Rating: 
Summary: A crash course from Grisham on the evils of tort law
Review: I am pretty sure there is an argument for tort reform embedded in John Grisham's "The King of Torts," but coming up with specifics for an inherent solution is going to be pretty much impossible when you are done reading the novel. The story starts with Clay Carter, a lawyer in the Office of the Public Defender in Washington, D.C., who is suddenly saddled with the case of Tequila Watson. For no apparent reason, Tequila, who has no history of violence, blows away another young man. However, there is an explanation for this seemingly incomprehensible murder that changes Clay's life.The obvious assumption is that once Clay knows the truth, he will right this horrible wrong. But Grisham goes off in a different direction as Clay is sucked into the wonderful world of torts. Like the character we are given a crash course in how to make big bucks quick. It becomes clear that the goal is to make money and things like just compensation for victims and the economic viability of companies are secondary considerations. The result is a crash course on how the game is played and an introduction to the greedy royalty of this lucrative arena of the law. Grisham's main character might be able to find a small area of redemption by the end of "The King of Torts," but the subject of tort reform offers no similar semi-happy ending. Perhaps the most depressing part of this novel is not what happens as Clay sells his soul to the dark side, but that even an ethnical lawyer with a strong case is no more capable of guaranteeing justice. Grisham does cover the concerns of all the parties involved--companies and clients as well as lawyers--which at least implies that any solution is going to have to address those three areas to avoid given any one party an advantage. Of course, the obvious conclusion is that we will no more be able to deal with tort reform than we have been able to deal with the the problems of the Social Security system, providing national health care, or anything else where everybody pretty much agrees that something has to be done but no two people can agree on what should be done. "The King of Torts," like all of Grisham's novels, is a quick read and there is enough moral ambiguity to Clay's character that you cannot totally hate him as he begins his descent into hell. But exposing a problem in such detail without any hint of a viable solution, is rather disheartening.
Rating: 
Summary: Hard working underpaid attorney travels to close to the sun
Review: John Grisham's work on Clay Cater's meteoric career and demise was an enjoyable and pleasing reading experience. It is popular fiction and as such can be enjoyed by those who understand what it cannot be. The psychological study of Clay Carter could have been developed more completely but for someone who is a hardworking accounts payable auditor for a government operation the thrill of Max Case's generous offer was a kind of virtue unrecognized but rewarded scenario. I do recommend this work to readers with an interest in health care litigation and the trials of underpaid civil servants in American society.
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Summary: Little Rookie Clay Carter Becomes a "Big Name"
Review: When you read this book, you'll understand why oten times lawyers are called crooks. Clay Carter, a 31 year old rookie was interested in bigger things than representing indigent clients in his Office of Public Defense practice. So it happened one day that he got an offer by a friend of his father's, Max Pace, to set up his own practice suing drug companies that have literally destroyed people in some way or other through dangerous drugs. Clay suddenly now finds himself in the middle of a conspiracy to horrible to believe. It is a case against one of the largest phramaceutical companies in the world. He is looking at the kind of settlement that would totally change his life, and would make him, almost overnight, the professions newest king of torts. But making piles and piles of money off of these cases isn't everything. Not after all the trouble it will cause in Clay's life. This book makes you wonder what will happen next.
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Summary: Better Than Last
Review: I have read everything Grishom has written and was about to give up because of disappointment in last books. This was a good read albeit total Grishom formula.
Rating:
Summary: milk-toast
Review: I expected this book to make many more turns than it did. It was hard to get into, and then when I did, I waited and I waited and I waited.....no meat......then waited for a great ending and was disappointed by the "settled for" ending.....John...give us the real you.
Rating:
Summary: I Liked it
Review: This is what John Grisham does best - what I call a "lawyer book!" The story moves along quickly and he builds tension well. Clay Carter's rise to wealth and fame is too quick and a bit unbelievable but his fall is justified and necessary. I had to laugh, though. The name Clay makes me think of American Idol finalist Clay Aiken and in my mind that is what Clay Carter looked like! If you haven't heard of Clay Aiken yet, you will. But Grisham couldn't have known this when he named his character. Otherwise I enjoyed this book and read it in two days. I learned a bit about tort law too. Ironically, I am part of a class action suit right now but the stakes are very low, probably with a settlement under $100.00 per person. So it was interesting to me at this point in time. I always look forward to the latest Grisham book and was not disappointed by this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Terrible
Review: Were we supposed to LIKE Clay? What about Ridley or Rebecca? Characters came and vanished from the plot like ghosts.
The aspects of the story line that were developed (the trial in Arizona or Rebecca's marriage, for example) were predictable and concluded in a paragraph. I should have known better to pick up this book when my 16 year old (a huge early Grisham fan} couldn't get through 3 chapters of this one. Don't waste your money--based on the descriptions of the "high life" in this book--John Grisham doesn't need it.
Rating:
Summary: Easy and Enjoyable read. Quick
Review: "King of Torts" is an easy read! The plot is fairly predictable, actually very predictable. This novel reminds me of a horse-race; whereby, the novel is quick out of the gates but falls short of full-speed-ahead at the finality. Grisholm is remarkable at capturing the reader's attention with subterfuge and an enticing plot. The main characters are fully developed and the story will keep you engaged to the end. Moreover, the end was too predictable, so one-star short of Five-r. An enjoyable and easy read, but don't expect too much deviation from the basic plot. Worth the read, since it's quick.
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Summary: Another stamp in the Grisham assembly line
Review: This is an okay book, reminiscent of Grisham's previous works. Characters are only moderately interesting and the plot is really quite boring. What really bothers me is that he doesn't really break any new ground with this effort, and I have to wonder what his future plans are. I think he needs to make a major change with his next book and break out of his current mold. Avery Z. Conner, author of "Fevers of the Mind".
Rating: 
Summary: A little disappointing Grisham book
Review: I am a long time fan of John Grisham, I read all of his legal thrillers and this one might be the one I least enjoyed. The story line and characters in the book is so unreal.
There were so many money making opportunities for Clay Carter at the beginning and so many bad things happened to him at the end at the same time is just not real.
I enjoyed Grisham's early writings, lately has been a little disappointing.
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