In a crowded Mississippi courtroom, a jury returns a shocking verdict against a chemical company accused of dumping toxic waste into a small town's water supply, causing the worst "cancer cluster" in history.
The company appeals to the Mississippi Supreme Court, whose nine justices will one day either approve the verdict or reverse it. Who are the nine? How will they vote? Can one be replaced before the case is ultimately decided?
The Appeal is a powerful, timely, and shocking story of political and legal intrigue, a story that will leave listeners unable to think about the electoral process or judicial system in quite the same way again.
©2008 John Grisham; (P)2008 BBC Audiobooks
"Good sotryline and thought provoking."
Vincent Marzello always does a John Grisham book justice in my opinion and a good plot here that sets the scene quickly to grasp the listener. Clearly Grisham with the usual scenarios of litigation/lawyers and whether justice will prevail.
I particularly liked the aspects of the book around the electoral process, especially given the current climate. Certainly makes you ponder how much/little of what Grisham describes really happens and very thought provoking and well written.
The only downside for me was the number of characters. In some parts I found it lost a little focus to give background on several extra non-key characters.
Overall if you like Grisham you aren't going to be disappointed here.
"Disappointing"
This is the first Grisham novel I haven't really enjoyed. It feels overly long; is dull at times and by the end I was disappointed.
"Not up to expectations"
I have read virtually everything John Grisham has written, but this is my first audiobook from him. I have found this the least captivating book I had from him.
This doesn't mean it is not a Grisham - it is, full of lawyers, judges, and ordinary people caught up with nasty companies. The story starts with a trial with a big verdict for the common folk, through the company trying to stop this by electing a more favourable judge to the appeal court, to the eventual decision on appeal.
Good storyline, but the story does not hang together as usual. Its attraction is the story - how to fix yourself a verdict by electing a favourable judge, and the completely believable execution of it.
Maybe the problem is the wealth of characters introduced (several different law firms, judges, victims families), or the fact, that each point of view is explained at length. The book reading is ok, but not the most captivating either (this is not my only audiobook ...).
For newcomers to this author, I recommend his earlier work. For fans of his legal fiction (like me), it is ok (due to the story), but nothing to write home about ...
"Engrossing saga"
This is an epic story of litigants in the USA, who have suffered injury or the death of a family member, owing to negligence or outright fraud by big business and the fight on their behalf for compensation by their lawyers. By the end of the book you might think that the corruption and under-hand tactics used by the defending lawyers and their pay-masters, to over-turn an award made in a lower court, are exaggerated; however, I have had some experience of such cases and am not a bit surprised and think that John Grisham has done his home-work over the kind of things that can happen. He has constructed an engrossing story that twists and turns so that one doesn't know the final outcome until the very end of the book.
"Lost a lot of sleep listening to this one"
Totally gripping. Easily digestable and goes down like a great wine or a tasty box of chocs. Highly recommend.
"OK book, terrible narrator"
This book is not as good as many of John Grisham's that I have read, but is still worth a read. What has put me off, however, is the ponderous style of reading - as though the narrator is trying to explain nuclear physics to a kindergarten class. Try listening at faster speed!
"Grisham is good"
My first Grisham book and I am hooked. Easy to listen to and a really good story. Am now working my way through all his others