Clanton, Mississippi, 1990. Jake Brigance is involved in a controversial case when the judge asks him to defend Drew Gamble, a shy sixteen-year-old boy, accused of killing a local policeman. Most of the townspeople are calling for a speedy trial and the death penalty, but Jake digs in and discovers that the story is more complex than it seems. His fight to save Drew from the gas chamber puts his career, his finances, and the safety of his family in great danger. A fast-paced thriller, as breathless as it is poignant, full of intelligence and - above all - humanity.