---
title: 'BOOKS: "The Confession" by John Grisham'
description: 'A new novel by acclaimed author John Grisham, entitled “The Confession,” tells the story of Donte Drumm, an innocent man who was convicted of murder and…'
canonical: 'https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/books-the-confession-by-john-grisham'
section: news
date: '2010-10-27T19:20:27-04:00'
updated: '2025-03-14T14:28:56-04:00'
source: 'Death Penalty Information Center'
---

! A new novel by acclaimed author **John Grisham**, entitled **“The Confession,”** tells the story of Donte Drumm, an innocent man who was convicted of murder and sentenced to death in **Texas.** The book begins as the execution of Drumm is only four days away and another man confesses to the crime to a minister. Although a work of fiction, Grisham’s work offers a critique of our criminal justice system and of the death penalty in particular. *USA Today*'s review of the book notes, "Readers who share \[Grisham's\] views as well as those sitting on the fence will find much to love and lament in the tragic story of Donté Drumm."

(J. Grisham, "The Confession," Doubleday 2010; C. Memmott, "[Grisham prosecutes the death penalty in 'The Confession'](https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/books/reviews/2010-10-26-grishamrev26_ST_N.htm)," USA Today, October 26, 2010). See [**Books**](/books-death-penalty?did=130&scid=20) and [**Innocence**](/innocence-and-death-penalty?did=412&scid=6).