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Book Reviews of The King of Torts

The King of Torts
The King of Torts
Author: John Grisham
ISBN-13: 9780385508049
ISBN-10: 0385508042
Publication Date: 2/2003
Pages: 294
Rating:
  • Currently 3.8/5 Stars.
 363

3.8 stars, based on 363 ratings
Publisher: Doubleday
Book Type: Hardcover
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

177 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

reviewed The King of Torts on + 10 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Clay is a Public Defender lawyer who gets approached by a guy who seems to have no identity to take up a Tort case and make instant millions. He does, and is given info for another case, and another. Along the way, he becomes completely self-absorbed, cocky, and obsessed with image. What utter crap. Why take a main character and make him so unlikeable? Predictably, he falls, and falls hard. And I couldn't care less. I'm really surprised, given that I adored so many of Grisham's other books (The Firm, The Client, The Rainmaker).
reviewed The King of Torts on + 8 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Grisham can be hit or miss with me. This wasn't a difficult read, but it wasn't particularly fun either. I have a much better understanding for the US 'tort' system than I did before the book, and now agree that we need to do something to fix it, but I still have no idea what.
Back to the book. The biggest problem for me is that there were no likable characters. I never liked the protagonist. He's a young lawyer (like most of Grisham's protagonists), but he isn't particularly strong-willed or smart or super-ethical or any of the other things that make Grisham's protagonists likable. Instead he seems to be a stand-in for the prototypical dispised, money-grubbing lawyer.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 7 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Only John Grisham can produce such interesting novels. This one is interesting with the main culpert being a pharmaceutical company.
scrapbooklady avatar reviewed The King of Torts on + 472 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
"The King of Torts" is classic Grisham, in the form of "A Time to Kill, " The Firm, and "The Pelican Brief"... While "The King of Torts" still doesn't quite measure up, it is incredibly good...What makes "The King of Torts" so good is the conceptual elements fans have grown to love about Grisham's thrillers: an underdog young attorney, a mysterious and clandestine protagonist, greasy "ambulance-chasing" attorneys and unscrupulous corporations. In the end, as always, it's all about the dollar.

Our "hero" in this thriller is J. Clay Carter II, a low-paid public defender in Washington, D.C. Clay has a well-to-do fiancee, Rebecca Van Horn who, along with her pugnacious mother and father continually nettle Clay to take a more lucrative job. His future in-laws are everything Clay despises. When he rejects Mr. Van Horn's offer of a corporate position making more than twice his Public Defender pay, Rebecca dumps him for an geeky Ivy Leaguer.

Concurrent with his personal life heading south, Clay has just been ambushed into handling the defense of Tequila Watson, a young black man who shot a friend named Pumpkin. Although totally unmoved, Clay is intrigued as to why Tequila can't remember killing Pumpkin. It's as though his mind has been washed away...with drugs, Clay suspects. After issuing subpoenas for all the medical files from the street-tough drug rehabilitation center where Tequila was being treated, Clay gets the call of his young life. As Grisham describes him, "the man in black." Clay meets the man in black, Max Pace, an ex-lawyer cum "fireman," hired to solve problems on behalf of a variety of unnamed companies. His current "project" is on behalf of a major pharmaceutical company, which has just pulled the plug on a bad drug...a drug that has the side effects of making ex-addicts kill for no apparent reason. Pace's job for Clay? Offer the victims' families large settlements not to pursue any potential investigation or legal action. For this, Clay will receive a cool $15 million. Clay takes an extremely short moment and decides that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Why, he would be foolish to turn it down, wouldn't he?

Sure to his word, Max makes Clay a millionaire with a few short weeks of work. And, to add pleasure to ecstasy, Max has another, much larger "deal" for Clay. This deal involves another bad drug but this time, Clay gets to play the mass tort game. This, all from "tips" provided by the mysterious Max Pace. As Clay's new lawsuit takes form, he lands thousands of class-action suits and is dubbed by the major media "The King of Torts." As the pitiful pharmaceutical company decides to settle with Clay and his newly minted legal bretheren, Clay is two-for-two, only this time, his take isn't $15 million; it's $100 million! Like taking candy from a baby. Clay believes he's this good and here comes the element creating problems for most, greed.

As Clay acquires a yacht, a private plane, an island retreat and a trophy girlfriend, he burns through his new found wealth at an astonishing pace both for pleasure and in funding his next legal bonanza. But, like Mitch McDeere, Grisham's protagonist in "The Firm", Clay soon learns that his newly acquired riches come with a price he can't afford to pay.

Grisham's glimpse into the world of mass tort attorneys is poignant and timely. How many commercials do we see on television from those soliciting our aches, pains, and more frighteningly, our health. The multi-million dollar advertising campaigns they use to attract clients and the huge sums they extract from big corporations are astonishing.

Unlike many of the Hollywood stories, not all mass tort actions have "happy" endings. In some cases, attornys undeservingly obtain riches simply because the defendant corporation believes it can spend less to settle than to litigate. At some surreal level, this crack in our legal system is one that is uncomfortable at best; horrifying at worst. In many cases, good, well-intentioned companies are forced into bankruptcy and the victims, who suffered the most, are left with little after attorney's fees.

