202:
Meanwhile, 11-year-old Mark Sway and his younger brother Ricky stumble upon Jerome
Clifford, a lawyer, attempting suicide. Before killing himself, Clifford reveals to Mark that Muldanno has hidden Boyette's body and that he fears being murdered by the Mafia. Mark escapes, but Ricky becomes catatonic
198:
Boyd
Boyette, a U.S. Senator from Louisiana, goes missing after vocalizing opposition to a Mafia-backed toxic landfill project. His disappearance leads the authorities to suspect foul play, but nobody is found. Desperate for a breakthrough, Roy Foltrigg, a U.S. Attorney, focuses on Barry "The Blade"
224:
Mark Sway serves as the protagonist of the novel, and through his character, Grisham explores the vulnerability and moral strength of a child thrust into an adult world of legal intricacies and criminal dangers. Mark is depicted as street-smart, independent, and resourceful, traits that make him a
210:
Mark is placed in juvenile detention for his own protection and is brought before a judge, where he still refuses to divulge what he knows. Eventually, the Sway family agrees to enter the witness protection program to escape the Mafia's reach. Before leaving, Reggie finally reveals the location of
258:
The environmental backdrop of the novel—Boyette’s opposition to a Mafia-controlled toxic landfill—adds another layer to
Grisham’s critique of corruption and corporate greed. By intertwining environmental concerns with legal intrigue, Grisham broadens the novel's scope, connecting personal justice
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To protect himself, Mark seeks the legal help of Regina "Reggie" Love, a lawyer who specializes in child protection cases. Reggie helps Mark navigate a dangerous legal battle, representing him in interviews with the FBI while he faces threats from Mafia operatives. Foltrigg pushes aggressively to
233:
Reggie Love is a 52-year-old lawyer who represents Mark and acts as a counterbalance to the aggressive tactics of Roy
Foltrigg. A survivor of divorce, substance abuse, and an emotional breakdown, Reggie is depicted as an empathetic and resilient character. She becomes a maternal figure for Mark,
254:
explores themes of childhood vulnerability, justice, and ethical dilemmas within the legal system. Grisham's depiction of Mark, a child caught between the criminal underworld and the legal system, serves as a critique of how society handles young witnesses. The novel also raises questions about
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Roy
Foltrigg, the ambitious U.S. Attorney, serves as the novel's primary antagonist. His desire to convict Muldanno is driven more by personal ambition than by a sense of justice. Scholars have critiqued Foltrigg as embodying the darker side of the legal system, where justice is sacrificed for
234:
advocating for his rights while respecting his fear of the legal system. Scholars have highlighted Reggie's character as an example of 1990s feminism, where her role as an independent woman overcoming personal hardship plays into
Grisham’s broader critique of traditional gender roles.
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moral force within the novel, akin to Huck Finn from Mark Twain's work. As noted by scholars, Grisham’s portrayal of Mark situates him among literary adolescents like Holden
Caulfield and Huck Finn, where the young protagonist must navigate complex moral and societal landscapes.
182:. It is Grisham's fourth novel and follows the story of an 11-year-old boy, Mark Sway, who becomes entangled in a mob-related legal case after witnessing the suicide of a lawyer who knows the location of a murdered U.S. senator’s body. The novel is set primarily in
282:, found the novel's pacing uneven, noting that while the opening chapters hooked readers, the middle sections felt "plodding." Despite these critiques, the novel’s commercial success solidified Grisham’s reputation as a master of legal thrillers.
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attorney-client privilege, as Reggie grapples with her ethical responsibility to protect Mark while fulfilling her legal obligations. In this sense, Grisham presents a nuanced exploration of the legal profession's moral complexities.
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nomination for her role, and the film was praised for its performances and suspense. The success of the film led to a television series adaptation (1995–1996), starring
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Muldanno, a notorious thug and nephew of Johnny Sulari, the acting boss of the New
Orleans Mafia. The FBI monitors Muldanno, hoping he'll lead them to Boyette's body.
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after witnessing the traumatic event and is hospitalized. Both the FBI and the Mafia suspect Mark knows where
Boyette's body is located, making him a target.
