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.

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.

A tense, thoughtful, absorbing read.

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.

Reads both like an inspirational debut and a brilliant career 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.