Paul Edgecombe is the head security guard of Cold Mountain Penitentiary in the middle of The Great Depression. Paul tells the tale of John Coffey, a prisoner convicted of murdering two twin girls, and sentenced to die. Because there are things hidden within John Coffey, and things hidden in E Block as well. The story begins slow, but not plodding. King sets the scene grimly, the South's version of Shawshank Prison, only more depressing.
Characters are well drawn, lives are neatly sketched.
The Green Mile is one of King's best recent novels, rich in detail and character. A highly reccomended read, even if one is not allowed the fun of the serialization as it was happening. The Green Mile was the first King novel since Dolores Claiborne that I actually had to wait for. I highly enjoyed this book. Turned out, all my theories were wrong, but, still.