I joined the PTFW Book Club almost three years ago and have really enjoy spending time and discussing books with the other members. The PTFW book club has led me to read books I would have never picked up thereby introducing me to new and interesting genres and subjects.

My fellow members are engaging, interesting, sometimes very entertaining and extraordinarily open to having meaningful and thoughtful discussions. Members take turns planning the monthly book clubs: sending out reminders via email and text, arranging the location, and facilitating the discussion. I recently led the discussion of The Confession, by John Grisham, and I can say it wasn’t difficult…in fact it was enjoyable! Not only that but following the discussion we shared a delicious meal at Café Roma.

The Confession provided many interesting topics to explore during the July PTFW Book Club meeting. The novel, which takes place in 1999, tells the story of a young African American boy, Donte Drumm, in a racially divided small Texas town who is wrongly convicted of sexual assault and murder of a young white cheerleader who had disappeared.

I won’t say too much about the book because I don’t want to spoil it for those who haven’t yet read it. But if you haven’t read it, I recommend that you do! It’s a great read.

Anyhow, here’s a few highlights:

• Despite a body not being discovered, a conviction was made.
• The police engaged in racial discrimination and legal misconduct under pressure to solve the murder.
• The prosecutors were guilty of employing illegal and improper procedures during the trial (the prosecutor and the judge happened to be having an affair).
• For nine long years a passionate defense attorney, Robbie Flak, and his staff worked diligently to save young Donte Drumm from execution. 
• Out of the blue, Travis Boyette, a man who has served time for numerous sexual crimes, shows up at Keith Schroeder’s office, who is a Lutheran minister.

It seems like that should clear Donte, but it doesn’t! The rest of this legal thriller is a race against time to save Donte’s life. The minister risks his career and puts himself in danger to try to get to Texas in time to save Donte, Robbie Flak, Donte’s lawyer, and his team pursue every legal option to halt the execution and the people of the town experience racial tensions that lead to violence. Lives are ruined; the town erupts in fires and riots.

I won’t say anymore. You’ll have to read the book to find out how the local high school football team and Donte’s family save the town even after the horror of a wrongful execution.

Some of the questions that the book club members discussed were:

• Do you believe in execution?
• Do you support the right of police lying to suspects during interrogation?
• As a parent, how would you respond to the wrongful execution of your child?

In August the PTFW Book Club discussed Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate. The discussion was led by longtime member, Penni Jo Renner.  For more information about Prime Time for Women’s Book Club or to become a member click here.