This article will begin as a title for a Rocky and Bullwinkle show.

The Appeal is the story of a small city in Mississippi whose water supply is contaminated by a large corporation’s chemical factory. The contamination leads to high cancer rates in the towns people. After the death of a husband and child, one women fights back against the mega corporation with the help of her lawyers, who are willing to put everything on the line.

Or

The Appeal is the story about how public elections are controlled by interest groups who funnel money from corporations and the power elite to candidates they favor.

My main gripe about this book is the misleading title. When I read “The Appeal” I have expectations the book will be set in a court room and detail the appeals process of a major trial. Instead the appeal is only a byline in the final chapter and we’re presented instead with the the election story of a state supreme court justice. Now granted, the election is directly related to the appeal, but I expected the appeal itself to be the focus, not the election process.

Other than the title/plot bait and switch, The Appeal is standard Grisham fodder. Court, the south, and lawyers, are all present and enjoy active roles in the book. Overall it’s a good read that offers plenty of enjoyment. I’m sure at this point in his career Grisham can write these books in his sleep, but The Appeal never feels like he mailed it in. The writing is tight, the ideas are well supported, and the actions make sense. Well worth a read.

PS: I propose all reprints of The Appeal be retitled “Justice Supreme.”

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