Grisham sets a good pace for this storyline and develops the characters quite well. The only problem I saw with the book is, having set up strong characters and revealed the conspiracy, Grisham spins the story to a condensed close. While this glimpse of the Grisham of old is encouraging, the sprial down to climax was a return to the recent past. This doesn't spoil the book, as a whole, but it does bring the awestruck level down to solid.

A good book, a fun read. I hope this is a peek into Grisham's future direction.
mizparker avatar reviewed The King of Torts on + 87 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
John Grisham kind of lost me after the first four or five books. This one started out well, and then sort of pooped out - like the author got bored writing and just ended it. The ending is wholly unsatisfying, and you feel at the end like you wasted your time. I wouldn't recommend it even for Grisham fans. To say that it's not his best work is an understatement - in my opinion, the King of Torts was barely adequate.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 31 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is one of my favorite Grisham books, very fast paced with many twists. It definitely had me reading late into the night and wishing I hadn't the next morning at work! I highly recommend it. Like other Grisham novels, it gives you this deep insight into how law is practiced, and its potential impact on our society. No doubt tort law is an extremely important part of our government protecting the injured, but in allowing these mass class action suits against large companies (which is allowed I assume just to reduce the load on court systems), they practically give the compensation to the lawyers instead of those who were actually injured (and inspire greed). But enough of my ramblings, read the book, you won't be sorry!
reviewed The King of Torts on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
The ending was not good, it just drop the story
treyci avatar reviewed The King of Torts on + 20 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
very good book, it moves along quickly, holds the reader's interest. it was so good i accidentally bought it twice, ha ha. i saw it at another place without a cover and bought it based on the back review and when i started reading it i realized i already had.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 30 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
If you are a fan of John Grisham, then you will like this book. I enjoyed it, but I did not feel it was as good as some of his others, such as The Pelican Brief or The Client. This is a different book, and more of a morality tale. It is not a mystery, but the tale of the rise and fall of a tort lawyer.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 67 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
litigation against one of the largest pharmaceutical companies
chucker2010 avatar reviewed The King of Torts on + 21 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Every time I see an ad on tv or in the newspaper saying "If you took this drug and have been crippled or harmed in any way - or know someone who has - call this 1-800 number," I flash on this book that explains how and why those ads are there.

And the BIG return on that investment. Yikes.

What a great behind-the-scenes book with all the plot twists and turns you expect from Grisham.
reviewed The King of Torts on
Helpful Score: 1
Classic Grisham!

Very much an apt story for current times,
Rags to Riches to Scandals in the area of mass torts..
reviewed The King of Torts on + 7 more book reviews
I didn't care for this book midway through it because of the plot twists and turns.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 3 more book reviews
Grisham is always interesting
reviewed The King of Torts on + 8 more book reviews
This was a wonderful story. The main character was broke and in debt, working as a public defender. His girlfriend's family want her to marry a man with ambition and a lot of money. He wants to do the right thing and isn't motivated by money. But one day a huge case falls in his lap and he has a moral choice to make. He can represent a murder victim as the public defender, or he can present the murderer as a victim of a large pharmacuetical company's bad drug and make a killing by turning his back on the murder victim and their family. He follows the money. Before he knows it he's in over his head, caught up in the greed and craziness of mass tort litigation. He makes and loses a fortune almost overnight. In the end he sets out to right his wrongs and the girl of his dreams comes back into his life.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 11 more book reviews
good writing as usual but i couldn't fall in love with the characters. even so it was a good read.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 7 more book reviews
A Grisham book I hope is one day made into a movie. Wonderful characters and many twists throughout the book.
Bettyann avatar reviewed The King of Torts on + 64 more book reviews
Love it as much as I do all the other Grisham novels. Page-turner. Can't put it down.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 113 more book reviews
Another great story from Crisham. A very clever and unique plot. Enjoyed it a lot. You will wnat to read it all at once!
reviewed The King of Torts on + 5 more book reviews
Great read!
reviewed The King of Torts on + 22 more book reviews
another good Grisham book
reviewed The King of Torts on + 9 more book reviews
Filled with conspiracies, money, and greed. A very good book.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 11 more book reviews
Clay Carter reluctantly takes the case of someone charged with a random street killing but as he digs into the background of his client, he stumbles on a conspiracy too horrible to believe.
paxtonholley avatar reviewed The King of Torts on + 67 more book reviews
Typical Grisham. Very good read, but it's similar to some of his other stuff.
reviewed The King of Torts on
This is another great John Grisham book!

