What do you think?
Rate this book
螣喂 苇谓慰蟻魏慰喂
Every jury has a leader, and the verdict belongs to him. In Biloxi, Mississippi, a landmark tobacco trial with hundreds of millions of dollars at stake begins routinely, then swerves mysteriously off course.
The jury is behaving strangely, and at least one juror is convinced he's being watched. Soon they have to be sequestered. Then a tip from an anonymous young woman suggests she is able to predict the jurors' increasingly odd behavior.
Is the jury somehow being manipulated, or even controlled? If so, by whom? And, more importantly, why?
From the Trade Paperback edition.
The jury is behaving strangely, and at least one juror is convinced he's being watched. Soon they have to be sequestered. Then a tip from an anonymous young woman suggests she is able to predict the jurors' increasingly odd behavior.
Is the jury somehow being manipulated, or even controlled? If so, by whom? And, more importantly, why?
From the Trade Paperback edition.
608 pages
First published January 1, 1996
2,627 people are currently reading
58k people want to read
About the author
John Grisham
554听books86.4k听followersJohn Grisham is the author of more than fifty consecutive #1 bestsellers, which have been translated into nearly fifty languages. His recent books include Framed, Camino Ghosts and The Exchange: After the Firm.
Grisham is a two-time winner of the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction and was honored with the Library of Congress Creative Achievement Award for Fiction.
When he's not writing, Grisham serves on the board of directors of the Innocence Project and of Centurion Ministries, two national organizations dedicated to exonerating those who have been wrongfully convicted. Much of his fiction explores deep-seated problems in our criminal justice system.
John lives on a farm in central Virginia.
Grisham is a two-time winner of the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction and was honored with the Library of Congress Creative Achievement Award for Fiction.
When he's not writing, Grisham serves on the board of directors of the Innocence Project and of Centurion Ministries, two national organizations dedicated to exonerating those who have been wrongfully convicted. Much of his fiction explores deep-seated problems in our criminal justice system.
John lives on a farm in central Virginia.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,927 reviews
February 24, 2024
Another big court action against the tobacco industry is doomed to fail as usual with the powerful and highly effective consultant working for the 'big four' tobacco companies using any means necessary to prevent any anti-tobacco legal precedents. Unknown to them another group has been actively trying to get on to one of their juries, and in this case they finally do! An innovative look at the American legal system and how the abuse of power can compromise it; and in this case how 'white-hats' can play them at their own game. A 6 out of 12, Three Stars marked down mainly because of nowhere enough of actual court/trial action for me; although I now have an intense urge to watch the cinematic adaptation :)
2024 read
2024 read
August 28, 2018
The Runaway Jury, John Grisham
The Runaway Jury is a legal thriller novel written by American author John Grisham.
鬲丕乇蹖禺 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 禺賵丕賳卮: 乇賵夭 丿賵賲 賲丕賴 丕讴鬲亘乇 爻丕賱 1998 賲蹖賱丕丿蹖
毓賳賵丕賳: 賴蹖卅鬲 賲賳氐賮賴 賮乇丕乇蹖貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 噩丕賳 诏乇蹖卮丕賲貨 賲鬲乇噩賲: 賲丨賲丿 賯氐丕毓貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 倬蹖讴丕賳 1375貨 丿乇 547 氐貨 趩丕倬 丿蹖诏乇: 賳卮乇 丌爻蹖賲貙 1385貨 卮丕亘讴: 9644182839貨
丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 丕賳诏丕乇 亘丕 爻賴 毓賳賵丕賳 賲賳鬲卮乇 卮丿賴 丕爻鬲: 芦賴蹖卅鬲 賲賳氐賮賴 賮乇丕乇蹖貙 賲鬲乇噩賲: 賲丨賲丿 賯氐丕毓禄貙 芦丿禺鬲乇 丕賳鬲賯丕賲噩賵貙 賲鬲乇噩賲: 賲賴丿蹖 毓賱賵蹖貙 丿乇 624 氐禄 賵 芦爻賵诏賳丿 禺賵乇丿賴 賮乇丕乇蹖貙 賲鬲乇噩賲: 賮乇蹖丿賴 賲賴丿賵蹖 丿丕賲睾丕賳蹖禄 丕. 卮乇亘蹖丕賳蹖
The Runaway Jury is a legal thriller novel written by American author John Grisham.
鬲丕乇蹖禺 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 禺賵丕賳卮: 乇賵夭 丿賵賲 賲丕賴 丕讴鬲亘乇 爻丕賱 1998 賲蹖賱丕丿蹖
毓賳賵丕賳: 賴蹖卅鬲 賲賳氐賮賴 賮乇丕乇蹖貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 噩丕賳 诏乇蹖卮丕賲貨 賲鬲乇噩賲: 賲丨賲丿 賯氐丕毓貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 倬蹖讴丕賳 1375貨 丿乇 547 氐貨 趩丕倬 丿蹖诏乇: 賳卮乇 丌爻蹖賲貙 1385貨 卮丕亘讴: 9644182839貨
丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 丕賳诏丕乇 亘丕 爻賴 毓賳賵丕賳 賲賳鬲卮乇 卮丿賴 丕爻鬲: 芦賴蹖卅鬲 賲賳氐賮賴 賮乇丕乇蹖貙 賲鬲乇噩賲: 賲丨賲丿 賯氐丕毓禄貙 芦丿禺鬲乇 丕賳鬲賯丕賲噩賵貙 賲鬲乇噩賲: 賲賴丿蹖 毓賱賵蹖貙 丿乇 624 氐禄 賵 芦爻賵诏賳丿 禺賵乇丿賴 賮乇丕乇蹖貙 賲鬲乇噩賲: 賮乇蹖丿賴 賲賴丿賵蹖 丿丕賲睾丕賳蹖禄 丕. 卮乇亘蹖丕賳蹖
April 27, 2022
She was pondering the option of law school, the great American baby-sitter for directionless postgrads.After a run of less-than-satisfying John Grisham novels, I decided to go back and re-read The Runaway Jury, one of my favorites. It doesn鈥檛 disappoint. Is the plot wildly far-fetched? Sure. Is it dated reading now about the unbeatable tobacco industry? Yes. But this book is just loads of fun anyway.
What I did not remember was that The Runaway Jury has the same flaw that weaken many of Mr. Grisham鈥檚 later books. It is ultimately another of his cause books, with surprisingly long sections all about the evils of smoking. The difference is that earlier in his career, Mr. Grisham came up with better plots (jury tampering from inside the jury room!) and better villains (Rankin Fitch鈥攈ow can someone with that name not be a great villain?) to make the medicine go down. If you have never read a John Grisham novel, this is definitely one of the best ones to start with.
April 12, 2012
I'm glad I didn't pay for this book. Our apartment building has a bookcase in front of the elevator, and someone in the building must be a Grisham fan, because I've picked up several of his books from the communal bookcase. This is the worst of the Grishams that I've read.
