The Client by John Grisham is a gripping legal thriller that captivates readers with its fast-paced narrative and engaging plot. Positive feedback highlights its strong character development and suspenseful twists. However, some critique its occasional predictability and lack of depth in certain subplots. Overall, it remains a compelling read for fans of legal dramas.

Readers who enjoy legal dramas, suspense, and fast-paced thrillers will be captivated by John Grisham's The Client. Fans of Scott Turow's Presumed Innocent and Michael Connelly's The Lincoln Lawyer will find this compelling courtroom drama with rich character development and intricate plots particularly engaging.

In John Grisham's The Client, eleven-year-old Mark Sway witnesses the suicide of lawyer Jerome Clifford, who reveals critical information about a high-profile murder before dying. Mark, pursued by both the mafia and the FBI, seeks help from attorney Reggie Love, leading to legal battles and dangerous encounters as they navigate threats and seek witness protection for his family. The book contains references to suicide, violence, and legal ethics.

Suspenseful / Dark / Unnerving / Mysterious / Challenging

- The Client was published in 1993 and quickly became one of John Grisham's best-selling novels, spending 25 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list.
- The 1994 film adaptation of The Client starred Susan Sarandon and Tommy Lee Jones, with Sarandon earning an Academy Award nomination for her role.
- One of the themes explored in The Client is the moral complexity of legal ethics, a common thread in many of Grisham's legal thrillers.

**Mark Sway**  
An eleven-year-old boy with strong survival instincts and street smarts, who finds himself entangled in a dangerous situation involving the mob and the FBI after witnessing a lawyer’s suicide.

**Reggie Love**  
A defense attorney in her fifties who takes on Mark’s case, using her experience in dealing with broken families to guide him through his legal challenges.

**Barry Muldanno**  
A member of the mob, known as "the Blade," who becomes paranoid about his criminal actions being discovered and poses a threat to Mark's safety.

**Roy J. Foltrigg**  
A United States Attorney known for his oratory skills and political ambitions, who seeks to force Mark to disclose critical information about a senator’s murder.

**Ricky Sway**  
Mark’s eight-year-old brother, who experiences severe trauma after a shared distressing incident with Mark at the start of the story.

**Dianne Sway**  
Mark and Ricky’s hard-working but often absent single mother, who becomes more involved in her children’s lives following a traumatic event.

**Judge Harry Roosevelt**  
A judge at the Shelby County Juvenile Court known for his fairness and concern for children, who presides over a crucial court matter involving Mark.

**Jerome “Romey” Clifford**  
A mob lawyer who becomes despondent over his involvement with a crime and ultimately sets off the story’s events by taking drastic action.

**Slick Moeller**  
An investigative journalist with strong connections, whose reports on sensitive information impact the safety and privacy of those involved in the case.

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