In this book a young public defender takes a case of a man who is charged with killing someone. The lawyer finds himself in a battle with one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 4 more book reviews
HARD TO PUT DOWN!!! MADE ME WANT TO READ MORE GRISHAM.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 9 more book reviews
I have become addicted to John Grisham.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 5 more book reviews
This was probably one of my favorite Grisham books that I have read. Highly recommend it.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 11 more book reviews
A must read offers everything one expects from Grisham
reviewed The King of Torts on + 211 more book reviews
I'll never look at those late TV advertisements for the lawyers the same way again!
reviewed The King of Torts on + 10 more book reviews
wonderful john grisham book, very enjoyable
reviewed The King of Torts on + 11 more book reviews
Love Grisham
MediumDebbi avatar reviewed The King of Torts on + 92 more book reviews
This is a prototypical Grisham legal thriller,good lawyer turns bad and greedy. Clay Carter gains ridiculous wealth working in the class action market and becomes a household name in the legal buisness. A page turner and a satisfying one!
reviewed The King of Torts on + 13 more book reviews
It's Grisham...what else do you need to know? Great read.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 13 more book reviews
good legal drama
reviewed The King of Torts on + 13 more book reviews
One of my favorite books by Grisham. It is set in the south, but the main character is a fish out of water, in his creepy old family home.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 7 more book reviews
Another great Grisham book
reviewed The King of Torts on + 134 more book reviews
The Office of the Public Defender in Washington DC gets a real work out. Good background writing. You feel like you are really in DC
MyLikeIt avatar reviewed The King of Torts on + 450 more book reviews
Enjoyable and difficult to put down.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 8 more book reviews
Great book....learned abit more about that side of things than i really cared to...lol
reviewed The King of Torts on + 10 more book reviews
Great book!
reviewed The King of Torts on + 8 more book reviews
As with all of John Grisham's books, I enjoyed all of the twists and turns. It won't disppoint a Grisham fan.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 4 more book reviews
Another page turner by Grisham ........great read
justreadingabook avatar reviewed The King of Torts on + 1728 more book reviews
Loved the storyline and non-stop action in this book! Excellent.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 15 more book reviews
Very good
reviewed The King of Torts on + 2 more book reviews
You won't put this book down until the last page. Full of suspense.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 17 more book reviews
unabridged
reviewed The King of Torts on + 90 more book reviews
A lawyer digs into the background of his client and finds himself in the middle of a complex case against one of the largest pharmacieutical companies in the world.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 37 more book reviews
I feel like I learned a lot about Tort Law and about the things that go into settling big lawsuits.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 9 more book reviews
King of Torts is one of John Grisham's best books, at least in my opinion.

Well written, holds your attention the entire book through.
You don't want to put it down, as well as most of his books.