What annoyed me the most was the sheer implausibility of the whole story. The civil tobacco trial itself was plausible enough, but the jury foreman protagonist and his accomplice on the outside have a plan to influence the trial (via the jury verdict) that is so ridiculously far-fetched that it's impossible for anyone with common sense to buy into the idea that this could succeed. Without giving anything away, they've been hopping from tobacco trial to tobacco trial (in other states where big tobacco trials have been scheduled previously), changing names, registering to vote in each new state, and *miraculously* getting called for jury duty right when the big tobacco case was happening, and *miraculously* getting called to be in the jury pool for that particular trial (as opposed to the myriad other civil and criminal trials happening on the same day that also need jurors), only to fall just short of getting seated on a jury -- until this case, when they finally manage to get the protagonist on the jury and put their master scheme into action. The whole plot just unacceptably begs belief, and I lost patience with it rather quickly.
After about the 1/3 point, I was just reading to see how it ended, not because I cared about any of the characters or the outcome of the trial, but just to get answers to the protagonists' true intentions and motivations, which you don't learn until the very end. I think this is why it was such a frustrating book for me. I would prefer to have someone to root for in a book, and when you are not privy to the motivations or goals of the main character (when, in essence, you have no idea whether he's a decent guy or a selfish jerk) you can't feel invested in that character or the story.
What annoyed me the most was the sheer implausibility of the whole story. The civil tobacco trial itself was plausible enough, but the jury foreman protagonist and his accomplice on the outside have a plan to influence the trial (via the jury verdict) that is so ridiculously far-fetched that it's impossible for anyone with common sense to buy into the idea that this could succeed. Without giving anything away, they've been hopping from tobacco trial to tobacco trial (in other states where big tobacco trials have been scheduled previously), changing names, registering to vote in each new state, and *miraculously* getting called for jury duty right when the big tobacco case was happening, and *miraculously* getting called to be in the jury pool for that particular trial (as opposed to the myriad other civil and criminal trials happening on the same day that also need jurors), only to fall just short of getting seated on a jury -- until this case, when they finally manage to get the protagonist on the jury and put their master scheme into action. The whole plot just unacceptably begs belief, and I lost patience with it rather quickly.
After about the 1/3 point, I was just reading to see how it ended, not because I cared about any of the characters or the outcome of the trial, but just to get answers to the protagonists' true intentions and motivations, which you don't learn until the very end. I think this is why it was such a frustrating book for me. I would prefer to have someone to root for in a book, and when you are not privy to the motivations or goals of the main character (when, in essence, you have no idea whether he's a decent guy or a selfish jerk) you can't feel invested in that character or the story.
March 2, 2020
02/03/2020 update - I just watched the film and I've got to say, it was rubbish in comparison! If you've seen the film, don't be put off reading what is indeed an excellent legal thriller.
Wow what a book! It's my first John Grisham after many years of procrastinating, but dang is it a corker.
It was one of those stories that when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about the fact that I wanted to be. If you're after a book that grabs you, this is a good one.
I've never been that interested in law, but watching such a big legal battle unfold on paper was something pretty epic. Grisham explored the themes of jury tampering so cleverly that it leaves you wondering just how much of it could be true.
My one gripe was the number of characters and separate stories gets slightly confusing, but the story is worth it.
Wow what a book! It's my first John Grisham after many years of procrastinating, but dang is it a corker.
It was one of those stories that when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about the fact that I wanted to be. If you're after a book that grabs you, this is a good one.
I've never been that interested in law, but watching such a big legal battle unfold on paper was something pretty epic. Grisham explored the themes of jury tampering so cleverly that it leaves you wondering just how much of it could be true.
My one gripe was the number of characters and separate stories gets slightly confusing, but the story is worth it.
November 2, 2018
Saw the movie before reading the book and glad it closely followed the story written by Grisham. They did one minor change, or a major one depending on one's perspective. In the book the lawsuit was aimed at the tobacco industry. The movie targets the gun industry, both powerful industries.
When a family decides to take on the tobacco industry and hold them accountable for the death of a family member who got hooked on their product, the tobacco industry pulls no punches, employing a legal expert who directs the law team handling the defense from behind-the-scenes. With millions of dollars in the bank for him to use at his discretion, Rankin Fitch employs the latest hi-tech needed to track potential jurors and get into how they think. This allows him to choose jurors who will likely vote the way he wants them too.
....But then the unexpected happens!
Someone who is not who he appears to be worms his way onto the jury and turns out to be a wild card. As things develop it turns out this 'someone' has an agenda who wants to bring the tobacco industry down, and his powers of persuasion are quite strong. With the help of a young, strange woman on his team, this juror begins a twisted battle with those favoring the tobacco's case, and soon Fitch realizes he no longer has the jury following his lead. Thus, Fitch employs a more dangerous plan which will begin costing people's lives if he proves successful.
I read this book sometime after I saw the movie in 2004 because I enjoyed it so much. Grisham writes with superb detail that intrigue the reader's psyche. It's all the more entertaining because the author is an experienced lawyer, so one will appreciate the truth in his fictional account of what likely happens behind the scenes. And this makes one a bit unnerved because if this is the case, then what is our judicial system doing (if anything) to prevent such action from tainting a jury? This book is highly recommended and I've kept it for reading again and again like I have some of his other books which are favorites of mine.
When a family decides to take on the tobacco industry and hold them accountable for the death of a family member who got hooked on their product, the tobacco industry pulls no punches, employing a legal expert who directs the law team handling the defense from behind-the-scenes. With millions of dollars in the bank for him to use at his discretion, Rankin Fitch employs the latest hi-tech needed to track potential jurors and get into how they think. This allows him to choose jurors who will likely vote the way he wants them too.
....But then the unexpected happens!
Someone who is not who he appears to be worms his way onto the jury and turns out to be a wild card. As things develop it turns out this 'someone' has an agenda who wants to bring the tobacco industry down, and his powers of persuasion are quite strong. With the help of a young, strange woman on his team, this juror begins a twisted battle with those favoring the tobacco's case, and soon Fitch realizes he no longer has the jury following his lead. Thus, Fitch employs a more dangerous plan which will begin costing people's lives if he proves successful.
I read this book sometime after I saw the movie in 2004 because I enjoyed it so much. Grisham writes with superb detail that intrigue the reader's psyche. It's all the more entertaining because the author is an experienced lawyer, so one will appreciate the truth in his fictional account of what likely happens behind the scenes. And this makes one a bit unnerved because if this is the case, then what is our judicial system doing (if anything) to prevent such action from tainting a jury? This book is highly recommended and I've kept it for reading again and again like I have some of his other books which are favorites of mine.
June 28, 2015
Nicholas Easter, juror number 2 and a mysterious woman known as Marlee conspire to manipulate the jury to secure a verdict in a landmark trial involving a widow plaintiff (whose husband died of lung cancer because of cigarette addiction) and a big tobacco company. They have to play with both sides (the plaintiff and the defense) and go up against a cunning jury consultant Rankin Fitch who is an expert in jury manipulations. Fitch works for the defense.
