[2] Set in Mississippi, the novel follows attorneys Wes and Mary Grace Payton as they seek justice for Jeannette Baker, whose family members died due to water contamination caused by Krane Chemical, a company owned by billionaire Carl Trudeau.

Grisham’s narrative highlights the ethical dilemmas faced by judges who rely on campaign funding from corporate interests.

In that case, Blankenship spent millions to help elect a West Virginia judge who later voted to overturn a verdict against Massey.

[5] The novel also references judicial scandals in Mississippi, where judges have faced allegations of accepting campaign donations in exchange for favorable rulings.

[8] Some reviewers pointed out the thinly veiled parallels to real-world cases and lauded Grisham for addressing timely issues of corporate influence in politics.