I highly recommend this book.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 28 more book reviews
Good Grisham
reviewed The King of Torts on + 13 more book reviews
"EXCELLENT"
"ROUSING...ANOTHER PEDAL-TO-THE-METAL CROWD-PLEASER"
The Office of the Public Defender is not known as a training ground for bright young litigators. Clay Carter has been there too long, and, like most of his colleagues, dreams of a better job in a real firm. When he reluctantly takes the case of a young man charged with a random street killing, he assumes it is just another of the many senseless murders that hit D.C. every week.
As he digs into the background of his client, Clay stumbles on a conspiracy too horrible to believe. He suddenly finds himself in the middle of a complex case against one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world and looking at the kind of enormous settlement that would totally change his life-that would make him, almost overnight, the legal profession's newest king of torts...
"OFFERS EVERYTHING ONE EXPECTS FROM GRISHAM...DELIVERS WITH A VENGEANCE."
busterboomer avatar reviewed The King of Torts on + 96 more book reviews
I was disappointed in this book, but it still taught me something. It shows how mass tort lawyers are only concerned about massive fees for themselves and the heck with the clients they represent. Wow, such greed. Then the main character, Clay Carter, gets caught up in this by some shyster who practically gives Clay everything on a silver platter to be rich. Grisham wanted to prove a point, but he could have done that in a better way.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 5 more book reviews
Awesome story line.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 4 more book reviews
It's John Grisha; you can't put it down. What more is there to say?
reviewed The King of Torts on + 45 more book reviews
It's hard to warm up to the main character in this book; however, the story content keeps your interest.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 4 more book reviews
Excellent book....Very much John Grisham
reviewed The King of Torts on + 6 more book reviews
Although fiction this book no doubt will give you a brief insight into how lawyers really operate within our legal system.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 20 more book reviews
A good Grisham read
reviewed The King of Torts on + 2 more book reviews
Great Book, as usual with Grisham
reviewed The King of Torts on + 31 more book reviews
I was reading some of the other reviews, and I have to say that I can't possibly understand how this was not rated higher than it was. For me, it was an excellent book. The only book, so far, that I haven't cared much for of John's is "A Painted House". This one was really good. I love the play out, the romance, the wit...you name it. It had it all.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 9 more book reviews
A typical fast-moving Grisham story, this one taking place in Washington, D.C.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 8 more book reviews
A very good Grisham novel about a Public Defender that stumbles on a case that puts him up against one of the largest pharmaciutical companies in the world with a settlement to match.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 12 more book reviews
A great read! Pure Grisham! Excellent!
reviewed The King of Torts on + 17 more book reviews
A young lawyer discovers a conspiracy too terrible to believe and becomes involved in a lawsuit against one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. If he wins this case he will become the legal profession's newest 'king of torts'...but he may lose his life as others' involved have done.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 27 more book reviews
pretty good
reviewed The King of Torts on + 11 more book reviews
grisham at his best. Public Defender Clay Carter stumbles into a conspiracy too horrible to believe, involving one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, the kind of settlement that could change his life overnight...if he lasts that long.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 5 more book reviews
Another great book by Grisham. Pulls you in immediately. Could not put it down.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 64 more book reviews
Typical Grisham.
chihuahua avatar reviewed The King of Torts on + 92 more book reviews
Satisfying... aA lot of fun...when you finish it, your ready to dash on to the next Grisham...
reviewed The King of Torts on + 55 more book reviews
One of my favorite Grisham stories. This one is lots of fun with many twists and turns.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 66 more book reviews
A fast moving story... Interesting characters.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 7 more book reviews
Justice is well served.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 97 more book reviews
He knows how to drag a story out right to the end.
MKSbooklady avatar reviewed The King of Torts on + 997 more book reviews
John Grisham sure knows how to write them. I remember my grandmother telling me "Never bit off more than you can chew"-well our 'hero' should have listened to her. This is a story of greed, lies and more. Fast paced, as usual, maybe a little long, but still a good read.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 87 more book reviews
A fun read, worth the time. Probably won't change your life but it will entertain you for a while. I recomend it.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 8 more book reviews
Grisham is a great writer and this book does not disapoint.
reviewed The King of Torts on
great book john grisham is one of my favorite authors
reviewed The King of Torts on + 63 more book reviews
Very interest-holding. Typical Grisham.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 80 more book reviews
Great reading
reviewed The King of Torts on + 40 more book reviews
Very edge of your seat page turner
reviewed The King of Torts on + 60 more book reviews
Great plot twists as usual with his books! Loved it!
reviewed The King of Torts on + 2 more book reviews
good book about a lawyer who finds out money isn't everything
reviewed The King of Torts on + 9 more book reviews
Really makes you think
reviewed The King of Torts on + 145 more book reviews
Wow! Grisham has done it again!
reviewed The King of Torts on + 19 more book reviews
great book
ABCatHome avatar reviewed The King of Torts on + 137 more book reviews
This was a very good and intriguing book! John Grisham is wonderful!
reviewed The King of Torts on + 6 more book reviews
Another page turner
reviewed The King of Torts on + 124 more book reviews
Kept me reading .....good story line, helped me understand what torts are and all that
reviewed The King of Torts on + 317 more book reviews
A great Grisham read. A real thriller!
meowysmiles avatar reviewed The King of Torts on + 140 more book reviews
Legal thriller a number 1 best seller,powerful and gripping,keeps you reading..Great Book By Grisham Fantastic Author!!!
reviewed The King of Torts on + 204 more book reviews
This was a very well written story that had me chuckling at some parts. The characters are not as well developed as Grisham has done in his other works. I would like to know a little about the main character so I could have gotten a feel for him better. I think if this would have happened I may have enjoyed the book more.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 43 more book reviews
Another one of Grisham's books I couldn't put down for long.
76kendra avatar reviewed The King of Torts on + 2 more book reviews
This Grisham novel is one of my personal favorites! A lot of litigation and legal terms, and yet again Grisham makes it an easy read for all of his fans. A great story line kept me reading for hours!
reviewed The King of Torts on + 3 more book reviews
Great book...
reviewed The King of Torts on + 4 more book reviews
Another good read from Grisham.
spiritedbabe59 avatar reviewed The King of Torts on + 106 more book reviews
This is one of the few books of Grisham's that I was actually able to read in book form. I'm not sure what it is about his writing style that makes it less enjoyable for me in print. The rest of his novels I'd digested in audio form and loved them. This was a great read by a master story teller and really opened my eyes to who really wins in tort cases.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 6 more book reviews
Like most Grisham books, I found the beginning to read very slow, most before Tarvan was brought into the scheme of things. However, after Clay met Pace and started getting deep into tort cases, I could not put the book down. The story was easy to follow, even for somebody who isn't up to date with lawyers, courtrooms, and lawsuits.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 85 more book reviews
Clay is a young public defender who hates his job and his future in-laws. When he is given the chance to open his own firm, his world turns upside down with fast money and greedy new friends. Can Clay be "The King of Torts" and not become as greedy as those around him?