The Runaway Jury is an intensely suspenseful legal thriller. I could feel my heart pounding as I read the last pages of the book. I was hooked by Grisham's narration as a child mesmerized by bedtime storytelling. The book tackles a lot of important points about cigarette smoking which make the story more interesting. Perhaps Grisham's novels are like cigarettes with nicotine substances which make them so addictive.
The Runaway Jury is an intensely suspenseful legal thriller. I could feel my heart pounding as I read the last pages of the book. I was hooked by Grisham's narration as a child mesmerized by bedtime storytelling. The book tackles a lot of important points about cigarette smoking which make the story more interesting. Perhaps Grisham's novels are like cigarettes with nicotine substances which make them so addictive.
June 3, 2018
Thank God this is a work of fiction.
If the book had even the tiniest modicum of truth it would render trials by jury obsolete.
As a work of fiction, it is a very enjoyable read.
I enjoyed all the manipulative skulduggery of both the tobacco industries team and to two wunderkinds who are trying to sabotage the tobacco industries attempts to avoid paying a gross amount of compensation to a widow who lost her husband to lung cancer.
The lengths that the tobacco magnates are prepared to go to in an effort to corrupt the jury would make the CIA look like a bunch of amateurs. But not to be outdone, the two wunderkinds, one in the jury and the other one on the outside, are just as good at the art of skulduggery.
Ridiculous, but really enjoyable.
Recommended for readers who like a page turner and don't mind reality being stretched really thin.
If the book had even the tiniest modicum of truth it would render trials by jury obsolete.
As a work of fiction, it is a very enjoyable read.
I enjoyed all the manipulative skulduggery of both the tobacco industries team and to two wunderkinds who are trying to sabotage the tobacco industries attempts to avoid paying a gross amount of compensation to a widow who lost her husband to lung cancer.
The lengths that the tobacco magnates are prepared to go to in an effort to corrupt the jury would make the CIA look like a bunch of amateurs. But not to be outdone, the two wunderkinds, one in the jury and the other one on the outside, are just as good at the art of skulduggery.
Ridiculous, but really enjoyable.
Recommended for readers who like a page turner and don't mind reality being stretched really thin.
July 30, 2023
The first John Grisham book I have been disappointed reading.
September 15, 2019
This is not my favorite John Grisham novel, nor has it aged particularly well since the mid-1990s, when it was first published. The story of a major products-liability contest that pits Big Tobacco vs. Plaintiffs' Rights, in John Grisham's knowledgeable hands, becomes a story not so much of good versus evil as the despicable versus the contemptible. While the jurors themselves are far from innocent, they are but pawns in this big-money game in which things aren't ever what they should be, and rarely seem to be. It is great that Grisham lets us in on he central workings of this cynical machine, but the cynicism may be too much for some. Don't forget, there's a good movie out there too, though by the time it was made (2003), the offending product had been changed to handguns.
October 22, 2024
I love The Firm but better for me to forget this one. I didn't care about characters and the story is dull.
August 31, 2014
The Good:
The beginning and very end of this book were very fast-paced and enticing. I enjoyed the mysterious characters and that the author allows the reader to know what many are thinking and feeling through various viewpoints. The plot-line of this book was very original.
The Bad:
I felt like I was reading the Bible at times: So many characters were introduced throughout the entirety of the book, and it was difficult to keep up with them and their various personalities. It was also difficult to keep up with the varying attempts to sabotage a fair trial.
The Ugly:
I got bored towards the middle of the book and had to force myself to continue reading. If I hadn't been 200+ pages in already, I probably wouldn't have finished it.
The beginning and very end of this book were very fast-paced and enticing. I enjoyed the mysterious characters and that the author allows the reader to know what many are thinking and feeling through various viewpoints. The plot-line of this book was very original.
The Bad:
I felt like I was reading the Bible at times: So many characters were introduced throughout the entirety of the book, and it was difficult to keep up with them and their various personalities. It was also difficult to keep up with the varying attempts to sabotage a fair trial.
The Ugly:
I got bored towards the middle of the book and had to force myself to continue reading. If I hadn't been 200+ pages in already, I probably wouldn't have finished it.
June 19, 2024
唳嗋Κ唳ㄠ 唳曕 唳忇唳溹Θ 唳о唳Κ唳距Ο唳监? 唳膏唳椸唳班唳� 唳栢唳�? 唳Ζ唳� 锟斤拷唰囙Ο唳监 唳ム唳曕唳�, 唳む唳灌Σ唰� 唳嗋Κ唳ㄠ唳� 唳曕鈥� 唳Θ唰� 唳灌Ο唳�?
唳膏唳班唳溹唳Θ 唳膏唳椸唳班唳� 唳熰唳ㄠ 唳多唳� 唳Π唰嵿Ο唳距Ο唳监 唳曕唳� 唳唳� 唳唳膏Λ唰佮Ω 唳曕唳唳ㄠ唳膏唳班 唳嗋唰嵿Π唳距Θ唰嵿Δ 唳灌Μ唰囙Θ, 唳む唳� 唳ㄠ唳氞唳� 唳曕唳� 唳曕唳班Γ唳熰 唳嗋Κ唳ㄠ 唳唳曕唳む唳唳曕唳� 唳Θ唰� 唳曕Π唳唳�?
唰�. 唳忇唰嵿Ψ唰囙Δ唰嵿Π唰� 唳︵唳� 唳呧Μ唳多唳 唳む唳唳� 唳曕唳唳唳ㄠ唳班イ 唳曕唳班Γ 唳む唳班 唳ㄠ唳ㄠ 唳班唰囙Π, 唳ㄠ唳ㄠ 唳⑧唰囙Π, 唳ㄠ唳ㄠ 唳︵唳唳� 唳膏唳椸唳班唳� 唳唳ㄠ唳唰� 唳忇Ξ唳� 唳唳溹唳炧唳Θ 唳む唳班 唳曕Π唰�, 唳唳ㄠ唳� 唳む 唳嗋唰冟Ψ唰嵿 唳灌Μ唰囙! 唳む唳班 唳Ζ唳� 唳氞唳囙Δ 唳唳ㄠ唳� 唳膏唳膏唳� 唳ム唳�, 唳む唳灌Σ唰� 唳忇Ω唳� 唳唳ㄠ唳 唳曕唳�?
