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THE RUNAWAY JURY
by John Grisham
Arrow, January 2004
496 pages
6.99GBP
ISBN: 0099457881


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

This small paperback format re-release of Grisham's 1996 courtroom drama THE RUNAWAY JURY has been timed to coincide with the release of the movie of the same name. While the book concerns itself with the iniquities perpetrated by the tobacco industry, events overtook that industry so that the movie substitutes guns for cigarettes.

It has frequently puzzled me as to why so many legal practitioners desert the profession for which they have spent so many years training, in order to create fiction. John Grisham's novels have, perhaps, done much to explain this. If idealistic students study law, with stars in their eyes, expecting to make a difference for good in the world, surely the cruel, hypocritical and artificial world portrayed by Grisham, if there is an element of truth within it, would be enough to sour any honest ideologue and divert him to another professional path.

After practising law for a decade, Grisham was inspired by a case he encountered, to fictionalise a similar case, which became the 1987 novel A TIME TO KILL. Fortunately for those lovers of legal thrillers, the lukewarm reception given by the publishers to Grisham's debut did not dampen his enthusiasm as he had already begun his second book, THE FIRM, which became the best seller of 1991. Needless to say, he has not found it necessary to continue practising as a lawyer whose specialty was criminal defence and personal injury!

THE RUNAWAY JURY is, to understate the case, an enthralling book. It reflects a system that has diverged widely from the ideals of seeking justice propounded centuries ago in a far more innocent era. Now, it appears, justice goes to the highest bidder and the innocent can perhaps be marked for life as guilty.

The court case examined in this novel is in the field in which Grisham has great knowledge: personal injury. Celeste Wood is the widow of a man who had been hooked on cigarettes for many years and consequently died a horrible and painful death. The company being sued is Pynex, not quite the largest player within the tobacco manufacturing world. They work with the two larger companies. Since the tobacco companies had previously never lost a case, a lot hinges on the verdict of the jury before whom the case is to be heard.

The story begins at the stage of jury selection. Other novels in the genre have told of the importance of this process but this book goes far beyond other tales I have previously read. The entire selection is fought in overt and covert ways, with the defence using incredible resources to attempt to ensure the jury is entirely predisposed to find in their favour. The power is vested primarily in a non-lawyer, an unscrupulous but very successful player named Fitch. He is in charge of a dirty tricks campaign which attempts to ensure the victory of the tobacco companies through a combination of bribery, blackmailing and discrediting of witnesses. Necessarily, however, the defence lawyers are kept ignorant of Fitch's exact modes of action, the better not to sully their pristine hands and consciences.

A prospective juror, unknown to both sides, whose past is a blank to investigators, is Nicholas Easter. He describes himself as a part-time student, although no college with his name registered can be found. He works in a computer store and one of Fitch's operatives attempts, unsuccessfully, to strike up an acquaintance with him. Easter manages to be accepted as a juror. Others on the list are not so fortunate but when the final jury, plus alternates, are decided and the trial begins. Fitch begins his efforts to tamper with the jury so they will vote in favour of the defence.

A woman calling herself Marlee contacts Fitch. He is shocked beyond belief since his name is supposed to be unknown to all but a select inner circle. Marlee lets it be known that she has considerable influence within the jury room and sets about proving her boast. It soon becomes obvious that her influence is available to the highest bidder. She discloses that her contact within the jury is Easter, who soon wields great power within the sequestered ranks of jurors.

This is a breathless tale. The opinions are weighted first to one side, then to the other. Very little of it has anything to do with the plaintiff and she scarcely rates a mention. The story of the machinations of the powers behind the lawyers is at once horrifying and fascinating. If there is any truth at all within the narrative, then there is little justice within the justice system of the United States. Of course, the fact that the judge presiding over the case is a weak, inexperienced and easily swayed man makes the intrigue more believable and is, perhaps, the weak link of the book.

I can't say I took to any of the characters within the tale - although they were not quite so completely repugnant as those of Grisham's KING OF TORTS Regardless of their likeability, they are convincing (and chilling!) and I would hate to meet a one of them across a crowded court room -- or in a dark alley.

Reviewed by Denise Wels Pickles, December 2003

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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