Helpful Score: 10
I loved this novel by John Grisham. I have read every one of his books, and was held captive until the end. I won't go into great detail as some of the reviewers before me have. Beware: some of the reviews give a little bit of the ending away, and the not knowing is what makes the story so good. There are some twists and turns along the way that make for some interesting reading. This is the first book that I am aware of that John Grisham wrote his opinion of some judicial decisions and background events. I didn't take offense at it as some readers before me have. I went to bed late reading this book, and woke up early to finish it. In my humble opinion, I think this is one of John Grisham's best works of fiction.
Helpful Score: 6
This book lays bare the corruption involved in a judicial system based on electing the members of a state supreme court. But the book also shows what can happen when money can be used to control any elected office. When someone is elected, that has received millions of dollars from interested parties, it gives one pause to think what the giver of that money is expecting in return.
Bill
Bill
Helpful Score: 4
I'm not sure that John Grisham is still the author that he once started out to be with his first several books. I found this book to be rather hard to keep track of all the different characters that are incorporated into the store telling. It did keep me going till about the last one-third of the book. I finally got through it, but makes me want to look at his writings in more detail the next time he comes out with another book.
Helpful Score: 3
John Grisham returns to genre he made famous with the legal thriller, "The Appeal". This is a book with a lot of good qualities and a book I really wanted to like, but in the end I was disappointed both in the direction the plot took and the overall message of the book.
The ending, however realistic it might be, is ultimately sad and frustrating. I wonder if the Grisham's goal was to agitate readers into political action. Personally, I'd rather the novel end with at least a hint of the good guys. That said, if you want a story in which the underdog wins, I'd pass on this one.
The ending, however realistic it might be, is ultimately sad and frustrating. I wonder if the Grisham's goal was to agitate readers into political action. Personally, I'd rather the novel end with at least a hint of the good guys. That said, if you want a story in which the underdog wins, I'd pass on this one.
Helpful Score: 3
I've read all of Grisham's books, and this is one of my favorites. This book is a wonderful example of how fiction can be used to educate the public. My guess is that before reading this novel, very few people put much thought into the politicization of judges by electing them to office, but it happens throughout our country every year. This book is a strong political statement against the politics of judges, but it also a very well written book with an extremely interesting plot.