唰�. 唳︵唳� 唳呧Μ唳多唳 唳唳唰嵿Δ唳苦Π啷� 唳む唳ㄠ 唳曕 唳氞唳� 唳灌唳む 唳ㄠ唳唰� 唳膏唳椸唳班唳熰唳� 唳唳∴唳� 唳栢唳侧唳�? 唳膏唳栢唳ㄠ 唳む 唳膏唳苦Δ唰嵿Π 唳Σ唳�-唳� 唳嗋唰団€� '唳о唳Κ唳距Θ 唳膏唳唳膏唳ム唳唳� 唳溹Θ唰嵿Ο 唳曕唳粪Δ唳苦唳班イ' 唳むΜ唰�? 唳ㄠ唳溹唳� 唳侧唳唳� 唳唳澿 唳栢唳唳� 唳ㄠ, 唳嗋Μ唳距Π 唳︵唳� 唳︵唳唳� 唳む唳唳� 唳曕唳唳唳ㄠ唳�! 唳灌唳�! 唳︵唳ㄠ 唳曕Ο唳监唳� 唳唳唳曕唳� 唳唳佮唳距Π 唳膏Ξ唳 唳唳膏Λ唰佮Ω唰囙Π 唳曕Ε唳� 唳Θ唰� 唳ム唳曕 唳ㄠ, 唳む唳� 唳ㄠ??
鈻笍鈻笍鈻笍
唳夃Κ唳ㄠ唳唳膏唳� 唳忇 唳唳Σ唳距Π 唳溹唳班唳唳班唳∴唳� 唳膏Ζ唳膏唳Ζ唰囙Π 唳ㄠ唳唰囙イ 唳唳︵ 唳忇Μ唳� 唳唳唳︵ 唳唰嵿Ψ唰� 唳唳班唰佮Π 唳むΕ唰嵿Ο唳唳班Ξ唳距Γ 唳夃Κ唳膏唳ム唳Θ唰囙Π 唳Π 唳溹唳班唳班 唳曕 唳膏唳︵唳о唳ㄠ唳� 唳ㄠ唳, 唳膏唳熰 唳溹唳ㄠΔ唰� 唳灌Σ唰� 唳Α唳监Δ唰� 唳灌Μ唰� 唳多唳� 唳Π唰嵿Ο唳ㄠ唳むイ 唳むΜ唰� 唳膏唳栢唳ㄠ唳� 唳熰唳曕唳� 唳栢唳侧唳� 唳曕Ε唳� 唳唳ム唳 唳班唳栢Δ唰囙 唳灌Μ唰囙イ 唳熰唳曕 唳︵唳唰� 唳曕唳ㄠ 唳唳 唳ㄠ 唳忇Ξ唳� 唳曕唳ㄠ 唳溹唳ㄠ唳� 唳嗋唰�? 唳班唳 唳曕唳ㄠ 唳唳唳唳班 唳ㄠ!!
唳呧Σ唰嵿Κ 唳曕Ε唳距Ο唳� 唳 唳Σ唳� 唳唳�, 唳む 唳熰唳ㄠ 唳唳� 唳栢唳ㄠ唳曕唳� 唳侧Ξ唰嵿Μ唳� 唳曕Π唰� 唳唳侧唳涏唳ㄢ€� 唳忇唳� 唳忇唳熰 唳唳囙Θ唳距Ω 唳Ο唳监唳ㄠ唳熰イ 唳忇唳距Α唳监 唳唳熰唳唳熰 唳嗋唰� 唳膏Μ鈥屶, 唳Α唳监Δ唰� 唳栢唳班唳� 唳侧唳椸唳ㄠ鈥屶イ
唳膏唳班唳溹唳Θ 唳膏唳椸唳班唳� 唳熰唳ㄠ 唳多唳� 唳Π唰嵿Ο唳距Ο唳监 唳曕唳� 唳唳� 唳唳膏Λ唰佮Ω 唳曕唳唳ㄠ唳膏唳班 唳嗋唰嵿Π唳距Θ唰嵿Δ 唳灌Μ唰囙Θ, 唳む唳� 唳ㄠ唳氞唳� 唳曕唳� 唳曕唳班Γ唳熰 唳嗋Κ唳ㄠ 唳唳曕唳む唳唳曕唳� 唳Θ唰� 唳曕Π唳唳�?
唰�. 唳忇唰嵿Ψ唰囙Δ唰嵿Π唰� 唳︵唳� 唳呧Μ唳多唳 唳む唳唳� 唳曕唳唳唳ㄠ唳班イ 唳曕唳班Γ 唳む唳班 唳ㄠ唳ㄠ 唳班唰囙Π, 唳ㄠ唳ㄠ 唳⑧唰囙Π, 唳ㄠ唳ㄠ 唳︵唳唳� 唳膏唳椸唳班唳� 唳唳ㄠ唳唰� 唳忇Ξ唳� 唳唳溹唳炧唳Θ 唳む唳班 唳曕Π唰�, 唳唳ㄠ唳� 唳む 唳嗋唰冟Ψ唰嵿 唳灌Μ唰囙! 唳む唳班 唳Ζ唳� 唳氞唳囙Δ 唳唳ㄠ唳� 唳膏唳膏唳� 唳ム唳�, 唳む唳灌Σ唰� 唳忇Ω唳� 唳唳ㄠ唳 唳曕唳�?
唰�. 唳︵唳� 唳呧Μ唳多唳 唳唳唰嵿Δ唳苦Π啷� 唳む唳ㄠ 唳曕 唳氞唳� 唳灌唳む 唳ㄠ唳唰� 唳膏唳椸唳班唳熰唳� 唳唳∴唳� 唳栢唳侧唳�? 唳膏唳栢唳ㄠ 唳む 唳膏唳苦Δ唰嵿Π 唳Σ唳�-唳� 唳嗋唰団€� '唳о唳Κ唳距Θ 唳膏唳唳膏唳ム唳唳� 唳溹Θ唰嵿Ο 唳曕唳粪Δ唳苦唳班イ' 唳むΜ唰�? 唳ㄠ唳溹唳� 唳侧唳唳� 唳唳澿 唳栢唳唳� 唳ㄠ, 唳嗋Μ唳距Π 唳︵唳� 唳︵唳唳� 唳む唳唳� 唳曕唳唳唳ㄠ唳�! 唳灌唳�! 唳︵唳ㄠ 唳曕Ο唳监唳� 唳唳唳曕唳� 唳唳佮唳距Π 唳膏Ξ唳 唳唳膏Λ唰佮Ω唰囙Π 唳曕Ε唳� 唳Θ唰� 唳ム唳曕 唳ㄠ, 唳む唳� 唳ㄠ??
鈻笍鈻笍鈻笍
唳夃Κ唳ㄠ唳唳膏唳� 唳忇 唳唳Σ唳距Π 唳溹唳班唳唳班唳∴唳� 唳膏Ζ唳膏唳Ζ唰囙Π 唳ㄠ唳唰囙イ 唳唳︵ 唳忇Μ唳� 唳唳唳︵ 唳唰嵿Ψ唰� 唳唳班唰佮Π 唳むΕ唰嵿Ο唳唳班Ξ唳距Γ 唳夃Κ唳膏唳ム唳Θ唰囙Π 唳Π 唳溹唳班唳班 唳曕 唳膏唳︵唳о唳ㄠ唳� 唳ㄠ唳, 唳膏唳熰 唳溹唳ㄠΔ唰� 唳灌Σ唰� 唳Α唳监Δ唰� 唳灌Μ唰� 唳多唳� 唳Π唰嵿Ο唳ㄠ唳むイ 唳むΜ唰� 唳膏唳栢唳ㄠ唳� 唳熰唳曕唳� 唳栢唳侧唳� 唳曕Ε唳� 唳唳ム唳 唳班唳栢Δ唰囙 唳灌Μ唰囙イ 唳熰唳曕 唳︵唳唰� 唳曕唳ㄠ 唳唳 唳ㄠ 唳忇Ξ唳� 唳曕唳ㄠ 唳溹唳ㄠ唳� 唳嗋唰�? 唳班唳 唳曕唳ㄠ 唳唳唳唳班 唳ㄠ!!
