John Grisham is the master of legal thrillers. Instead of high-powered law firms and dramatic trials. Gray Mountain takes you to the heart of Appalachia and the injustices tied to the coal mining industry.
When the 2008 financial crisis hit, Samantha Kofer, a young and upcoming associate at a large New York law firm, found herself out of work.
Samantha is offered the opportunity to retain her job under certain conditions. She must volunteer at a non-profit law firm for one year.
With limited options, Samantha accepts a position at a small legal aid clinic in the small Appalachian town of Brady, Virginia.
What begins as a temporary inconvenience for Samantha quickly becomes a life-altering experience. Brady Virginia is nothing like her Manhattan lifestyle; this is a place where poverty, environmental destruction, and corporate power collide.
Samantha's transformation is the center of the story. With supporting characters such as dedicated lawyers and local residents living in the reality of corporate negligence. She becomes invested in her clients and their struggles.
My Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading Gray Mountain. To me, this story is about taking on the powerful and representing the locals who have nowhere to turn.
