The Appeal

The king of modern legal thrillers is back!

Posted by gaurav shukla on 05 Mar 2008
"The jury was ready"
That's how the latest offering from John Grisham begins and engulfs you in another round of politics, greed, and money. The modern law never looked so much untrustworthy and politicised.
Although this is a pure work of fiction, Grisham remarks in the author's note, "I must say this story has a lot of truth in it." With American presidential elections running in background, this novel has been released at a very suitable time. Giving readers a glimpse of what looks to be the ground reality of modern politics and law.
'The Appeal' starts with a surprisingly big verdict by Hattiesburg jury against Krane Chemicals which was accused of polluting Cary county's small town Bowmore's water supply by dumping toxic chemical waste. Thus making it 'cancer county' with the rate of cancer fifteen times the national average.
Payton & Payton, a local husband and wife legal firm, which represents plaintiff to take on Krane reaches on the verge of virtual bankruptcy in course of trial.
In a crusade to save himself and his company, Carl Trudeau, owner of Krane chemicals decides to buy himself a seat in Mississippi supreme court for a few million dollars to support his appeal against the runaway jury verdict. He hires Troy & Hogan, a firm specialising in setting up judicial elections. He once remarks, 'I swear to you on my mother's grave that not one dime of Krane's money will ever be touched by those ignorant people.'
Will Carl be able to save his company, will Paytons survive bankruptcy?
All this, you will find in the novel.
The Appeal takes you through the surprisingly ugly corridors of politics and law. It leaves reader thinking on the consequences on this electoral process and judicial system.
Grisham once again emerges as a true king of modern legal thrillers, whether it was his last legal thriller The Firm or his non fiction The Innocent Man.
Verdict is out!.