唳呧Σ唰嵿Κ 唳曕Ε唳距Ο唳� 唳 唳Σ唳� 唳唳�, 唳む 唳熰唳ㄠ 唳唳� 唳栢唳ㄠ唳曕唳� 唳侧Ξ唰嵿Μ唳� 唳曕Π唰� 唳唳侧唳涏唳ㄢ€� 唳忇唳� 唳忇唳熰 唳唳囙Θ唳距Ω 唳Ο唳监唳ㄠ唳熰イ 唳忇唳距Α唳监 唳唳熰唳唳熰 唳嗋唰� 唳膏Μ鈥屶, 唳Α唳监Δ唰� 唳栢唳班唳� 唳侧唳椸唳ㄠ鈥屶イ
January 28, 2021
5 Stars for The Runaway Jury (audiobook) by John Grisham read by Frank Muller. This is really an amazing story. Grisham has a way of keeping you on the edge of your seat for the whole story. Both of my parents died from smoking so this really speaks to me. The narrator did a wonderful job too.
December 30, 2023
'No legally manufactured product in the history of the world had killed as many people as the cigarette. And their makers had pockets so deep the money had mildewed.'
Following鈥橳he Firm鈥� I had to read another Grisham. This was the first book pulled from my stash. Have stayed up all night to finish it. The story of the selection and manipulation of a jury involved in the case of a man who died of lung cancer and the action taken against the Tobacco manufacturers.
The courtroom focus is on the jury selection and how one young man influences their behaviour. Absolutely fascinating read. Yet another romping Grisham that ironically finishes up in the Cayman Islands, as in The Firm. It kept me guessing until the end.
Following鈥橳he Firm鈥� I had to read another Grisham. This was the first book pulled from my stash. Have stayed up all night to finish it. The story of the selection and manipulation of a jury involved in the case of a man who died of lung cancer and the action taken against the Tobacco manufacturers.
The courtroom focus is on the jury selection and how one young man influences their behaviour. Absolutely fascinating read. Yet another romping Grisham that ironically finishes up in the Cayman Islands, as in The Firm. It kept me guessing until the end.
August 20, 2020
4.5 Stars
rounded up to 5 Stars. This book was first published in 1996 and a few years later litigation against the tobacco industry in the real world started to happen. Here are two links that highlight the verdicts. Thank goodness the jury tampering was fictional but it sure made for a good story.
Tobacco Litigation: History & Recent Developments:
Tobacco Litigation: History & Recent Developments:
January 29, 2018
Another Grisham legal thriller successfully concluded.
This is definitely one of the author's most exciting and unusual books. I think, in part, because those who have never served on a jury always wonder what exactly goes on behind those closed doors. They will never find out, though, because most countries have laws protecting the deliberations from being made public. So, we will never know whether an irresponsible jury just flipped a coin for the verdict, or whether they decided they didn't like the defendant's lawyer's hair colour and punished him for it.
In this book, all is revealed as we are taken behind the scenes and into the jury room in a "does smoking cause lung cancer?" case. The defendant, a large tobacco company is basically representing all tobacco companies who fear class action if the verdict goes against them. However, they don't need to worry as seasoned expert Fitch comes to the rescue with his pool of money and ability to operate outside the law.
The jury is selected in a rush of activity as the experts scramble to analyse every detail of their lives. There's just one unknown, who's managed to slip through the net. He seems harmless enough, but the inability to find out anything about him is making both sides slightly anxious. Just who is Nicholas Easter and what are his intentions? And why are the jury behaving so strangely?
This book keeps the reader guessing until the very last page. It has been masterfully created and intricately planned and executed. The characters are well developed and believable.
Grisham often includes themes of absolute power corrupting absolutely and the ability to buy oneself out of any and every situation. The interesting twist this time is the ethical aspect--does the end justify the means? Is it okay to commit a crime or to blackmail someone if your intentions are honourable? What if they are also corrupt--do two wrongs cancel each other out and make a right? Are the people then both as bad as each other? The Bible tells us that we should do what is right even if it means standing alone and even if everyone else is doing something different. The way that we do things is just as important as the outcome--we cannot expect to achieve a good outcome if we act deceitfully in the process. We are ultimately accountable to God not people for the way that we live and conduct ourselves.
Another bonus to this particular book is that the language is pretty clean, there are just a few border line curse words. There is no violence and there are just a few references to sexual activity that aren't graphic.
For those who aren't sure whether they will enjoy John Grisham, this is a good place to start. One of my favourites, recommended.
Check out my John Grisham Shelf!
This is definitely one of the author's most exciting and unusual books. I think, in part, because those who have never served on a jury always wonder what exactly goes on behind those closed doors. They will never find out, though, because most countries have laws protecting the deliberations from being made public. So, we will never know whether an irresponsible jury just flipped a coin for the verdict, or whether they decided they didn't like the defendant's lawyer's hair colour and punished him for it.
In this book, all is revealed as we are taken behind the scenes and into the jury room in a "does smoking cause lung cancer?" case. The defendant, a large tobacco company is basically representing all tobacco companies who fear class action if the verdict goes against them. However, they don't need to worry as seasoned expert Fitch comes to the rescue with his pool of money and ability to operate outside the law.
The jury is selected in a rush of activity as the experts scramble to analyse every detail of their lives. There's just one unknown, who's managed to slip through the net. He seems harmless enough, but the inability to find out anything about him is making both sides slightly anxious. Just who is Nicholas Easter and what are his intentions? And why are the jury behaving so strangely?
This book keeps the reader guessing until the very last page. It has been masterfully created and intricately planned and executed. The characters are well developed and believable.
Grisham often includes themes of absolute power corrupting absolutely and the ability to buy oneself out of any and every situation. The interesting twist this time is the ethical aspect--does the end justify the means? Is it okay to commit a crime or to blackmail someone if your intentions are honourable? What if they are also corrupt--do two wrongs cancel each other out and make a right? Are the people then both as bad as each other? The Bible tells us that we should do what is right even if it means standing alone and even if everyone else is doing something different. The way that we do things is just as important as the outcome--we cannot expect to achieve a good outcome if we act deceitfully in the process. We are ultimately accountable to God not people for the way that we live and conduct ourselves.
Another bonus to this particular book is that the language is pretty clean, there are just a few border line curse words. There is no violence and there are just a few references to sexual activity that aren't graphic.
