向に進んで逆転とか、意外性がないからだと思う。それはそれで気持ちの良い読後感なのだが、これまでのJohn Grishamの作品からすれば、60点くらいだろう。しかし、久しぶりにJohn Grishamらしい物語に出会って、ファンとしてはそこが気に入って五つ星をつけた。それは、法律及び法廷を題材としていて、また内容が道徳的で人道的で正義感溢れる話だからである。 物語の主人公は、Cullen Postという聖職者の資格を持った四十代後半の弁護士である。彼の働く法律事務所、「Guardians」は、冤罪をこうむって収監されている人々を救うことを使命としている法律事務所だ。事務所は二人の肝っ玉母さん的な弁護士が経営していて、Postはそこの所員である。この二人の女性の存在と、Postに冤罪を晴らしてもらって17年ぶりに出所した男・Flankie（報酬なしでPostのために働いている）の存在も忘れ難い。 Postは元々は大手の法律事務所で働いていた。悪事を働き、しかも反省のかけらもない男を弁護することを命じられるのだが、正義のない弁護に耐えられず、事務所を辞めて聖職の道に入る。Preacherの資格を得て、教誨師として赴いた刑務所で、無実の罪で囚われている人の存在を知り、そういう人達を救う「Guardians」で働くことにしたのだった。 私が印象深かったのは、Quincyという冤罪をこうむった人のことを、「But Quincy is still serving hard time for a murder committed by someone else.」、と表現していることである。他人の犯した罪で収監された人間がいる一方で、罪を犯した人間は悠々と人生を過ごしている、という状況をよく表していると思った。同じような表現が度々出てくる。 ここまで書くためにページをめくって読み返してみて、改めてこの本の良さに打たれた、冒頭で60点の出来、と不遜なことを述べたことを取り消したい。こういう人々が社会を支えているのだと改めて思った。しかも、この話を書く発端は、James McCloskey氏のことを知ったからだという。同氏は、40年間で63人の冤罪者を救ったのだという。こういう人のことを知らしめる使命を、この本は担っているのだった。

Great book. Read it when it was first launched. Reached out to seller to return since I bought it by mistake but received no reply :-(