The Client

In writing the Crime novel ‘The Client’, John Grisham has quite effectively intertwined the plot, characters, themes and issues to create a dramatic and suspenseful story. To do this he creates strong interesting characters along with an in depth storyline to lure the reader in. John Grisham raises important themes and issues in all his novels, this story raises such issues as suicide and corruption. In ‘The Client’ we are faced with rather rough but also innocent young boy who is suddenly thrown into a complicated circle of lies, murder and revenge all because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The incredible plot John Grisham has accumulated to complete the electrifying story of ‘The Client’ first starts with a capturing opening chapter. Grisham sets the scene with two young brothers, Mark and Ricky Sway, going off into the bushland near their home, the trailer park to experiment with a few cigarettes. After no more than three pages into the first chapter the action begins. Grisham effectively but also hastily sets the setting to the story then, to draw in the reader, explodes into the main event of the story, Romey’s suicide. Grisham has a amazing method of writing to make the reader feel part of the happening action. "Mark stared at the wild, glowing face just inches away. The eyes were red and wet. Fluids dripped from the nose and chin. ‘you little bastard’ he growled through clenched, dirty teeth."

As the story unfolds the plot thickens. Jerome Clifford, the man who committed suicide was well known as at the time of the suicide. He was representing a Mafia member called Barry Muldanno in court for a high profile murder case. Grisham slowly provides us with more information throughout the story about who exactly Jerome was and his connections with the Mafia. Shortly after Mark’s encounter with Romey another character enters the story. Reggie Love is hired by Mark to be his lawyer. Reggie becomes involved quickly with Mark’s case, becoming a second mother to him. Reggie is a tough woman who is willing to fight all the way to get Mark out of any harm which he is obviously in. Although Reggie is a lawyer she also doubles as a detective as she searches into a dangerous arena of lies and corruption.

The story winds up with a fast and exciting ending. Reggie and Mark team up to go and find the so called ‘body’ which is meant to be...

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... when Jerome Clifford takes his own life. Jerome was in fear of his life feeling scared and frightened, thinking suicide was the only way out for him. There is much corruption and Mafia activities at play, mob members using high levels of power to intimidate Mark. Reggie finds it quite difficult to gain trust between her and Mark, Mark is afraid to trust anyone especially lawyers. Grisham enables Mark and Reggie to slowly build trust and friendship into their relationship which helps them to work as a team. Alcoholism torments both Reggie and Marks families, Mark loosing his father and Reggie loosing her precious children. Mark is very angry about his father and Reggie is upset and distraught that her husband could betray her in such a way. Both characters share a lot of the same emotions which builds a link between them both.

John Grisham has written a very involving plot line following the story of an innocent young boy who knows to much and his lawyer who will fight right until the very end. Grisham seems to write his stories in a special way, using strong emotional characters and captivating themes to make us feel a part of the drama and suspense throughout the entire novel.