A Time to Kill by John Grisham (1993, Hardcover, Reprint)

I read this book a long time ago and loved it then. The characters are exquisitely defined; complete with all their attributes, faults, strengths and weaknesses. The human emotions were all there: love, hate, fear, profound anger, ambition, hopelessness, unmitigated bigotry, ego, superiority, soulwrenching sorrow and the list goes on. I am a western American and this story confirmed my adult lifelong impressions of the struggles for fairness and equality in the deep south of the 20th century. However, now that I live in the south (TN) those impressions have been modified alot. Though sad beyond belief, it is a great read and a perfectly clear educational tool for future generations of this mixture of people who make up America. Of the John Grisham novels I've been priviledged to read, I think A Time To Kill may be his best. May change that thought after I've read all the rest. We'll see!

Reading is an obsession for four of the six members of my family. First Mom, then me, then two younger sisters. I bought this book for the youngest sister. Though she's on a limited income it is her desire to have a John Grisham library. I bought this book to help her reach that goal. I'll continue to do so as long as it takes. Great novels aren't just for entertainment. They also teach us facts about life, the human psyche, the world we live in hundreds of other attributes to living. John Grisham does it superbly.

Although I have bought some beautiful books on eBay while providing for my bibliophile mania, this buy is unbelievable.

The seller had a very valuable, signed and limited edition book and did not know it. Some background is in order to give further evidence of the many strokes of luck that preceded me bidding (and winning) this item.

In the late 1980's, a little-known writer of fiction published a book: A TIME TO KILL. His name is John Grisham. By 1993, he had written four books that took the US reading public by storm! His books were setting sale's records that were unequalled and his new publisher (Doubleday) had the idea to re-issue his first title (A TIME TO KILL). They also decided to issue a very small number of Signed, limited, numbered copies of the title bound in leather and sheathed in a blue slipcase. This printing was limited to 350 copies and quickly sold out. The trade edition of this printing also reached record sales even though it was a reprint of the same text printed in 1989 by Wynwood Press (who did a trade and Book Club Edition).

With that background, now let me tell you of all the fortunate things that had to occur for this book to finally reach my hands.

First, the original buyer had to order it from the publisher and make the decision when it arrived, NOT to open the shrink-wrapped slipcase holding the book. This is important, because that wrap concealed the signature and other obvious printing elements of which a limited edition is noted for having.

Second, at some point, the original owner lost possession of the book. Maybe death, divorce, or some other nefarious turn of events caused this; however, the book became an orphan without the new "owner" knowing just what it was.

Next, the book may have passed through several hands. Whether each and every one chose not to open the shrink-wrap to inspect the book or what, I will never know.

But, I do know from reading the eBay seller's listing that he deliberately chose not to open it. He even used the term, "NEVER OPENED" in his header. He also says in the descriptive section, “THIS BOOK HAS NEVER BEEN OPENED!!! IT IS IN A BLUE, HARD SHELL GIFT CASE THAT IS STILL SHRINKWRAPPED!!!!!!"

And finally, one may wonder how a relative novice at book collecting recognized this nugget-in-the-rough and others did not? Well, I had luck there, too. The seller, again, used a "Stock Photo" instead of photographing the real book. He says, "WE USED A STOCK PICTURE BECAUSE WE DID NOT WANT TO OPEN THE BLUE HARD SHELL CASE OR THE BOOK!!!"

I researched the book to find out what printing had been issued in a "BLUE HARD SHELL CASE." The only printing that I could find was for a very limited (1-350), signed edition. I had started to get excited about then.

The seller used an opening value of $9.99 and I think I bid with a maximum of $100.01, thinking that my bid was futile but I was going to try to win.
I was the ONLY bidder and won the book for $9.99! The book arrived (with insurance, for sure) and I took it to a trusted professional book dealer for appraisal. It still has its shrink-wrap, but it now has an informed owner who treasures it far more than even its $3,500.00 value!

John Grisham's work is literary masterpiece. A Time to Kill is one of his best works along with Runaway Jury that I have ever read. A powerfully moving story which moves you to tears if you have any compassion in your soul. It adds some comedy, stirs outrage and poses serious questions of our society at that time period about if all men were all created equal.

The closing arguements of Mr. Brigance are words that will linger in your mind forever and that touch on the feeling in your heart and mind that sometimes the world isn't black and white.

I was looking to complete my series of John Grisham books in hardback and was only missing this one book. I was able to find it on ebay for a price I could afford. Very pleased.

The book was in great shape. It completes my collection of Grisham books in hardback. I have tried to find this book in several places and ebay was the best and easiest place to shop.

My Hubby loved it was perfect and the copy he needed to finish his collection. There were no bend cracks tears. ti was perfect mint condition. I feel the seller gave a very accurate description. THANKS so very much!

I wanted to complete my harcover collection of John Grisham book. The story was good and the bok itself was in excellent condition. It was interesting to read
the first book in Grisham's collection and see how it compared (favorably)
with his later novels.

This book was my introduction to John Grisham and now I can't get enough of his writing. His characters are so fully alive, pulling you instantly into a gripping storyline. Grisham takes a single timeless theme and develops it to such a deep level that the reader can't help but re-evalute their own heart. Excellent reading!

I bought this book for my mom actually, she is a big fan of it. She has the paperback copy and her and my grandmother have read it so much that it is starting to rip and tear. Christmas day I was talking to her about it and she said that she would like to find a hardback copy, so i got on ebay and found it for real cheap. So i ordered it for her, and she loved it! i called it a late christmas gift.

The seller had a description of the books and when they arrived they were exactly as described. The seller had them to the shipper quicly and they were received timely and without damage. This was my first time to by anything on EBAY and I am very pleased. You can buy from this seller with confidence.

I bought this book for a class in college. I love that it's a hard cover and bigger print as my sight is not as good as it should be. Thanks!

This book was in excelent condition. It was written by one of the premier novelist of our time. This is a collectors item. It was an addition to my collection of John Grisham books.

LOVE THIS BOOK.I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR ONE TO BUY.CANT FIND A HARD COPY.IF ANYONE HAS ONE OR KNOWS WHERE ONE IS E-MAIL ME @stella_doyle@yahoo,com

This signed first edition was lovingly cared for and well packed for shipment. Too many sellers today tend to over-inflate the condition or value what they have to offer in their descriptive copy or pack the item poorly without enough padding just to save a buck or two and the item arrives damaged or broken. This creates hard feelings and extra work all around. I always try to buy from sellers who have a decent feedback record. They have a reputation to protect and are usually both more professional and willing to work with you to make things right. That doesn't mean a seller must have a 100% rating; plenty of reliable sellers have ratings in the 99-98 percentile. You can't (as I found out) please everyone and some buyers are determined to ding you no matter what you say.
I would buy with confidence from this seller again. fotopro35