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KING OF TORTS, THE
by John Grisham
Century, February 2003
376 pages
16.99 GBP
ISBN: 0712670599


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

According to The Australian Oxford Dictionary, a tort is 'a breach of duty (other than under contract) leading to liability for damages.' Right, that's that out of the way for people who are not familiar with the term.

Former lawyer John Grisham is particularly qualified to write about torts since, in his former incarnation, he specialised in personal injury litigation as well as criminal defence. Grisham was inspired by his work to write A Time to Kill which he completed in his spare time in 1987 although the book did not see publication until 1989. The runaway success of his next book The Firm ensured his status as a best-selling author - that book, in fact, was the best selling novel of 1991. The Pelican Brief, and The Client were greeted by an ever more enthusiastic public eager for legal thrillers. The list of his other novels includes The Chamber, The Rainmaker, The Runaway Jury, The Partner, The Street Lawyer, The Testament, The Brethren, A Painted House, Skipping Christmas and The Summons. Despite the success of his novels the author was persuaded to return to active practice in 1996 where he successfully prosecuted a damages case.

The King Of Torts introduces a character, J. Clay Carter, who must surely be one of the least pleasant of Grisham's protagonists. A lawyer who initially displays signs of moral sense he is apparently easily seduced to greed by the promise of big rewards easily won. His wins begin with a loss - that of his girlfriend Rebecca, whom he had hoped to marry. He turns down the opportunity to work for a crony of Rebecca's father in favour of remaining with the Office of the Public Defender in Washington DC. Clay has inadvertently and unwillingly become the defender of a young black man, Tequila Watson, a man who has, without any seeming motive, killed another black youth. Despite having been peaceable and, in fact, avoiding violence, Watson goes on to a violent attack on another prisoner - again without seeming reason. Clay investigates and thinks he has found a lead but is approached by the mysterious Max Pace, a self confessed 'fireman'; one who prevents small problems from becoming very large ones, for various companies.

Pace has the solution to the inexplicable violence displayed by Tequila Watson and some other men who have murdered at random. Clay would be able to defend Watson with the knowledge - or leave him in gaol and go on to make money from his knowledge. He chooses the latter course. This involves class actions, news of which has become increasingly topical in recent years. He is approached by Patton French, a millionaire lawyer who earns his luxuries through these torts, and teams up with him and other tort lawyers with lax morals.

Carter becomes increasingly successful and greedy and is dubbed 'King of Torts' by the media. The incredible profits he garners without ever entering a court of law enable him to live in luxury with a private jet to carry him wherever he wishes - including to the Bahamas to visit his disgraced lawyer father - and a beautiful model to make Rebecca jealous.

I must say I have enjoyed others of Grisham's books far more. This is not to decry the standard of his writing, which remains exceptionally high, but simply because I found the subject matter distasteful - more so, I suppose than the goriest murder. Perhaps because greed is more easily encountered in real life than murder, it is less easily enjoyed in fiction. Despite the distaste for the current book - and that is personal idiosyncrasy rather than a disparagement of the author - I shall remain eager to read Grisham's subsequent work.

Note: This review is based on the Australian edition

Reviewed by Denise Wels, August 2003

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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