The Runaway Jury - John Grisham
I had been interested in reading a John Grisham novel with Elise, and remember enjoying this one a lot when I last read it many years ago.
A high-profile case of tobacco industry versus the estate of a smoker is being prepared in Biloxi, Mississippi, and both sides are anxious to have the right jury selected. We are introduced to Nicholas Easter, who is suspiciously non-suspicious, and soon are aware that he is positioning himself intentionally to get on to the jury. Once he succeeds in doing so, this mystery is increased when a woman named Marlee enters the scene and begins to interact with Rankin Fitch - a behind-the-scenes wheeler-dealer who is working to achieve a positive outcome for the big tobacco companies. Marlee begins showing her ability to influence the jury in subtle ways, and is obviously hoping to tempt Fitch into working with her for an undetermined outcome.
As the story progresses we see a lot of elements in play, with particularly (but not exclusively) the tobacco industry trying to influence jurors behind the scenes. In fact, one of the interesting things about this book is that there are no clear-cut 'heroes', only a bunch of people each working for their own interests. At times there are a few too many storylines on the go for a novel being slowly read over a few months, and the actual case can drag in patches (which, it is acknowledged, it is also doing for the jury), but the mystery of what Nicholas and Marlee are up to, why, and whether they will succeed in doing so are enough to keep the book engaging to the reader.
Having re-read it now, I still enjoy it. It was a fun one to discuss with Elise too.
Completed with Elise, 16 August 2023.
(Elise Books)
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