Rating: 
Summary: The King is Back
Review: Lately, John Grisham's books have been pretty bad. Skipping Christmas, A Painted House, The Brethren and The Summons were very forgettable. The King of Torts is different. It is a rags to riches story in which you can't help cheering for the protagonist, Clay Carter. As the novel begins Clay is stuck in a dead-end job as a public defender. In a hard to believe plot leap, Clay is contacted by a "fireman,"(a person hired by big corporations implicated in lawsuits to get a settlement) Max Pace who gives him the opportunity to make millions of dollars. Clay gleefully accepts this opportunity and is soon a hotshot multimillionaire with a private jet, house on St. Barts, Porsche and bimbo girlfriend. But of course, this couldn't last... The King of Torts seems to me as an illustration of the contempt in which Grisham holds the profession of mass tort lawyers. It's a quick, great read that will be sure to please fans of Grisham's and also those just looking for a thrilling read.
Rating: 
Summary: King of Tedium
Review: The first and last 30 pages were okay. It was the middle 310 that were the problem. It reads as though it has been cranked out like the mass tort settlements Grisham loathes. This book could use some serious editing. It is also cynical, cliched, and predictable. To be sure, this is nothing new. Grisham's books are typically cynical, cliched, predictable, and in need of editing. What is different is that this book inspires little more than long fits of boredom punctuated by short bursts of tedium. Grisham thrillers are usually at least, well, thrilling. Not this one. I admit that because I liked the Summons, I'll buy the next one. But if they come out any faster, the bookstores are going to have to start selling them on the magazine racks.
Rating: 
Summary: Like having an old friend for dinner..
Review: .. and realizing you don't have as much in common as you thought.I DO love Grisham's books - fast-paced, suspenseful, rooting-for-the-underdog types of stories that hook you in and dare you to put them down. This, however, wasn't one of those stories for me. Don't get me wrong - all of the elements are here. But they just didn't work for me in this book the way they have in the past. Perhaps the biggest problem is that the 'underdog' in this story goes from principled, appropriately-struggling lawyer in public service to private practice ...in the space of about 10 pages. Morals vanish, clients are sold down the river, and money starts flying to such an extreme that it's almost difficult to read. I guess the one thing I've always liked about Grisham's books is that no matter what the temptation, his main characters have stayed above the board, but in this book, he goes south with the first check in hand. Perhaps the that's the whole point? While many have said that this is a scathing indictment of the tort / class action climate of today, it was more an indictment (in my mind) of personal morality and its fragility when money is involved.
Rating: 
Summary: another #1for JG?
Review: I believe if Grisham wrote a book on the proper way to hold your fork while eating, that it would go to the top of the bestseller list. I for one do not understand it. Grisham uses his public popularity to not only put his political views on display (like Tom Clancy), but also his morality views. If the writing were of a higher quality I might see how his books go to #1, but his last 4 (exculding Skipping Christmas) were dogs. I mean if an unknown author took this stuff to a publisher there is no way it would ever get put in print. Anyway The King of Torts lacked suspense, believeability, and was a bore to read. I am glad I borrowed it.
Rating:
Summary: I'm an unabashed fan.
Review: Another two day read from Grisham that kept me up way too late wanting to get the whole story in.
This is a good tale of rags-to-riches-to-rags; of legal abuse and using the system; of good boy goes bad.
The main character toils on public service to indigent cases in need of protection and then eats the forbidden fruit on his way to wealth. Along the way, money clouds his judgement and his motives. I found myself both pulling for him to come out good in the end and to get what was coming to him for abusing the judicial system. In the end, he gets a little of both; something he wants and something he had.
If you like Grisham, you'll enjoy Torts. It might not be his best...but it's better than most.
Rating:
Summary: Boring
Review: This book does nothing to engage the reader. The main character is so undeveloped that the reader does not care what his outcome is. Each chapter is basically a repeat of the one before it. My advice is to skip it, even when it is published in paperback.
Rating:
Summary: A good, page-turning novel, but not much depth.
Review: Although John Grisham's The King of Torts is a well written novel with an interesting plot and equally entertaining subplots, some readers may not have a 'satisfied' feeling once finished with it, owing to the fact that the story does not have any significant twist, as Grisham best books traditionally do. If you are a long time Grisham fan, then you will not be entirely disappointed with Torts, but if this is your first Grisham novel, go for something older.
Rating:
Summary: A good readable book
Review: I enjoyed this book. Sure it was predictable, but it was entertaining and well written. Grisham is a master story teller and develops his characters well.
Rating:
Summary: Worth every minute
Review: Loved this book, as I knew I would. Quick, easy read. I will forever look at the 800 numbers flashing across my screen and wonder what kind of evil tort lawyer is behind it. :)
Rating:
Summary: Finally - a good ending!
Review: My biggest beef with Grisham's books is that the ending is worthy of a mistrial. He has acquitted himself well with "The King of Torts". Clay's character doesn't seem the type to do what he did - is this moral ambiguity or an incomplete character?
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