The Runaway Jury

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The Runaway Jury is a legal thriller novel written by American author John Grisham. The hardcover first edition was published by Doubleday Books in 1996 (ISBN 0-385-47294-3). Pearson ESL released the paperback edition in 2001 (ISBN 0-582-43405-X). The novel was published again in 2003 to coincide with the release of Runaway Jury, a movie adaptation of the novel. The third printing (ISBN 0-440-22147-1) bears a movie-themed cover, in place of the covers used on the first and second printings. In 2003, it was made into a film starring John Cusack, Rachel Weisz and Gene Hackman.

[edit] Plot summary

Widow Celeste Wood is suing a tobacco company for sending her husband to an early grave. Many lawsuits have been brought to bear against them over the years, and all of them ended in victories for the defense. Wood's case could either break open the dam, unleashing a flood of claims against the tobacco companies, or it could seal the tobacco case for decades to come.

It is against this backdrop that a fictional resident of Biloxi, Mississippi, Nicholas Easter, enters the county courthouse to become potential juror number 56. His background will be carefully scrutinized by both sides of the case; including one Rankin Fitch, jury consultant for the defense. Fitch specializes in manufacturing jury verdicts by whatever means necessary, legal or otherwise. He came through for the defense on all of their previous victories; now he faces his greatest challenge yet.

Preceded by The Rainmaker

John Grisham Novels 1993

Succeeded by The Partner

John Grisham's novels (as of 2006)
1980s: A Time to Kill 1990s: The Firm — The Pelican Brief — The Client — The Chamber — The Rainmaker — The Runaway Jury — The Partner — The Street Lawyer — The Testament 2000s: The Brethren — A Painted House — Skipping Christmas — The Summons — Bleachers — The King of Torts — The Last Juror — The Broker
Non-Fiction
2000s: The Innocent Man