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.

Not a typical Grisham novel

As I listened to The Appeal, it struck me how different it was from the typical Grisham novel. I was also amazed at how familiar the story sounded. It was not until after the I finished the story that I learned that Grisham used my home state as the foundation for the story. Of course it was loosely based on the 2004 West Virginia Supreme Court election. In that election, a coal executive spent millions of dollars through a group called "And for the Sake of the Kids" in an effort defeat a sitting justice. Of course Grisham added some suspense and evil characters on both sides of the election that hopefully didn’t exist in West Virginia, but I found the ending to be a bit disappointing. I miss Grisham's earlier work.

Great story!

As usual, great character development. Of course Michael Beck was superb. Just don’t leave me hangin’, John!

Great story

I have read several John Grisham books and this one rates right up there with others I’ve read and enjoyed! They are all different, but have great twists and turns. I recommend any and all of his books!

Not bad, not great

Not one of Grisham's best, but worth the read if you have liked his work. A bit more of the technical legal side of things, which I find interesting, but more for non fic than fiction. This book is a bit more agenda driven by Grisham's left-leaning political orientation.

Nice book.

Would you consider the audio edition of The Appeal to be better than the print version?

I dont know.

What did you like best about this story?

the definition and understanding of the business world and courts.

What about Michael Beck’s performance did you like?

OK, clear and good timming.

Was there a moment in the book that particular moved you?

Diferents moments...

Any additional comments?

no

Disappointed

I enjoyed "The Appeal" but the ending left me a little disappointed. I understand that in life there are no garuntees of happy endings but one of the reasons I read fiction is to escape real life. If this were a movie I would be looking for the DVD alternate ending.

Loved the book, hated the ending

As a Grisham devotee, I was captivated by this story, heartbroken at the outcome. Grisham has taken me on so may adventures that end with the good guys finding a clever solution. I had hoped for the same. I cared about the characters and wanted a better outcome for them all. I'd like an appeal for "The Appeal". Maybe a follow up to the Supreme Court? Please.

not my favorite

the narrator: OUTSTANDING! The end of the story was predictable. Money and power almost always wins, even in fiction.

true, didn't like the end but so true

People who complained about being liberal must not read Grisham. A pretty true representation of our current existence. Really did enjoy though.

Classic Grisham

Courtroom books can get repetitious. This one is classic Grisham with host of interesting characters. Most are good or bad to the bone with very few in between...that's what make listening to Grisham so much fun. Throw in some corporate "meanies" and single-minded consultants, and this kind of stuff might actually occur in real life.