This is a good novel. It is not Grisham's best, but it was still a good read. It think it would good on the big screen.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 103 more book reviews
Tort(from Lat.torquere,to twist,toutus,twisted,wrested aside)A private or civil wrong or injury,including action for bad faith breach of contract, for which the court will provide a remedyin the form of an action for damages
reviewed The King of Torts on + 18 more book reviews
Great legal mystery!
MichaelS avatar reviewed The King of Torts on + 50 more book reviews
Interesting story of greed, fame and how it affected a lawyer.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 61 more book reviews
Good Grisham book. He does a great job.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 87 more book reviews
Excellent book. John Grisham never disappoints.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 79 more book reviews
I have two copies, never been read
reviewed The King of Torts on + 8 more book reviews
As all his books, you'll find it impossible to put down....
reviewed The King of Torts on + 25 more book reviews
Good story, well written.
reviewed The King of Torts on
good story. A sort of backround story to The Summons
reviewed The King of Torts on + 51 more book reviews
THE OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER IS NOT KNOWN AS A TRAINING GROUND FOR THE BRIGHT YOUNG LITIGATORS. CLAY CARTER HAS BEEN THERE TOO LONG, AND LIKE MOST OF HIS COLLEAGES, DREAMS OF A BETTER JOB IN A REAL FIRM. WHEN HE RELUCTANTLY TAKES THE CASE OF A YOUNG MAN CHARGED WITH A RANDOM STREET KILLING, HE ASSUMES IT IS JUST ANOTHER OF THE MANY SENCELESS MURDERS THAT HIT D.C. EVERY WEEK.
AS HE DIGS INTO THE BACKGROUND OF HIS CLIENT, CLAY STUMBLES ON A CONSPIRACY TOO HORRIBEL TO BELIEVE. HE SUDDENLY FINDS HIMSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF A COMPLEX CASE AGAINST ONE T=OF THE LARGEST PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES IN THE WORLD AND LOOKING AT THE KIND OF ENORMOUS SETTLEMENT THAT WOULD TOTALLY CHANGE HIS LIFE- THAT WOULD MAKE HIM, ALMOST OVERNIGHT, THE LEGAL PROFESSION'S NEWEST KING OF TORTS...
reviewed The King of Torts on + 164 more book reviews
The Office of the Public Defender is not known as a training ground for bright young litigators. Clay Carter has been there too long, and, like most of his colleagues, dreams of a better job in a real firm. When he reluctantly takes the case of a young man charged with a random street killing, he assumes it is just another of the many senseless murders that hit D.C. every week. AS he digs into the background of his client, Clay stumbles on a conspiracy too horrible to believe. He suddenly finds himself in the middle of a complex case against one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world and looking at the kid of enormous settlement that would totally change his life-that would make him, almost overnight, the legal profession's newest king of torts...
reviewed The King of Torts on + 191 more book reviews
Really good read...
reviewed The King of Torts on + 35 more book reviews
This was a great read! Entertaining as well as educational regarding tort law. I could not wait to see how Grisham would wrap it up. Would his main character be vindicated or demonized? I loved it and now must become a Grisham fan for life!
reviewed The King of Torts on + 517 more book reviews
interesting book with all of the class action suits that go on today. Very good book
reviewed The King of Torts on + 3 more book reviews
This is a typical John Grisham novel, likeable but not extraordinary.
reviewed The King of Torts on
One of the better Grisham books I've read lately!
reviewed The King of Torts on + 34 more book reviews
Clay Carter, public defender in Washington, D.C. gets landed with defending a young man charged with what appears to be just another random street killing. Nevertheless, he will do his best and what he finds in the process could very well get the kind of enormous settlement that totally changes lives...
reviewed The King of Torts on + 15 more book reviews
enjoyable....
reviewed The King of Torts on + 70 more book reviews
my favorite Grisham.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 2 more book reviews
Great thriller! Timely topic!
reviewed The King of Torts on + 132 more book reviews
Interesting book on what kiinds of things lawyers do to make money at the expense of the people. Also, I learned about drug companies and medications that might be harmful to your health.
sig avatar reviewed The King of Torts on + 33 more book reviews
A young public defender is assigned the defense of a young man charged with murder and finds himself in a complex case involving a conspiracy which will totally change his life.
schiffer avatar reviewed The King of Torts on + 5 more book reviews
At first glance at the summary of the back jacket of the novel âThe King of Tortsâ gives the implication that the novel would involve the main character defending his client against a famous and powerful company. However, upon reading it, this clearly isn't the case. Though Tequila Watson, the client, plays an important part of the outcome of Clay Carter, he only makes cameo appearances.

The story deals with Clay Carter, a defense lawyer whom is overworked and underpaid. Upon chance he was chosen for the case of Tequila Watson, whom is charged for murder. A case which he wish to avoid. As he digs in to the past of Tequila Watson, he found a unusual and interesting fact. That Tequila Watson, even though have several drugged and violence charges, had never have a violent act. It seems the murder happened at random. He encounter an colleague that has a similar case, murder without reason, except for this case, the accused has many violence charges. He began to feel something underneath of all.

Then he was contacted by a man by the name of Max Pace, he propose a opportunity to become rich. With one reason, that Clay drop the Tequila Watson's case and take the victims' case. Max Pace was hired by a large company that created a drug call Tarvan, a drug that can kill all addictions, smoke, crack and all other. It is tested in many countries in rehab centers and when brought into the U.S. Tequila Watson was among the first to take it. However, as marvel as the drug is, it has one issue. When it is stopped, the person would develop an urge to kill within the first ten days.

Realizing this, the company that made the drug was in frantic, if anyone were to find out, they would be ruined. Thus they hired Max Pace, a firefighter, to hire a lawyer to represent all the victims of the drug and have a settlement before it becomes big. And Clay was chosen.

