Sycamore Row by John Grisham

Sycamore Row is the sequel to JG's first book, Time to Kill. The main character is the lawyer Jake Brigand, who defended Carl Lee Hailey in the earlier book. It's now 3 years later. Jake and his wife are living in a shabby rental house, still fighting with the insurance company over their house that was burned down by the Klan during the Hailey trial. One Monday morning, Jake opens the mail and finds a letter and will from a man named Seth who killed himself over the weekend. He wants Jake to be his lawyer and make sure this new will is enforced--a will that disinherits his children and leaves most of his substantial fortune to his housekeeper, Lettie. When the news gets out, all hell breaks loose and every lawyer in shouting distance wants a part of the case.

It's an intriguing story. Lettie has no idea why Seth left her his fortune. Jake's former boss Lucien wonders if it's not somehow related to something that happened in the past and he sets off to investigate that angle. There's also a long-lost brother who may or may not still be alive--and if the latter, stands to inherit part of the fortune. Grisham skillfully weaves all the story lines together toward the end. A good read for a rainy November weekend.