the appeal

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 mould 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 readers unable to think about the electoral process or judicial system in quite the same way ever again. Listen to an audio extract:


Critic's Reviews

'Recalling Dickens and other 19th century fiction. these contrasts between cuddly goodies and cartoon villain are schematic and manipulative. The author's contempt for the soulless super-rich, previously evident in The King of Torts, does produce some telling satirical moments. Riveting.'
 Sunday Times

'What he does so well is to people his plots with clearly defined characters. Grisham's been on a mission to highlight, if not right, the legal wrongs in America ever since he wrote The Innocent Man. In a country where justice is clearly for sale, he's certainly got his task cut out. He makes it riveting.'
 Mirror

'A tense, thoughtful, absorbing read.'
Marcel Berlins The Times

'As usual Grisham is fantastically skilful at delineating the procedural ins and outs of the legal and business worlds in such a way that, as the reader, you feel rather clever yourself.'
 Daily Express

'Try as you might to resist, it's hard to argue against Grisham being a great storyteller.'
 Dorset Echo

'Reads both like an inspirational debut and a brilliant caeer masterpiece... Technically the book is a tour de force, the characters perfectly balanced and precisely drawn, the forward-thrusting chapters sculpted in size and rhythm... The Appeal is a blatant page turner but I guarantee you will hate reaching the end.'
 Sunday Express

'A calm, clinical expose of how money has corrupted justice in some US states. Immaculately done.'
 Evening Standard

'John Grisham is the biggest-selling author of legal thrillers. He comes up with exciting and enthralling plots, his writing is utterly compelling.'
 Guardian

'An engrossing look at the US legal system'
 Glasgow Evening Times

'A story that is told well and Mr Grisham keeps the pages flipping. Pefectly enjoyable read.'
 Law Society Gazette

'The intricacies of how corrupt politicians help implement Trudeau's scheme drives the drama and it's a testament to Grisham's storytelling prowess that a novel about topics like US liability law and the ethics of campaign fundraising makes for an entertaining read. A gripping finale.'
 London Lite

'It's what Grish does best and he's the best'
 Daily Sport

'Try as you might to resist, it's hard to argue against Grisham being a great storyteller.'
 Dorset Echo

'Clever old Grisham. He is fantastically skilful. The characters are deftly drawn. There's nobody who does legal fiction better.'
 Daily Express

'An engrossing read'
 Observer

'Tense, thoughtful absorbing read.'
 The Times

'A brilliant career masterpiece. The author's artistic genius lies in the way he gathers together detail to highlight human emotion. Grisham's flow of energy is seamless, collectively building a shockingly vivid scenario. Breathtaking. Technically the book is a tour de force, the characters perfectly balance and precisely drawn, the forward-thrusting chapters sculpted in size and rhythm. The Appeal is a blatant page turner.'
 Sunday Express

'Grisham's latest legal thriller... what he does so well.Riveting.'
 Mirror