For those who aren't sure whether they will enjoy John Grisham, this is a good place to start. One of my favourites, recommended.
Check out my John Grisham Shelf!
May 10, 2022
4 Stars
February 1, 2018
Another excellent work by a world revered writer. The kernel of the theme here is seemingly encapsulated when the odious Fitch ponders: "Oh the questions he wanted to ask. He d love to start with the two of them and ask whose idea it was, such an ingenious devious plan to study litigation, then follow it across the country then plant oneself on the jury so a deal could be cut for a verdict. It was nothing short of brilliant. He could grill her for hours, maybe days about the specifics but he knew there would be no answers...."
But of course the plot cannot be that simple; and we have to wade through this tantalizing work to know the unadorned truth in the end. Typical of his works, the author reveals the sleazy nature of the law and legal practitioners. For example we read: "They did the dirty work that had to be kept to themselves. Most of the other lawyers used runners like Clive to spread cash and chase cases and perform dark little deeds not taught in law school, but none of them would ever admit to such unethical activity..."
This steaming work is also about big business, big money, the ruthlessness of the corporate world in certain cases; here the tobacco conglomerates. How well we know here in Africa how the monolithic companies trample those who dare to get in their way! Yet the author clearly pitches his tent with the victims of smoking, as the story peters to an end. Those against smoking carry the day, and it becomes illuminating as we read: "(My parents) were wonderful people...they got hooked on cigarettes when they were in college... They hated themselves for smoking but could never give it up. They died horrible deaths. I watched them suffer and shrivel and gasp for breath until they could not breathe anymore..."
August 2, 2018
3.75 stars.
Not my favourite John Grisham novel, but it was face paced and a overall good time!
Not my favourite John Grisham novel, but it was face paced and a overall good time!
January 20, 2023
3 stars
Original title: The Runaway Jury
An enjoyable, if light and stretching credibility a bit, thriller from Grisham. It's aged badly due to the subject matter (big tobacco), but the twist at the very end was still a surprise.
I found this to be one of the funniest Grishams I've run across. The blind juror, Mr Grimes, had me in stitches as did the descriptions of some of the other jurors. No idea if that was on purpose or not.
Original title: The Runaway Jury
An enjoyable, if light and stretching credibility a bit, thriller from Grisham. It's aged badly due to the subject matter (big tobacco), but the twist at the very end was still a surprise.
I found this to be one of the funniest Grishams I've run across. The blind juror, Mr Grimes, had me in stitches as did the descriptions of some of the other jurors. No idea if that was on purpose or not.
June 11, 2018
The Runaway Jury is a legal thriller about jury corruption and manipulation of a verdict. When the jurors were selected to be in a landmark tobacco trial in Biloxi, Mississippi no one expected the jury to have some controlling and manipulation their verdict. The jurors are behaving strangely and Nicholas Easter jury no 2 complained about being watched. The readers of The Runaway Jury will continue to follow the twist and turns in the tobacco trial and observe the goings on in the jury room to see what happens to Nicholas Easter and the other jurors.
I do not always enjoy John Grisham books, but I did enjoy reading The Runaway Jury. The way John Grisham portrayed his characters and the setting of The Runaway Jury enable me to engage with the plot and his characters. The Runaway Jury is a fantastic legal drama and was well written and researched by John Grisham. At times I had to laugh with what John Grisham characters get up to in The Runaway Jury.
The readers of The Runaway Jury will learn about The United States of America Jury system and procedures. Also, The Runaway Jury highlights the legal system in The United States of America for the readers.
I recommend this book.
I do not always enjoy John Grisham books, but I did enjoy reading The Runaway Jury. The way John Grisham portrayed his characters and the setting of The Runaway Jury enable me to engage with the plot and his characters. The Runaway Jury is a fantastic legal drama and was well written and researched by John Grisham. At times I had to laugh with what John Grisham characters get up to in The Runaway Jury.
The readers of The Runaway Jury will learn about The United States of America Jury system and procedures. Also, The Runaway Jury highlights the legal system in The United States of America for the readers.
I recommend this book.
September 23, 2024
The Runaway Jury is fast paced and thriller story. I like it. It is adrenaline pumping. The plot and the characters are so put together and you can not guess how it is going to end.
4 stars
4 stars
March 13, 2011
Very entertaining. Very worthwhile. I wish more romance authors would write like him, but add romance.
REVIEWER鈥橲 OPINION:
For another book someone wrote 鈥渓iterary slugger John Grisham returns with a story about...鈥� I thought how true. He is a literary slugger 鈥� almost always on the New York Times best seller list. I periodically read John Grisham to remind me of great writing.
I have loved several John Grisham鈥檚 books, and this is another one. A number of things had me chuckling with surprise. The ending was feel good which is important to me. The ending had something I didn鈥檛 expect. During the story I enjoyed the way bad guy Fitch was frequently surprised and shocked at what Marlee and Nicholas did with the jury. I too was surprised with Marlee and Nicholas.
Grisham is so good at character development. I love how he 鈥渟hows鈥� things. We see some characters doing smart things and some characters doing stupid things. I was engaged from the start. It was hard to put down. I was always eager to get back to it.
One of the things Grisham does in this story that too many other mystery and suspense authors don鈥檛 do is watching Fitch and his people do smart things to solve the mystery. We see how they slowly learn more and more details about Nicholas and Marlee. That was neat. In too many other books the cops/investigators talk to people, try to get evidence, and frequently are helpless victims as well. They don鈥檛 do neat things to solve the mystery. They win through luck or accident not skill or smarts.
The book was not perfect, but it was so enjoyable it was still worth 5 stars. The main problem was too much technical talk about nicotine, addiction, cigarettes, and research during the trial. It was tedious a few times. I wish he would have condensed those scenes. But the rest of the book was so good, it was worth it.
STORY BRIEF:
A tobacco company is being sued by the widow of a man who died of lung cancer. Several tobacco companies contribute to the defense fund because a bad verdict for one could start a slew of cases for all of them. They hire Fitch to make things happen. Fitch is in the background. He hires the appropriate local legal counsel for the trial. He also hires investigators and bad guys to do things to influence jury members.
The story starts with lawyers and jury consultants studying every member of the potential jury group. One of the members is Nicholas Easter. They can鈥檛 find out much about him other than he is a part-time student and works in a computer store. Nicholas ends up on the jury. Once the trial begins, Marlee contacts Fitch. She tells him in advance things the jury members will be doing, which surprise Fitch when they happen.
DATA:
Unabridged audiobook length: 14 hours 10 minutes. Narrator: Frank Muller. Swearing language: none that I recall. Sexual content: none other than indirect references. Setting: current day mostly Biloxi, Mississippi. Copyright: 1996. Genre: legal suspense thriller.
REVIEWER鈥橲 OPINION:
For another book someone wrote 鈥渓iterary slugger John Grisham returns with a story about...鈥� I thought how true. He is a literary slugger 鈥� almost always on the New York Times best seller list. I periodically read John Grisham to remind me of great writing.