When I read up to this point, I though Clay was going to refuse, defend Tequila's innocents and charge the company for the blame. But as I reconsider - and as Clay stated - no one in hell would fight this case. Clay didn't have the information nor the money to fight. So Clay sold his soul and makes a fortune.

As Clay's success grew and grew, I started to have a bad feeling of it, this is going way too smoothly and easy. Clay began to be control by his money; spend it so lavishly on useless items such as a jet plane and a villa. He had become one of those lawyers he saw in the hotel of Royal Sonesta in New Orleans. His righteousness is gone. Money is all he wanted and needed. Finally he was on top of the world, King of Torts, admired by all.

However, his fall also came swiftly as it his success. Suddenly the world was crashing down and there's no way to avoid it. As he saw the mess he had caused, the pain he put on his clients and companies and many other innocent people, he filed for bankruptcy and leave D.C. for good.

Although the novel was enjoyable, I felt quite disappointed by the lack of a central case. There are so many cases/problems in the novel that not one stands out as the main plot.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 6 more book reviews
wonderfully intriguing!
mpmarus avatar reviewed The King of Torts on + 133 more book reviews
Better than the average Grisham. The rise and fall of a tort lawyer.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 110 more book reviews
TORT: A private or civil wrong or injury, including action for bad faith breach of contract, for which the court will provide a remedy in the form of an action for damages.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 56 more book reviews
very good as is Grisham's others
reviewed The King of Torts on + 18 more book reviews
Typical Grisham legal thriller with a message. This time he takes on tort litigation. If you love Grisham's style you'll enjoy this book.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 55 more book reviews
Fantastic Grisham book as usual...Could hardly put it down - great plot line.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 27 more book reviews
The office of the public defender is not known as a training ground for bright young litigators. Clay Carter has been there too long and, like most of his colleagues, dreams of a better job in a real firm. When he reluctantly takes the case of a young man charged with a random street killing, he assumes it is just another of the many senseless murders that hit D.C. every week.As he digs into the background of his client, Clay stumbles on a conspiracy too horrible to believe. He suddenly finds himself in the middle of a complex case against one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, looking at the kind of enormous settlement that would totally change his lifethat would make him, almost overnight, the legal professions newest king of torts...
reviewed The King of Torts on + 19 more book reviews
John Grisham always provides a story that's hard to put down!
reviewed The King of Torts on + 41 more book reviews
One of my favorite John Grisham books--fast paced and enjoyable.
ozmommy avatar reviewed The King of Torts on + 12 more book reviews
This book seems to get the author back into his original writing track.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 69 more book reviews
Its a Grisham !
reviewed The King of Torts on + 12 more book reviews
I thoroughly enjoyed this book!!!! Truly written in the John Grisham style. I thought I had read all of his books, but so glad that I realized I had somehow missed this one!!!
reviewed The King of Torts on + 3 more book reviews
Classic Grisham.
reviewed The King of Torts on
Another great John Grisham book!
reviewed The King of Torts on + 4 more book reviews
Excellent reading. Recommend it.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 28 more book reviews
Public defender Clay Carter stumbles into a conspiracy and finds himself in the middle of a complex case against one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 31 more book reviews
The office of the Public Defender is not known as a training ground for bright young litigators. Clay Carter has been there too long, and, like most of his colleagues, dreams of a better job in a real firm. When he reluctantly takes the case of a young man charged with a random street killing, he assumes it is just another of the many senseless murders that hit DC every week.

