Book Review - The Appeal

The Appeal By John Grisham Pub: Century, Random House Prolific authors can fall into the trap of formula plots, characters and similar settings. The Appeal has a familiar setting – the court system of Mississippi but that is where the similarity ends. An unexpected verdict against the Krane Chemical Company triggers a series of events that interested in the verdict will experience. Punitive damages of $US38 million and personal compensation of $US3 million to Jeanette Baker for the loss of her husband and son due to illness caused by the chemical pollution of the town’s water supply. Krane’s owner, Carl Trudeau, is convinced that the Court of Appeal in Mississippi will not be supportive of big business and will uphold the lower court’s decision. Thence begins the political intrigue to put in place a very conservative Judge who will vote to reverse the decision. In a system where Judges are not appointed but elected, all is possible … corruption, conspiracy and deceit. Can effective marketing using all aspects of campaigning with a young, inexperienced but manipulated lawyer really place an ally on the bench? In a year where the focus is on the American Presidential Campaigns, one can only wonder whether or not the scenario painted by John Grisham is possible at the very highest of American Government. Using his easy to read style, John Grisham depicts characters that are believable and with whom it is easy to empathise. Jeanette Baker worn down by the emotional trial with its uncertainty, Wes and Mary Grace Payton – the husband and wife legal team who had mortgaged everything to represent Jeanette, Carl Trudeau an arrogant multibillionaire who did not believe in the word “Lose”, Ron Fisk – the young lawyer being manipulated into the race for the judiciary – are all characters that are easily identified with and either liked or hated. The events depicted are realistic and I hope will make the cinema screen at some stage. Grisham’s research into the system is meticulous and shows the detail that he uses to write a successful book. I found it difficult to put down and left me questioning what could happen in an electoral system.