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stands out for its moral complexity, where the protagonist’s struggle mirrors larger societal concerns about justice, ethics, and child protection.
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personal gain. His aggressive, masculine approach contrasts with Reggie's more empathetic and nuanced method of handling the case.
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praised its fast pace and suspense, calling it "gripping" and "filled with tension." However, some critics, like those from the
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Scholars have noted
Grisham's ability to merge legal suspense with social commentary. According to Wolfgang Funk,
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force Mark to reveal the body’s location, but Mark remains resolute in his refusal.
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Funk, Wolfgang (2010). "Legal Thrillers and Justice: John Grisham's The Client".
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Boyette’s body to the FBI, securing the safety for Mark and his family.
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509:"The Client at 25: The Death of the Middlebrow Legal Thriller"
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The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town
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301:was adapted into a successful film directed by
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16:1993 legal thriller by John Grisham
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1326:American novels adapted into films
439:"The Client - Literary Precedents"
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371:"The Client - Social Concerns".
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315:Academy Award for Best Actress
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1068:Theodore Boone: The Abduction
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1098:Theodore Boone: The Fugitive
1088:Theodore Boone: The Activist
259:with broader social issues.
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103:Print (hardcover, paperback)
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1078:Theodore Boone: The Accused
471:Studies in Legal Narratives
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1058:Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer
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1341:Novels by John Grisham
1268:Television adaptations
533:"The Client TV Series"
188:New Orleans, Louisiana
1336:Legal thriller novels
1321:1993 American novels
391:"The Client Summary"
229:Regina "Reggie" Love
1228:The Gingerbread Man
1137:The Gingerbread Man
485:"The Client Review"
415:"The Client Review"
309:as Reggie Love and
31:First edition cover
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721:Skipping Christmas
263:Critical reception
215:Character analysis
184:Memphis, Tennessee
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540:. Retrieved
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395:SuperSummary
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379:: 5–7. 2001.
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350:. Retrieved
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343:"The Client"
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180:John Grisham
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41:John Grisham
1280:(1995–1996)
1208:The Chamber
1128:Screenplays
1025:Non-fiction
992:Ford County
731:The Summons
671:The Partner
641:The Chamber
305:, starring
293:Adaptations
160:The Chamber
20:The Client
1315:Categories
1277:The Client
1188:The Client
831:Calico Joe
791:The Appeal
771:The Broker
631:The Client
542:2024-09-12
518:2024-09-12
494:2024-09-12
473:: 112–125.
448:2024-09-12
424:2024-09-12
400:2024-09-12
352:2024-09-12
329:References
323:John Heard
299:The Client
287:The Client
268:The Client
252:The Client
174:is a 1993
171:The Client
1013:The Tumor
751:Bleachers
583:Works by
297:In 1994,
220:Mark Sway
69:Doubleday
65:Publisher
1287:The Firm
1168:The Firm
611:The Firm
136:27010248
47:Language
513:Vulture
82: (
50:English
1300:(2018)
1290:(2012)
1259:(2004)
1249:(2003)
1239:(2003)
1231:(1998)
1221:(1997)
1211:(1996)
1201:(1996)
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1171:(1993)
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1147:Mickey
1140:(1998)
1119:(2019)
1111:(2016)
1101:(2015)
1091:(2013)
1081:(2012)
1071:(2011)
1061:(2010)
1049:series
1037:(2006)
1016:(2015)
995:(2009)
974:(2024)
964:(2023)
954:(2021)
944:(2020)
934:(2020)
924:(2019)
914:(2018)
904:(2017)
894:(2017)
884:(2016)
874:(2015)
864:(2014)
854:(2013)
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834:(2012)
824:(2011)
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804:(2009)
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684:(1998)
674:(1997)
664:(1996)
654:(1995)
644:(1994)
634:(1993)
624:(1992)
614:(1991)
604:(1988)
592:Novels
247:Themes
186:, and
162:
149:
37:Author
108:Pages
55:Genre
537:IMDb
321:and
194:Plot
130:OCLC
117:ISBN
84:1993
80:1993
111:422
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86:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
