The Runaway Jury fits with most of Grisham's other novels in the thriller genre, a category he defines in an oftquoted interview (1993): "You take a sympathetic hero or heroine, an ordinary person, and tie them into a horrible situation or conspiracy where their lives are at stake." His heroes are young people with the intellect and cunning and resourcefulness that these thriller plots demand.

Significantly, however, these heroes survive by their wits rather than physical prowess. In his books Grisham has few overtly violent scenes, although he does succeed in making the threats convincing.

Like Mitch McDeere in The Firm (1991; see separate entry) and Rudy Baylor in The Rainmaker (1995; see separate entry) and Darby Shaw in The Pelican Brief (1992), Nicholas and Marlee think and manipulate their way out of danger. They are mentally tough.

The Runaway Jury continues Grisham's interest in portraying issues and causes that...