Gray Mountain: A Novel

An intriguing tale of two subcultures and the lawyer's who inhabit them.

This book accurately portray social class differences in the ease of access to money, influence, power, and prestige for some and, for others, the incessant struggle for a decent wage, a modicum of dignity, simple fairness, and beautiful justice. It is not, however, a moralizing sociology text in disguise or a sterile study in economics. No, it is much more than that. It is an excellent read, an attention-grabbing story that, thanks to Grisham's exceptional ability to develop both complex characters and intricate plots, is utterly believable and immensely enjoyable. It is also thought-provoking and consciousness expanding. An excellent read indeed. The background for this complex and intriguing tale is "the great recession" and its impact on one young lawyer who, like so many of her aspiring legal peers, was "furloughed" by one of those gigantic corporate law firm that have impressive names and were up to their ears in the greedy machination that brought on the terrible collapse that ravaged America, destroying the hopes and dreams of millions. This particular young lawyer is Samantha ("Sam") Kofer, who, given her family background, is no stranger to upper echelon lawyering. She is, however, a total stranger to life and the practice of law she encounters when her furlough (her exile?) lands her a one year volunteer position with a free legal clinic in the heart of strip-mining country, the southern Appalachians. The place is at least a million miles from trendy, showy, competitive, fast-paced, moneyed, Manhattan. She has been transported to a place where some lawyers, by no means all, practice law with a very rare commodity ... heart ... more love for people than for money. Imagine her shock! She may have left the planet altogether. As Samantha is thrown into life, law, love, pain, and intrigue in this strange socio-economic context, she has a great deal to learn. With support from unanticipated sources she eventually finds her footing and, from sheer legal neces...