The ChamberThe Chamber
Score Modern
What it's about
Adam Hall, a young lawyer at a big Chicago firm, takes on a case no one wants: the final appeal of Sam Cayhall, a Klansman on death row in Mississippi for a 1967 bombing that killed two young boys. Sam is also Adam's grandfather, a fact Adam has kept secret. With four weeks until the execution, Adam tries to save him and to understand his family.
Why it's worth reading
It spent weeks at #1 on the New York Times list. It's one of Grisham's most serious books, about racism and the death penalty.
You'll love it if you liked
A Lesson Before Dying
Change of Heart
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern IrelandGood to know
It's long and detailed about death penalty procedures. There's racist language.
By the numbers
- Readers18 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller64 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #377 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #1156 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #2138 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping, Adventurous
More by John Grisham
The Pelican Brief
The Widow
The Client
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PiranesiExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is The Chamber worth reading?
Yes. It spent weeks at #1 on the New York Times list. It ranks #2,138 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 62.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Chamber about?
Adam Hall, a young lawyer at a big Chicago firm, takes on a case no one wants: the final appeal of Sam Cayhall, a Klansman on death row in Mississippi for a 1967 bombing that killed two young boys. Sam is also Adam's grandfather, a fact Adam has kept secret. With four weeks until the execution, Adam tries to save him and to understand his family.
How long does it take to read The Chamber?
About 16 hours (642 pages), or about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Chamber?
If you liked it, try A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines, Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult or Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe.