City News

In the story “The Pelican Brief” by John Grisham, a young law school student in New Orleans named Darby Shaw writes a brief revealing who she thinks is responsible for the killings of two Justices. She does this with a grain of salt, not knowing just how devastating the brief will become for her and those around her. Throughout the story, the brief is unraveled and reveals harsh truths of politics and the people within them. The people mentioned in Darby’s brief are very dangerous, and as news of it gets spread around, it puts Darby in a lot of danger. She escaped death towards the beginning of the fearful journey of danger, but she still lost someone she loved. As the brief is seen by horrible people willing to do anything to protect themselves, a series of killings and investigations occur. Darby must shed away her old life and instead live on the run. Wanting to leave this new life as quickly as possible, she works with several people in order to prove the accuracy of her brief. During these times, she learns that not everyone is as they seem. Performing investigations with Washington Post writer Gray Grantham, Darby and he go into great depths of the events that occurred, putting their lives at risk.

John Grisham’s writing made me feel significantly engaged in the story and Darby’s character. I was able to feel Darby’s paranoia and fear each time she felt in danger. The author included many emotions to make the writing more appealing and intriguing, and it made for an enjoyable read. At a certain point, however, it seemed odd that a person as inexperienced as Darby was capable of evading professional killers. It made it a less believable story during those times, but it still made for an exciting read. Another great aspect of the story is the feeling of mystery throughout it. Grisham was great at not revealing too much at one time, as it would have made for a less exciting story. He put just enough detail and information to keep the reader intrigued without ruining the novel.

I would recommend this book to other readers because it is the perfect book for an exciting read. By including thrilling plot twists and interesting diction, it would make any book reader feel like they are in the moment and are entertained. Fans of subjects like mystery or suspense would especially enjoy this book because they are trickled into the well-thought-out and thorough plot of the story, always keeping the reader on their toes. Politics and law are also displayed in the book, leading any reader to enjoy this book if they like to read about those fascinating topics. Readers of these subjects would greatly enjoy this book due to the embellishment of these aspects of great writing. Finally, readers who simply want to enjoy a good book will love The Pelican Brief, as it takes the reader on a thrilling journey that will most definitely make the reader feel entertained and satisfied.

Check out the Pelican Brief from NBPL!