This is the first book that I would recommend be listened to rather than read. The characters are so rich and colorful, they are better enjoyed when brought to life by Michael Beck, the reader on Audible. The story is good enough, but it is the characters that make this book so enjoyable. The narrator is a yankee, new to the south. His story alone is interesting to follow, but it is his developing relationships with the locals through his position as the town newspaper reporter that make it a fun ride. There is a murder and a dramatic Grishamesque trial that does not disappoint, but Grisham really goes above and beyond with bringing the charming and unforgettable residents of Clanton, MS, to life.