Examine Schroeder’s character arc, particularly his moral and ethical evolution. How and why does he become a “different person” (445)?

Discuss the novel’s use of setting. How does John Grisham use real-life information about places—for instance, the fact that Texas leads the nation in executions—to ground the novel?

Consider the novel’s use of confession, comparing its legal and religious aspects. What parallels are drawn between Donté’s coerced confession after police torture to the crucifixion of Jesus in Christianity. How does Boyette’s confession to Schroeder in church compare to his taped testimony to Flak?