The Appeal (Export Edition) - Softcover

John Grisham

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1844138542 ISBN 13: 9781844138548

Publisher: Century, 2008

Synopsis

The Appeal

About this title

Review:

John Grisham is now an institution -- a writer whose bestselling status is assured, So assured, in fact, that expectations for each new book are as high as can be imagined. Does The Appeal make the grade? And will it appeal to Grisham admirers -- or disappoint them?

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

Review:

"Recalling Dickens and other 19th century fiction... Riveting." (Sunday Times)

"What he does so well is to people his plots with clearly defined characters... He makes it riveting." (Mirror)

"A tense, thoughtful, absorbing read." (The Times)

"As usual Grisham is fantastically skilful at delineating the procedural ins and outs of the legal and business worlds in such a way that, as the reader, you feel rather clever yourself." (Daily Express)

"Reads both like an inspirational debut and a brilliant career masterpiece... Technically the book is a tour de force, the characters perfectly balanced and precisely drawn, the forward-thrusting chapters sculpted in size and rhythm... The Appeal is a blatant page turner but I guarantee you will hate reaching the end." (Sunday Express)

About this edition

• Publisher: Century
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 1844138542
• ISBN 13: 9781844138548
• Binding: Paperback