Just Mercy by Stevenson is a very readable, trenchant legal story about the possibility of mercy for the wrongfully accused. A powerful, clear message about the possibility of mercy to redeem us from evil, and an ethical clarion call for change in America's notoriously broken criminal justice system - from among the most prolific and influential legal advocates of our day. The author draws heavily from her own lifelong experience as a criminal defense lawyer. She shows us what it is like to be on the other side of the bars, where "innocent until proven guilty" no longer applies. She reminds us of what our legal rights are, and how far some people will go to secure them.

I don't want to focus on the legal aspects of the book, since that might detract from the message. But it is undeniable that part of what makes this novel so effective is its tightly focused character insights into the many different elements of human life - love, family, friendship, work, religion, politics - all of which come into play at the trials of every Just Mercy reader. And because Stevenson is a masterful storyteller, she does manage to weave these various threads seamlessly, building and weaving them into a rich and fascinating portrait of modern America. The reader comes away from Just Mercy with a strong sense of what it means to be human. It is that understanding of what it means to be human, which makes this book a highly satisfying read, and at the end of the day, is the best kind of book to end up reading.
There are many different reasons to read Just Mercy. If you have an open mind, an open heart, and you can take an interesting view of life, this is a book for you. It takes you into the human endeavor, opens your eyes to the world of rectitude and justice, and helps you to see what we're really made of. In short, it's a remarkable novel that takes you on an excellent voyage.