As he digs into the background of his client, Clay stumbles on a conspiracy too horrible to believe. He suddenly finds himself in the middle of a complex case against one of the larges pharmaceutical companies in the world and looking at the kind of enormous settlement that would totally change his life-that would make him, almost overnight, the legal profession's newest king of torts.
Tunerlady avatar reviewed The King of Torts on + 581 more book reviews
Another excellent legal tale from Grisham! This story involves greed and a desperate need to be the TOP of the pile in the tort business. Very well written with a somewhat surprising finish.
hudsonsmom avatar reviewed The King of Torts on + 15 more book reviews
good typical grisham. enjoyable read.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 23 more book reviews
Another great one by John Grisham!
reviewed The King of Torts on + 5 more book reviews
Another riveting Grisham novel.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 226 more book reviews
Great insite into making of a top notch lawyer..one who rises to the top of his profession in reputation as well as financially..and how quickly greed can topple you quickly to the bottom of the barrel. Good read!
mccoffield avatar reviewed The King of Torts on + 76 more book reviews
UNABRIDGED: 12 hours on 8 cassettes
reviewed The King of Torts on + 17 more book reviews
great mystery!
sealady avatar reviewed The King of Torts on + 657 more book reviews
From AudioFile: "Public Defender Clay Carter arrives in court just in time to receive another hopeless murder case. His bad luck and dead-end career disappear as he stumbles upon evidence that thrusts him into the opulent world of class-action lawsuits. Clay's initial success earns him the title "King of Torts." Quickly, the glamour fades for both the character and the listener. Despite reader Dennis Boutsikaris's strong and clear narration, the novel drags along to an unsatisfactory conclusion. Boutsikaris applies a fitting characterization to European model Ridley, Clay's new trophy girlfriend, who symbolizes all the pitfalls facing the nouveau riche. Regrettably, his fine reading cannot transform a dull, predictable story into an intriguing, suspenseful tale." J.J.B. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --
reviewed The King of Torts on + 131 more book reviews
The office of the Public Defender is not known as a training ground for bright young litigators. Clay Carter has been there too long, and, like most of his colleagues, drams of a better job in a real firm. When he reluctantly takes the case of a young man charged with a random street killing, he assumes it is just another of the many senseless murders that hit DC every week. As he digs into the background of his client, Clay stumbles on a conspiracy too horible to believe. He suddenly finds himself in the middle of a complex case against one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world and looking at thie kind of enormous settlement that would totally change his life - that would make hi, almost overnight, the legal profession's newest king of torts...
reviewed The King of Torts on + 34 more book reviews
Good read
GrkMum avatar reviewed The King of Torts on + 32 more book reviews
another great read from the master of legal drama!
reesecup avatar reviewed The King of Torts on + 11 more book reviews
havev't read this one yet have duplicate copies so posting one.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 588 more book reviews
The Office of the Public Defender is not known as a training ground for bright young litigators. Clay Carter has been there too long, and, like most of his colleagues, dreams of a better job in a real firm. When he reluctantly takes the case of a yourng man charged with a random street killing, he assumes it is just another of the many senseless murders that hit D.C. every week.
As he digs into the background of his client, Clay stumbles on a conspiracy too horrible to believe. He suddenly finds himself in the middle of a complex case against one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world and looking at the kind of enormous settlement that would totally change his life--that would make him, almost overnight, the legal profession's newest king of torts...
reviewed The King of Torts on + 35 more book reviews
One of Grishams best.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 32 more book reviews
The office of the Public defender is not known as a training ground for bright young litigators. Clay Carter has ben there too long, an, like most of his colleagues, dreams of a better job in a real firm. When he reluctantly takes the case of a young man charged with a random street likking, he assumes it is just another of the many senseless murders that hit D.C. every week.

As he digs into the background of his client, Clay stumbles on a conspiracy too horrible to believe. He suddenly finds himself in the middle of a complez case against one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world and looking at the kind of enormous settlement that would totally change his life--that would make him, almost overnight, the legal profession's newest king of torts....
reviewed The King of Torts on + 113 more book reviews
from the back: The office of the Public Defender is not known as a training ground for bright young litigators. Clay Carter has been there too long, and, like most of his colleagues dreams of a better job in a real firm. When he reluctantly takes the case of a young man charged with a random street killing, he assumes it is just another of the many senseless murders that hit D.C. every week.

As he digs into the background of his client, Clay stumbles on a conspiracy too horrible to believe. He suddenly finds himself in the middle of a complex case against one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world and looking at the kind of enormous settlement that would totally change his life - that would make him, almost overnight, the legal profession's newest king of torst......
reviewed The King of Torts on + 21 more book reviews
Excitig easy read typical Grisham.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 50 more book reviews
The Office of the Public Defender is not known as a training ground for bright young litigators. Clay Carter has been there too long and, like most of his colleagues, dreams of a better job in a real firm. When he reluctantly takes the case of a young man charged with a random street killing, he assumes it is just another of the many senseless murders that hit D.C. every week.
As he digs into the background of his client, Clay stumbles on a conspiracy too horrible to believe. He suddenly finds himself in the middle of a complex case against one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world and looking at the kind of enormous settlement that would totally change his life -- that would makehim almost overnight the legal profession's newest king of torts.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 5 more book reviews
The office of the Public Defender is not known as training ground for bright young litigators. Clay Carter has been there too long, and, like most of colleagues, dreams of a better job in a real firm. When he reluctantly takes the of young charged with a random street killing, he assumes it is just another of the senseless murders that hit D.C. ever week.

He suddenly finds himself in the middle of a complex case against one the largest pharmaceutical companies int world and looking at the kind of enormous settlement that would totally change his life that would make him, almost overnight, the legal profession's newest king of torts.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 23 more book reviews
Good read
reviewed The King of Torts on + 6 more book reviews
Another good John Grisham book. Insight into the legal system
baeb47 avatar reviewed The King of Torts on + 207 more book reviews
"The Office of Public Defender is not known as a training ground for bright young litigators. clay Carter has been there too long, and, like most of his colleagues, dreams of a better job in a real firm. When he reluctantly takes the case of a young man charged with a random street killing, he assumes it is just another of the many senseless murders that hit D.C.every week.
As he digs into the background of his client, Clay stumbles on a conspiracy too horrible to believe. He suddenly finds himself in the middle of a complex case against one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world and looking at the kind of enormous settlement that would totally change his life - that would mke him, almost overnight, the legal profession's newest king of torts ..." (From the back cover)
mscottcgp avatar reviewed The King of Torts on + 231 more book reviews
This is a thriller by John Grisham about a conspiracy involving a big pharmaceutical company
LisaBeth0413 avatar reviewed The King of Torts on + 59 more book reviews
The Office of the Public Defender is not known as a training ground for bright young litigators. Clay Carter has been there too long and, like most of his colleagues, dreams of a better job in a real firm. When he reluctantly takes the case of a young man charged with a random street killing, he assumes it is just another of the many senseless murders that hit D.C. every week.

