One Sentence Summary
Gray Mountain: A Novel by John Grisham tells the story of a young lawyer’s fight against corporate corruption in Appalachia coal country.
Book Genre
Gray Mountain: A Novel is a legal thriller.
Main Topic of the Book
The main topic of Gray Mountain: A Novel is corruption in the coal industry and the ramifications it has on the residents of Appalachia.
Key Ideas
- Corporate greed: The novel’s main characters struggle against the corporate greed of coal companies and their powerful risk guy lawyers.
- Gender equality: John Grisham’s protagonist Samantha Kofer is a refreshing example of a woman lawyer who refuses to let gender inequality stand in her way.
- Civil justice: The story includes civil cases and a wrongful death suit, helping to illustrate how regular legal cases involving real people can be affected by unscrupulous corporate practices.
Main Parts of the Book and a Short Summary
The novel opens with Samantha Kofer, a successful New York City lawyer, being laid off due to corporate downsizing. Desperate for work, she takes a job at a legal aid clinic in Brady, Virginia, in Appalachia coal country. She soon learns of a mine explosion that killed four workers and that the mine owner is attempting to avoid paying for the wrongful death suit. Samantha teams up with a young local lawyer, Dave to help the family of the deceased worker get the justice they deserve. Along the way, Samantha discovers corporate corruption, a powerful risk guy lawyer, and a mysterious former employee who may have the information that could save the lawsuit. In the end, the family is awarded the settlement they deserve and Samantha is inspired to continue fighting for justice in corporate America.
Key Takeaways
- Corporate greed is powerful but can be overcome.
- Gender inequality can still exist in corporate America.
- Regular people can receive justice even when up against powerful companies.
Author’s Background and Qualifications
John Grisham is an internationally best-selling author whose career spans more than 30 years. He has written 41 books and has sold over 300 million copies in 41 languages. His books have been turned into films, and he has won numerous awards for his work. Grisham also served in the US House of Representatives from 1983-1990.
Target Audience
Gray Mountain: A Novel by John Grisham is written for adult readers, particularly those looking for a legal thriller.
Publisher and First Publication Date
Gray Mountain: A Novel was published by Random House in 2014.