The King of Torts

A Novel

By: John Grisham

Narrated by: Michael Beck

Length: 11 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

The office of the public defender is not known as a training ground for bright young litigators. Clay Carter has been there too long and, like most of his colleagues, dreams of a better job in a real firm. When he reluctantly takes the case of a young man charged with a random street killing, he assumes it is just another of the many senseless murders that hit DC every week.

As he digs into the background of his client, Clay stumbles on a conspiracy too horrible to believe. He suddenly finds himself in the middle of a complex case against one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, looking at the kind of enormous settlement that would totally change his life - that would make him, almost overnight, the legal profession’s newest king of torts....

©2003 Belfry Holdings, Inc. (P)2003 Random House, Inc., Random House Audio, a Division of Random House, Inc.

A very enjoyable book.

I greatly enjoyed this book.. The story is interesting and the characters believable. It is a work of fiction but it demonstrates clearly what disasters can occur when someone becomes to wealth to quick.

Great Story

It starts a little slow, but for the last three hours it is very hard to stop listening. Another great book by John Grisham.

The King of Torts

Predictable, but enjoyable. I found that the characters were well developed, the story line very interesting and the reader supurb. My husband and I listened to this book in the car on a 15 hr road trip - we continued to listen each time we were in the car for the next week. Both of us found it entertaining but were letdown by the drop-off ending. We expected more information about the characters and their fate - but were left hi and dry. However, the reader, Michael Beck, was excellent - he managed to portray the different characters without a stilted or false sounding voice. Each character was distinctive and clear - he has a gift. Definately worth the purchase.

A roller coaster ride

This is not one of Grisham's best, although I found it better than his most recent novel, The Appeal. The main problem with this book is that it seemed like Grisham knew where he wanted to begin and end and then just created filler material to bring us from point A to point B. The story is not very believable, which is not necessarily a death sentence for a book. But the quick development of events strained credulity. On the positive side, Grisham's characters were entertaining, especially tort attorney Patent French. As always, Michael Beck did an excellent job with the narration. If you like Grisham, you'll tolerate the King of Torts.

Southern Treachery

For all of you out there who may believe Southerns are somewhat slow and/or dim witted, this Grisham story may offer you food for thought. Michael Beck, with his charming southern accent, will pull you into this one, and you will be unable to put this book down. Grisham lovers just have to have this one.

The King of Torts

I gave this book 5 starts not because I think it will be an everlasting classic, but rather because it is a "complete" book. It covererd all the bases I look for in a book:holds my interest, good characters and good character development, story pulls me, and when it comes to an end leaves me wanting a bit more. By the end of the book I wanted to sit down with Clay Carter and talk to him about his experience. I believed he could be an actual person. I do agree with another review that there were some unanswered questions at the end, but I feel that it left the author a huge opening for another book with Clay.

Michael Beck (the reader) is superb. I could listen to him read me the ABC's and it would sound terrific. He does character voices so convincingly that the listener does not have to be told who is speaking after the initial introductions are made because he makes each character so distinct.

Bottom line: Not classic literature, but a really good story. Worth the time spent and the book credit.

Great

Exciting and one of the best in years.

King of Torts

King of Torts was good but it was not up to the Grishism Standards such as The Client, Pelican Brief, the Summons and many many more. It did do a good job of bring out facts about Class Law Suits that make people aware that these type of suits may not be the best for the Clirnts.

Entertaining Story

There didn't seem to be much suspense about where this was going, I enjoyed listening to it but was a bit disappointed at how quickly it wrapped everything up at the end.

The King of Torts

A master piece of our legal system today