The CEO of Krane Chemical is Carl Trudeau, an East Side Manhattan inside trader, who will do anything to retain his position of power and prestige. When the verdict for $41 million is rendered against the chemical company Trudeau vows that "not one dime of Krane's money will be touched by those ignorant people." His lawyers appeal the case to the state Supreme Court. These judges are elected officials and all Trudeau needs is a sympathetic judge. One of the judges up for reelection is Shelia McCarthy. She is unopposed and is likely to retain her seat on the Court.

Trudeau hires Barry Rinehart of Troy-Hogan of Louisiana, a firm that offers marketing and counseling, to guarantee a sympathetic replacement on the Court. Rinehart selects Ron Fisk, a Brookhaven, Mississippi a lawyer unknown outside of his hometown, to be groomed and programmed into being a viable opponent in the election against McCarthy. In the meantime Rinehart institutes a program which impugns the reputation, rulings and ideologies of McCarthy. His programs are successful with Fisk elected and McCarthy defeated. The subsequent ruling on the case comes as a surprise to all concerned.

This fast moving, well-written legal thriller is John Grisham at his best. It is a timely blueprint on how to rig an election. He describes the tactics by which political candidates can be propelled into an ambush and have their campaigns submerged. He shows how an unknown individual with no particular qualifications or ability or record can be groomed and then catapulted into a position of prominence and influence.

Grisham makes an important point about the justice system: that with the judges elected they are threatened by big money, can be corrupted and bought. They should be appointed in an attempt to prevent the subverting of justice... perhaps.

This is very realistic in that it shows that justice and goodness does not always triumph It is a gripping and compelling read, full of suspense. It is also chilling to contemplate how this situation may well be occurring in today's courts.

Grisham scores again!!