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Gray Mountain: A Novel Audiobook
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(4.83) - 6 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
John Grisham has a new hero . . . and she’s full of surprises
The year is 2008 and Samantha Kofer’s career at a huge Wall Street law firm is on the fast track—until the recession hits and she gets downsized, furloughed, escorted out of the building. Samantha, though, is one of the “lucky” associates. She’s offered an opportunity to work at a legal aid clinic for one year without pay, after which there would be a slim chance that she’d get her old job back.
In a matter of days Samantha moves from Manhattan to Brady, Virginia, population 2,200, in the heart of Appalachia, a part of the world she has only read about. Mattie Wyatt, lifelong Brady resident and head of the town’s legal aid clinic, is there to teach her how to “help real people with real problems.” For the first time in her career, Samantha prepares a lawsuit, sees the inside of an actual courtroom, gets scolded by a judge, and receives threats from locals who aren’t so thrilled to have a big-city lawyer in town. And she learns that Brady, like most small towns, harbors some big secrets.
Her new job takes Samantha into the murky and dangerous world of coal mining, where laws are often broken, rules are ignored, regulations are flouted, communities are divided, and the land itself is under attack from Big Coal. Violence is always just around the corner, and within weeks Samantha finds herself engulfed in litigation that turns deadly.
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"In some parts of Appalachia, coal is king. Coal mining is about the only job a person can get, and it will probably kill him. I'm a city girl like Samantha Kofer, so this was as much a journey for me as for her. I had my first real job in a town of 22,000 people (on a "fat" day), so I can relate to the confusion she feels after being yanked off Wall Street and dropped in Brady, Virginia. As she learns the poor person's facts of life, she changes. She becomes fiercely protective of people that she never knew existed. Fighting the coal company when it's the only job in town is dangerous, and Samantha learns that first hand."
— Twigsy (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“An important new novel . . . Grisham’s work—always superior entertainment—is evolving into something more serious, more powerful, more worthy of his exceptional talent.
— Patrick Anderson, The Washington Post -
John Grisham makes a powerful closing argument against Big Coal, but the message never obscures a satisfying, old fashioned, good guy-bad guy legal thriller.
— Christian Science Monitor -
Grisham has written one of his best legal dramas in quite some time with this dive into small-town politics. There's a mystery, but that's a minor portion of the story. The main thrust that will engage readers is Samantha Kofer and the cast of characters that help her discover her passion.
— Associated Press -
“An important new novel…Grisham’s work—always superior entertainment—is evolving into something more serious, more powerful, more worthy of his exceptional talent.”
— Washington Post -
“Grisham has written one of his best legal dramas in quite some time with this dive into small-town politics. There’s a mystery, but that’s a minor portion of the story. The main thrust that will engage readers is Samantha Kofer and the cast of characters that help her discover her passion.”
— Associated Press -
“John Grisham makes a powerful closing argument against Big Coal, but the message never obscures a satisfying, old fashioned, good guy-bad guy legal thriller.”
— Christian Science Monitor -
“John Grisham’s latest legal thriller focuses on a young female protagonist, a small Virginia town, and Big Coal…A scintillating, cinematic page-turner that only Grisham could have written.”
— Barnes&Noble.com, editorial review -
“Grisham movingly portrays the evils of Big Coal and the lives it has ruined, and most readers will rapidly turn the pages.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“There’s a new sheriff in town, and she’s come to bring down Big Coal…Grisham has long proved himself to be a trustworthy provider of legal thrillers…He is also uncommonly timely and topical…Grisham is good as always on matters of legal procedure and local color; as one character notes, sagely, ‘When you sue a coal company in Appalachia you can’t always count on an unbiased jury.’”
— Kirkus Reviews
Awards
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A New York Times bestseller
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A Library Journal bestseller
Gray Mountain Listener Reviews
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Jackie, 2/7/2024
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" This book kept me on the edge of my seat. Every time I thought I had the story figured out there. Was an unexpected turn in the plot. I highly recommend this audio book. "
— Bob, 7/1/2023 -
" I love John Grisham novels, but he left us hanging on this one. I want to know the verdict on some of Samantha's/Donovan's cases. The narration was was hard to follow when Samantha was having a one-on-one dialogue with some people. The narrator's voice didn't change and everyone sounded like Samantha. In one sentence Donovan had a deeper voice and the next time he spoke his voice sounded like Samantha's. It was hard to follow at times and I had to keep going back to see who said what. "
— feleciabm, 3/2/2020 -
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Jackie Moore , 9/21/2018
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" I became too engrossed with this book Could not wait for next chapter. Enjoyable "
— goharper, 6/21/2018
About John Grisham
John Grisham is the author of more than thirty-five novels, one work of nonfiction, a collection of stories, and seven novels for young readers. Thirty-three of his crime thrillers have made the #1 spot on the New York Times bestsellers list
About Catherine Taber
Catherine Taber, a Georgia native, is an Earphones Award-winning audiobook narrator and actress whose film roles include the coming-of-age drama The Girls’ Room and the romantic comedy Just Like Heaven. She was the voice of Tina in Curious George 2, Padme Amidala in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and Leia in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. She has provided voice work for numerous video games and was nominated for an award from the National Academy of Video Game Testers and Reviewers for her portrayal of Penelo in “Final Fantasy 12.”