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  • Witness to a Trial

  • A Short Story Prequel to The Whistler
  • Written by: John Grisham
  • Narrated by: Mark Deakins
  • Length: 54 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (36 ratings)

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Witness to a Trial

Written by: John Grisham
Narrated by: Mark Deakins
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Publisher's Summary

A startling and original courtroom drama from New York Times number-one best seller John Grisham that is the prequel to his legal thriller The Whistler. 

A judge's first murder trial. 

A defense attorney in over his head. 

A prosecutor out for blood and glory. 

The accused, who is possibly innocent. 

And the killer, who may have just committed the perfect crime. 

©2016 John Grisham (P)2016 Random House Audio

What listeners say about Witness to a Trial

Average Customer Ratings
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  • MLD
  • 2021-08-14

Caught my attention

Good way to decide on my next book to listen to. The outline of injustice in the trial and the lack of adequate forensic would

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2 people found this helpful

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  • Anne
  • 2016-11-05

Mislead

This is not a short story. It's a chapter. I dislike deception and the subtitle of this book is deceptive.

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94 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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  • Jean
  • 2016-10-06

An Appetizer

I guess times have changed. In the past this would be the prologue of the book. Now they spin it into a novella and sell it. What is the book going to be like if one does not read the novella first? This is the prequel to “The Whistler”, Gresham’s new book due out any day.

This novella primarily introduces the reader to the key characters of the upcoming book. The Trial is about a native American man who has been set up for the murder of his wife and his best friend by a paid assassin. The underlying villain is the person attempting to build a casino on the tribal land. The judge is conducting her first murder trial. The defense attorney is in over his head and the prosecutor is out to make a name for himself by winning a death penalty case.

The novella is well written and is very concise. The twists and turns of the plot are starting in the novella and so is the suspense. I can hardly wait to read the book.

Mark Deakins does an excellent job narrating the novella. Deakins is an award winning audiobook narrator and actor.

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66 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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  • Skate
  • 2016-10-01

Rip-off

A rip-off. Less than an hour. Should have been included in the book. No desire to listen to the book now.

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50 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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  • Rose
  • 2016-10-25

let down

I did not realize this was not the new book until I got into it. kind of a let down I spent for naught.

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29 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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  • Wayne
  • 2016-09-27

A short story prequel to The Whistler

This short story is set in the Florida panhandle. As one would expect there is not much to a 54 minute story. A native American is framed for murdering his wife and his best male friend in order to facilitate a casino being built of tribal land. The once great writer John Grisham will release his newest novel The Whistler on October 25. The question is,will he release a great novel of which he proved very capable in his earlier career or will The Whistler be another quickly thrown together piece of literary garbage like he has done in his more recent novels? We shall see!

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22 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Jerome Housewright
  • 2016-10-07

King of the Court!

John Grisham writing about a courtroom scene is like watching Picssso paint like Jane Austen writing a ballroom scene like witnessing anyone at the top of their craft perform....but let's talk about something else....:-). It is Grisham's understanding of human nature and human motivation that makes him the true master. Yiu may think Grisham stories are plot driven but it is his ability to write the relationships between people about human interaction that make him the greatest author since Patrick O'Brian another great author of human interaction of Master and Commander fame. I love this story and while Mark Deakins dies a good job here I do find myself longing for the dripping sarcasm of the great Frank Mueller! 5 stars great short story!

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14 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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  • Bonnie
  • 2016-09-30

First time in 10 years I hated the reader

Would you try another book from John Grisham and/or Mark Deakins?

Have read everything John Grisham has written loved them. Don't remember Mark Deakins
Very Monotone. Almost went to sleep

Would you be willing to try another one of Mark Deakins’s performances?

No

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Kay Dee
  • 2016-09-28

great storyline we are ready. for the real Whistle

story is easy to hear while traveling. We know the Whistler will be more intense and full of many clues.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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  • Susan P
  • 2016-12-15

Disappointing

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I thought it was a full length book. I guess I didn't pay attention. Its only a short story

What do you think your next listen will be?

I have several picked out

Would you be willing to try another one of Mark Deakins’s performances?

Definitely

Any additional comments?

No, I just didn't realize it was a short story and not a book

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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  • John
  • 2016-10-14

The Jury is out

This wasn't the most enticing prequel I ever listened to. The setting is 1995 but I don't know if it carries over into present day in the upcoming book. I hope it does because I'm curious about writers who always have to go back and do time pieces instead of staying in the present day.

I was really hoping for a break out novel from a writer who was once considered the example of great writing. Maybe I'll burn a credit on the book and see what happens.


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