The Appeal
The stakes in the novel's plot are high: corporate crime on the largest scale. The duo of lawyers at the centre of the narrative are Mary and Wes Grace, who succeed in a multimillion dollar case against a chemical company, who have polluted a town with dumped toxic waste. A slew of agonising deaths have followed this, but lawyers for the chemical company appeal, and a variety of legal shenanigans are employed -- and it is certainly not clear which way the scales of justice will be finally balanced.
As ever with Grisham, the mechanics of plotting are key, and the characterisation is functional rather than detailed. But it is (as always) more than capable of keeping the reader totally engaged. Given John Grisham's much-publicised conversion to born-again Christianity, it's intriguing to note here the implicit criticism of the moral majority's religious values, but that is hardly central to the enterprise. What counts is the storytelling, and while the writing is as straightforward and uncomplicated as ever, few readers will put down The Appeal once they have allowed it to exert its grip on upon them. --Barry Forshaw
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John Grisham
John Grisham’s name is synonymous with legal thrillers that not only captivate but also ignite deeper conversations about justice, morality, and the American legal system. With his storytelling prowess, he has transformed complex legal cases into gripping, page-turning narratives that millions of readers have come to trust and love.
Born in 1955 in Jonesboro, Arkansas, Grisham’s early life was rooted in the small-town South—a setting that would influence much of his later work. After earning his law degree from the University of Mississippi, Grisham practiced law for nearly a decade, focusing on criminal defense and personal injury. It was during these years that he discovered the dramatic possibilities of the legal world, experiences that would lay the foundation for his debut novel, A Time to Kill (1989). Though initially met with lukewarm reception, it ultimately gained the recognition it deserved, particularly after Grisham’s breakout success with The Firm (1991).
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