Search This Blog
June Reviews Link-Up
July Reviews Link-Up
August Reviews Link-Up
September Reviews Link-Up
October Reviews Link-Up
November Reviews Link-Up
December Reviews Link-Up
2024 Literary Escapes Challenge
- Alabama (1)
- Alaska
- Arizona (1)
- Arkansas
- California (3)
- Colorado (1)
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia (1)
- Hawaii
- Idaho (2)
- Illinois (1)
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky (1)
- Louisiana (1)
- Maine (1)
- Maryland
- Massachusetts (2)
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York (2)
- North Carolina (2)
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma (1)
- Oregon (2)
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island (1)
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee (1)
- Texas (2)
- Utah
- Vermont (1)
- Virginia (1)
- Washington (2)
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- Washington, D.C.*
International:
- Australia (1)
- Canada (1)
- England (7)
- France (1)
- Indonesia (1)
- Ireland (2)
- Italy (1)
- Scotland (2)
- The Netherlands (1)
2024 Build Your Library Reading Challenge
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
"Windy" Murder Mystery Gets a "Meh" From Me
6:12 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
A Bataan death march survivor, 43-year-old Pete Banning has been home in Clanton, Mississippi for a year. As a war hero, a cotton farm owner, a husband, a father, and a quiet, serious man, he's respected among the townsfolk. It comes as a complete surprise, then, when Pete walks calmly into the Clanton Methodist Church and shoots Dexter Bell, its popular pastor. When asked why he murdered the 39-year-old minister, Pete simply replies, "I have nothing to say." Everyone is baffled by the crime, which has them all asking, "What makes one good man kill another good man?"
This simple, but intriguing premise is at the heart of John Grisham's 2018 novel, The Reckoning. The story recalls Pete's life and military service, all en route to explaining his role in Dexter's death. Although the novel rambles on for far too many pages, its compelling premise kept me reading. In spite of the wordiness (or "windiness" as Grisham likes to say), I definitely wanted to know why Pete did what he did. I can't say I felt a lot of attachment to the characters in this one, though. Nor did I find its finale satisfying. Overall, The Reckoning is a sad, depressing read that's well-written, but boring and not very memorable or enjoyable. My conclusion? Meh.
(Readalikes: the war chapters reminded me of Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand)
Grade:
for language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, and mild sexual content
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Subscribe to:
Post Comments
(Atom)
Reading
Listening
Followin' with Bloglovin'
-
Loyally Luke Review + giveaway2 hours ago
-
#ThrowbackThursday. Stephen Fry in America3 hours ago
-
Time Travel Thursday4 hours ago
-
-
-
The Wild Lavender Bookshop by Jodi Thomas8 hours ago
-
Daily Prompt 15 May Wednesday10 hours ago
-
-
World of Books ~ Review19 hours ago
-
Review: One of the Girls by Lucy Clarke21 hours ago
-
-
-
Spoon To Be Dead By Dana Mentink1 day ago
-
Very Bad Company by Emma Rosenblum1 day ago
-
Displaced Persons - Joan Leegant1 day ago
-
Reading Recap April 20241 day ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
Bridge to Bat City2 days ago
-
-
-
Blood Rubies by Mailan Doquang5 days ago
-
-
-
-
47. The One and Only Family1 week ago
-
A bit of catching up1 week ago
-
-
May TBR2 weeks ago
-
-
-
-
March Monthly Wrap-up1 month ago
-
-
-
-
-
What Happened to Summer?7 months ago
-
6/25/23 Extra Ezra10 months ago
-
-
-
-
-
Are you looking for Pretty Books?1 year ago
-
-
-
-
-
Grab my Button!
Blog Archive
- ► 2021 (159)
- ► 2020 (205)
- ▼ 2019 (197)
- ► 2018 (223)
- ► 2017 (157)
- ► 2016 (157)
- ► 2015 (188)
- ► 2014 (133)
- ► 2013 (183)
- ► 2012 (193)
- ► 2011 (232)
- ► 2010 (257)
- ► 2009 (211)
- ► 2008 (192)
0 bookworm(s) said...:
Post a Comment
Comments make me feel special, so go crazy! Just keep it clean and civil. Feel free to speak your mind (I always do), but be aware that I will delete any offensive comments.
P.S.: Don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away. I have to approve each one before it posts to prevent spam. It's annoying, but it works!