I have loved several John Grisham鈥檚 books, and this is another one. A number of things had me chuckling with surprise. The ending was feel good which is important to me. The ending had something I didn鈥檛 expect. During the story I enjoyed the way bad guy Fitch was frequently surprised and shocked at what Marlee and Nicholas did with the jury. I too was surprised with Marlee and Nicholas.
Grisham is so good at character development. I love how he 鈥渟hows鈥� things. We see some characters doing smart things and some characters doing stupid things. I was engaged from the start. It was hard to put down. I was always eager to get back to it.
One of the things Grisham does in this story that too many other mystery and suspense authors don鈥檛 do is watching Fitch and his people do smart things to solve the mystery. We see how they slowly learn more and more details about Nicholas and Marlee. That was neat. In too many other books the cops/investigators talk to people, try to get evidence, and frequently are helpless victims as well. They don鈥檛 do neat things to solve the mystery. They win through luck or accident not skill or smarts.
The book was not perfect, but it was so enjoyable it was still worth 5 stars. The main problem was too much technical talk about nicotine, addiction, cigarettes, and research during the trial. It was tedious a few times. I wish he would have condensed those scenes. But the rest of the book was so good, it was worth it.
STORY BRIEF:
A tobacco company is being sued by the widow of a man who died of lung cancer. Several tobacco companies contribute to the defense fund because a bad verdict for one could start a slew of cases for all of them. They hire Fitch to make things happen. Fitch is in the background. He hires the appropriate local legal counsel for the trial. He also hires investigators and bad guys to do things to influence jury members.
The story starts with lawyers and jury consultants studying every member of the potential jury group. One of the members is Nicholas Easter. They can鈥檛 find out much about him other than he is a part-time student and works in a computer store. Nicholas ends up on the jury. Once the trial begins, Marlee contacts Fitch. She tells him in advance things the jury members will be doing, which surprise Fitch when they happen.
DATA:
Unabridged audiobook length: 14 hours 10 minutes. Narrator: Frank Muller. Swearing language: none that I recall. Sexual content: none other than indirect references. Setting: current day mostly Biloxi, Mississippi. Copyright: 1996. Genre: legal suspense thriller.
February 28, 2023
丕蹖 噩丕賳 诏乇蹖卮丕賲 卮蹖胤賵賳 馃榿
January 17, 2024
I鈥檇 like to start this by saying that I鈥檓 proud, as a normal man past retirement age, that I鈥檝e never had to pay for my pleasure 鈥� meaning, of course, reading John Grisham novels. (What else COULD I mean?) They鈥檙e readily available in whatever swapping point because almost no one holds onto them for a second read, they just pass them on, and I do the same. Of course, the problem with reading a book for free is that sometimes you get what you pay for.
John Grisham is most famous for his legal, so how thrilling was this one? The set-up: a widow is suing a tobacco company for liability over the death of her husband. Widow vs. big tobacco 鈥� gee, I wonder who鈥檒l win? (This reminds me of those books where China, Russia, Arab terrorists, drug cartels, aliens and whoever else team up in World War III against the USA 鈥� who do you think will win?) So, this part isn鈥檛 much in doubt, let alone thrilling. The tobacco companies have hired a high-priced expert on jury-selection 鈥� our obvious bad guy, because we KNOW he won鈥檛 play fair, so we have our villain. He (and the claimants) have fairly complete dossiers on everyone in the jury pool, but there鈥檚 one who鈥檚 a mystery to all and we learn that he鈥檚 been in other jury pools for 鈥渂ig tobacco鈥� liability trials in other cities 鈥� well, this must be the 鈥済ood guy鈥�, of course, and the second 鈥渙f course鈥� is that he鈥檚 seated at the last moment. (Otherwise, there鈥檚 no book.) Not only that but there鈥檚 a mysterious woman making phone calls to our jury-selection expert, tipping him off on things which will happen during the trial 鈥� and 鈥渁mazingly鈥�, she鈥檚 right! If you can鈥檛 see at this point where it鈥檚 all headed, it鈥檚 because you have your 鈥淛ohns鈥� mixed up 鈥� but this is 鈥淕risham鈥�, not 鈥淟eCarr茅鈥�, so there are no characters floating around with dubious loyalties or for sale to the highest bidder 鈥� John Grisham doesn鈥檛 play that way, he鈥檚 always almost straightforward, never looking for the literary 鈥渟leight of hand.鈥�
What follows is one cat-and-mouse game between our expert and the 鈥渕ysterious鈥� woman, who doesn鈥檛 stay all that mysterious for long, and another between our 鈥渕ysterious鈥� juror and the other members of the jury, as well as machinations by the expert to tilt the jury in his clients鈥� favor. It鈥檚 fun, I鈥檒l admit, but not particularly thrilling unless you鈥檙e wondering if 鈥渂ig tobacco鈥� will triumph over the poor widow. (I didn鈥檛.) The motive of the juror and woman, and the connection between them, wasn鈥檛 particularly mysterious, either. What WAS a mystery for me is how someone can continuously move from town to town, changing his name and continuously not only be called for jury duty but always for the same type of case 鈥� how did he manage that? As well as how easy it was to manipulate juries, plant incriminating evidence, and just screw around with the whole process 鈥� but it鈥檚 fiction and as is often the case, it鈥檚 best that you don鈥檛 think too much, just go with it.
I never enter into a John Grisham book with particularly high expectations; for me, he tends to be a steady 2- or 3-star read, rarely dull but rarely spectacular; this is my personal taste, nothing more. There are others, of course, who devour his books and they have every right to their opinion, too. I read the GR reviews of this book and some consider this their favorite and others consider it his worst, so there you are: a hung jury.
