The Appeal

A Novel

By: John Grisham

Narrated by: Michael Beck

Length: 12 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

In a crowded courtroom in Mississippi, 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 chemical company is owned by a Wall Street predator named Carl Trudeau, and Mr. Trudeau is convinced the Court is not friendly enough. With judicial elections looming, he decides to try to purchase himself a seat on the Court. The cost is a few million dollars, a drop in the bucket for a billionaire like Mr. Trudeau. Through an intricate web of conspiracy and deceit, his political operatives recruit a young, unsuspecting candidate. They finance him, manipulate him, market him, and mold him into a potential Supreme Court justice. Their Supreme Court justice.

The Appeal is a powerful, timely, and shocking story of political and legal intrigue, a story that will leave listeners unable to think about our electoral process or judicial system in quite the same way ever again.

©2008 Belfry Holdings, Inc. (P)2008 Random House, Inc.

Revealing

where this story is fiction, it really shows (what I believe) is the horrible underbelly of politics in our country. Every office has a price and the supper wealthy owns them.

Depressing, but probably realistic. I am going to return this one.

I usually look for a positive ending, and feel depressed after finishing.
Don’t bother with this book.

Almost a great book

Well written and well read. If only Grisham could write a happy ending....otherwise a great story.

Another Excellent Grisham Book!

Between John Grisham and Michael Beck an audio book is an amazing past time!!

A Geat book.

The book makes you wonder what really is going on in the real world. Michael Beck is terrific .

Disappointing

This is 12 hours I’ll never get back. Very disappointed in the end of this book.

A keeps you guessing read.

i hope there is a sequel to this book. Michael Beck is one of the best

Kinda boring

I love most of John Grisham books but this one wasn’t very exciting at all. Wouldn’t recommend it. The ending was lousy in my opinion.

And the ending?

I was absolutely spellbound by this title, for throughout the book there is remarkable character development; you love the heroes and hate the bad guys, you feel for the underdogs - possibly even experiencing the pain of the semi-bad guys who must come face to face with themselves, their circumstances and their future. You sit at the very edge of your seat, until ... the book just ... ends!
I hated it! An outstanding novel with a conclusion that left me feeling empty, wanting and believing there should be something more - I was gasping, believing there HAD to be something more - to the point of checking the Audible website to ensure I hadn't missed a section when I downloaded the entire book! I wanted to hear Grisham, in his author's notes, tell us we could expect a sequel. It didn't, there isn't, Grisham didn't, and I DID have the entire book. I believe I have read all, at least the vast majority, of Grisham's works and never before have I felt so ... unfulfilled (let down?)
The narrator (I hesitate to say "performer")does an acceptable job. Diction was clear and crisp, albeit a bit slow at times. He kept the listener involved and the characters straight, though I sensed what might charitably be called a lack of involvement, a lack of passion. There were so many sections and characters that cried out for the narrator's passion that sadly was just not there.
Would I listen to this work, knowing what I now know? Absolutely. Would I recommend the work? Absolutely. But could Grisham not, with all his skills and imagination, come up with an ending that actually ended the book?

Excellent

I also have read all the books by the author. This may not be the best he has written but in the top 3. The entire book was interesting even though he does fill with a few unnecessary items the book was interesting from start to finish. It makes you think about the legal system of this country. Well worth the time.