As he digs into the background of his client, Clay stumbles on a conspiracy too horrible to believe. He suddenly finds himself in the middle of a complex case against one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world and looking at hte kind of enormous settlement that would totally change his life -- that would make him, almost overnight, the legal profession's newest king of torts...
RonW avatar reviewed The King of Torts on + 35 more book reviews
My wife highly recommends it as a great read!
GowerMeower avatar reviewed The King of Torts on + 179 more book reviews
Excellent! Rousing...another pedal to the metal crowd-pleaser - People.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 59 more book reviews
#1 NYTimes Bestseller!
reviewed The King of Torts on + 106 more book reviews
#1 NY Times Bestseller
reviewed The King of Torts on + 141 more book reviews
Great Grisham!!
reviewed The King of Torts on + 86 more book reviews
The Office of the Public Defender is not known as a training ground for bright young litigators. Clay Carter has been there too long, and, like most of his colleagues, dreams of a better job in a real firm. When he reluctantly takes the case of a younf man charged with a random street killing, he assumes it is just another of the many senseless murders that hit D.C. every week.

As he digs into the background of his client, Clay stumbles on a conspriracy too horrible to believe. He suddenly finds himself in the middle of a complex case against one of the larges pharmaceutical companies in the world and looking at the kind of erormous settlement that owuld totally change his life- that would make him, almost overnight, the legal profession's newest king of torts. . .
reviewed The King of Torts on + 175 more book reviews
Grisham could write stories about ducks and sell out. Here is a book for your church library "swap-shelf".
reviewed The King of Torts on + 125 more book reviews
The Office of the Public Defender is not known as a training ground for bright young litigators. Clay Carter has been there too long, and, like most of his colleagues, dreams of a better job in a real firm. When he reluctantly takes the case of a young man charged with a random street killing, he assumes it is just another of the many senseless murders that hit D.C. every week.

As he digs into the background of his client, Clay stumbles on a conspiracy too horrible to believe. He suddenly finds himself in the middle of a complex case against one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world and looking at the kind of enormous settlement that would totally change his life--that would make him, almost overnight, the legal profession's newest king of torts...
reviewed The King of Torts on + 373 more book reviews
The Office of the Public Defender is not known as a training ground for bright young litigators. Clay Carter has been there too long, and, like most of his colleagues, dreams of a better job in a real firm. When he reluctantly takes the case of a young man charged a random street killing, he assumes it is just another of the many senseless murders that hit D.C. every week.

As he digs into the background of his client, Clay stumbles on a conspiracy too horrible to believe. He suddenly finds himself in the middle of a complex case against one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world and looking at the kind of enormous settlement that would totally change his life - that would make him, almost overnight, the legal profession's newest king of torts...
Stacy1 avatar reviewed The King of Torts on + 90 more book reviews
The office of the public defender is not known as a training ground for bright young litigators. Clay Carter has been there too long and, like most of his colleagues, dreams of a better job in a real firm. When he reluctantly takes the case of a young man charged with a random street killing, he assumes it is just another of the many senseless murders that hit D.C. every week.

As he digs into the background of his client, Clay stumbles on a conspiracy too horrible to believe. He suddenly finds himself in the middle of a complex case against one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, looking at the kind of enormous settlement that would totally change his lifethat would make him, almost overnight, the legal professions newest king of torts...
reviewed The King of Torts on + 41 more book reviews
Loved it.
KimsClub avatar reviewed The King of Torts on + 53 more book reviews
The Office of the Public Defender is not known as a training ground for bright young litigators. Clay Cater has been there too long, and, like most of his colleagues, dreams of a better job in a real firm. When he reluctantly takes the case of a young man charged with a random street killing, he assumes it is just another of the many senseless murders in DC every week.
As he digs into the background of his client, Clay stumbles on a conspiracy too horrible to believe. he suddenly finds himself in the middle of a complex case against one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the world and looking at the kind of enormous settlemnet that would totally change his life - that would make him, almost overnight, the legal profession's newest King of Torts...
reviewed The King of Torts on + 14 more book reviews
The Office of Public Defender is not known as a training ground for bright young litigators. Clay Carter has been there too long, and, like most of his colleagues, dreams of a better job in a real firm. When he reluctantly takes the case of a young man charged with a random street killing, he assumes it is just another of the many senseless murders that hit D.C. every week.
reviewed The King of Torts on + 12 more book reviews
The Office of the Public Defender is not known as a training found for bright young litigators. Clay Carter has been there too long, and, like most of his colleagues, dreams of a better job in a real firm. When he reluctantly takes the case of a young man charged with a random street killing, he assumes it is just another of the many senseless murders that hit D.C every week.

As he digs into the background of his client, Clay stumbles on a conspiracy too horrible to believe...