John Grisham is most famous for his legal, so how thrilling was this one? The set-up: a widow is suing a tobacco company for liability over the death of her husband. Widow vs. big tobacco 鈥� gee, I wonder who鈥檒l win? (This reminds me of those books where China, Russia, Arab terrorists, drug cartels, aliens and whoever else team up in World War III against the USA 鈥� who do you think will win?) So, this part isn鈥檛 much in doubt, let alone thrilling. The tobacco companies have hired a high-priced expert on jury-selection 鈥� our obvious bad guy, because we KNOW he won鈥檛 play fair, so we have our villain. He (and the claimants) have fairly complete dossiers on everyone in the jury pool, but there鈥檚 one who鈥檚 a mystery to all and we learn that he鈥檚 been in other jury pools for 鈥渂ig tobacco鈥� liability trials in other cities 鈥� well, this must be the 鈥済ood guy鈥�, of course, and the second 鈥渙f course鈥� is that he鈥檚 seated at the last moment. (Otherwise, there鈥檚 no book.) Not only that but there鈥檚 a mysterious woman making phone calls to our jury-selection expert, tipping him off on things which will happen during the trial 鈥� and 鈥渁mazingly鈥�, she鈥檚 right! If you can鈥檛 see at this point where it鈥檚 all headed, it鈥檚 because you have your 鈥淛ohns鈥� mixed up 鈥� but this is 鈥淕risham鈥�, not 鈥淟eCarr茅鈥�, so there are no characters floating around with dubious loyalties or for sale to the highest bidder 鈥� John Grisham doesn鈥檛 play that way, he鈥檚 always almost straightforward, never looking for the literary 鈥渟leight of hand.鈥�
What follows is one cat-and-mouse game between our expert and the 鈥渕ysterious鈥� woman, who doesn鈥檛 stay all that mysterious for long, and another between our 鈥渕ysterious鈥� juror and the other members of the jury, as well as machinations by the expert to tilt the jury in his clients鈥� favor. It鈥檚 fun, I鈥檒l admit, but not particularly thrilling unless you鈥檙e wondering if 鈥渂ig tobacco鈥� will triumph over the poor widow. (I didn鈥檛.) The motive of the juror and woman, and the connection between them, wasn鈥檛 particularly mysterious, either. What WAS a mystery for me is how someone can continuously move from town to town, changing his name and continuously not only be called for jury duty but always for the same type of case 鈥� how did he manage that? As well as how easy it was to manipulate juries, plant incriminating evidence, and just screw around with the whole process 鈥� but it鈥檚 fiction and as is often the case, it鈥檚 best that you don鈥檛 think too much, just go with it.
I never enter into a John Grisham book with particularly high expectations; for me, he tends to be a steady 2- or 3-star read, rarely dull but rarely spectacular; this is my personal taste, nothing more. There are others, of course, who devour his books and they have every right to their opinion, too. I read the GR reviews of this book and some consider this their favorite and others consider it his worst, so there you are: a hung jury.
April 2, 2017
4.5*
I loved this book.
I thought it was a little long, and at times I got bored, which I justified by putting myself is in the shoes of those poor jurors who spent all that time in court. Besides, the unraveling of Marlee's secret wasn't that great. I don't know; it seems a little flimsy. Her parents died of lung cancer because they smoked, so she spends her adult life and her inheritance making tobacco companies pay.
We also don't really know why Nicholas/Jeff goes along with this, the whole living in secrecy and moving around every few years, following every single tobacco trial. Well, other than the fact that he loves her, and, predictably, doesn't like tobacco companies either ever since he worked at a law firm. Overall, I would say that this novel lacks a few details that could really flesh out the characters and provide the readers with their motivations. However, it is pretty appropriate that we don't know a lot about these characters: the Jury, this twelve-headed justice monster, is such an important amorphous character in this play. Also, we only know about Marlee and Nicholas what they want us to know about them. And they choose to remain in the shadows, disclosing little bits of information as deemed necessary and so that's what we'll know.
Finally, I don't understand the stock market so I really don't get how she made so much money short selling, so that big reveal was lost on me.
All of that being said, I gave this book those five stars for a reason. It was incredibly engaging. This book was a mystery, a drama, a moral dilemma, all wrapped in a magnificent bundle. I enjoyed it a lot and would definitely recommend it.
I loved this book.
I thought it was a little long, and at times I got bored, which I justified by putting myself is in the shoes of those poor jurors who spent all that time in court. Besides, the unraveling of Marlee's secret wasn't that great. I don't know; it seems a little flimsy. Her parents died of lung cancer because they smoked, so she spends her adult life and her inheritance making tobacco companies pay.
We also don't really know why Nicholas/Jeff goes along with this, the whole living in secrecy and moving around every few years, following every single tobacco trial. Well, other than the fact that he loves her, and, predictably, doesn't like tobacco companies either ever since he worked at a law firm. Overall, I would say that this novel lacks a few details that could really flesh out the characters and provide the readers with their motivations. However, it is pretty appropriate that we don't know a lot about these characters: the Jury, this twelve-headed justice monster, is such an important amorphous character in this play. Also, we only know about Marlee and Nicholas what they want us to know about them. And they choose to remain in the shadows, disclosing little bits of information as deemed necessary and so that's what we'll know.
Finally, I don't understand the stock market so I really don't get how she made so much money short selling, so that big reveal was lost on me.
All of that being said, I gave this book those five stars for a reason. It was incredibly engaging. This book was a mystery, a drama, a moral dilemma, all wrapped in a magnificent bundle. I enjoyed it a lot and would definitely recommend it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2015
My 5th Grisham book! The plot held my interest from beginning to end, and was very fast paced. I had seen the movie a while back starring John Cusack, Dustin Hoffman, Gene Hackman, and Rachel Weisz, and the book had kind of the same premise but only the book is about a lawsuit of a Tobacco company, and in the movie it's a gun manufacturer.
Some parts of the book were complicated and hard to follow but it still held my interest wondering what would happen next. Highly recommended to anybody who likes a good legal thriller.
Some parts of the book were complicated and hard to follow but it still held my interest wondering what would happen next. Highly recommended to anybody who likes a good legal thriller.
July 24, 2021
I read this at the same time a huge anti-tobacco trial was getting underway. The similarities were frightening, although the outcome in real life was radically different from Grisham's book. Relying heavily on the concept that jury-tampering is a real thing and far too easily done, this novel will shake your beliefs in the justice system. Without giving away anything further, there's a female character in the jury box you will fall in love with.
January 9, 2023
Er moet een jury samengesteld worden voor een proces tegen de tabaksindustrie. De eiseres is een weduwe wiens man gestorven is aan longkanker.
Nicolas Easter zorgt er voor dat hij als 茅茅n van de twaalf gezworenen gekozen wordt. Want Nicolas heeft een eigen programma....
In het begin vond ik het grappig hoe Nicolas telkens weer alles naar zijn hand kon zetten. Naarmate het proces vorderde, en we beide partijen en de juryleden beter leren kennen, wordt het spannend. De corruptie van beide partijen is ongelooflijk. Eigenlijk zo ongelooflijk, dat ik het 茅cht niet meer geloofwaardig vond. De schrijver komt echter met vele argumenten die aantonen dat dit 茅cht wel zou kunnen....Maar ja, tenslotte is dit toch een fictie-boek.
Ik was eigenlijk direct mee in het verhaal, en heb er van begin tot eind van genoten. Goed boek.
Nicolas Easter zorgt er voor dat hij als 茅茅n van de twaalf gezworenen gekozen wordt. Want Nicolas heeft een eigen programma....
In het begin vond ik het grappig hoe Nicolas telkens weer alles naar zijn hand kon zetten. Naarmate het proces vorderde, en we beide partijen en de juryleden beter leren kennen, wordt het spannend. De corruptie van beide partijen is ongelooflijk. Eigenlijk zo ongelooflijk, dat ik het 茅cht niet meer geloofwaardig vond. De schrijver komt echter met vele argumenten die aantonen dat dit 茅cht wel zou kunnen....Maar ja, tenslotte is dit toch een fictie-boek.
Ik was eigenlijk direct mee in het verhaal, en heb er van begin tot eind van genoten. Goed boek.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,927 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.