Morgan Siler is one of Washington, D.C.'s most powerful K Street law firms, its roster of clients stocked with multibillion-dollar corporations. The obsessive efforts of its senior partner, Peter Morgan, have transformed it from an old-fashioned business into a veritable Goliath. As Peter reaches the pinnacle of his career, his firm is embroiled in two difficult cases: a pro bono death penalty case in Virginia, and a class action lawsuit brought against Hubble Chemical of Texas after an on site explosion killed dozens of workers. Assigned to these cases is a group of seasoned partners and young associates struggling to make their way in the firm. Mark Clayton, fresh out of law school, is beginning to loathe the dullness of much of his work and to be frightened by the deterioration of his personal life when he is assigned to the pro bono case. Assisting him is the mercurial Walker Eliot, a brilliant third-year associate whose passion for the law is as great as his skill at unraveling its intricacies. The aggressive, profane, and wildly successful litigator Harold Fineman is leading the Hubble defense, assisted by the new associate Katja Phillips, whose odd combination of efficiency and idealism intrigue him, and Ryan Grady, whose quest to pick up girls is starting to interfere with his work. In this complex, ambitious, and gripping first novel, Kermit Roosevelt vividly illustrates the subtle and stark effects of the law not only on the lives of a group of lawyers but also on communities and private citizens. In the Shadow of the Law is both a deftly plotted page-turner and a meditation on the life of the law, the organism that is a law firm, and the consequences for those who come within its powerful orbit.
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"Enough nefarious doings to drive the plot forward, and enough thoughtful reflections on the practice of law, through a panoply of well-developed characters, to make these nefarious doings matter. A taxonomy of the moral lives of lawyers, I loved it. "
— Chris (4 out of 5 stars)
" Not a bad legal thriller, but Roosevelt is no Grisham. It was a decent beach read last year while I was on vacation. "
— Madelyn, 1/19/2014" Enough nefarious doings to drive the plot forward, and enough thoughtful reflections on the practice of law, through a panoply of well-developed characters, to make these nefarious doings matter. A taxonomy of the moral lives of lawyers, I loved it. "
— Chris, 1/2/2014" Interesting take on the law--very good plotting and some memorable characters, though there were moments when the writing tilted a bit into genre. "
— Sharon, 7/10/2013" Really interesting view of the inside a fictional law firm. From my experience, a lot rings true "
— Jim, 6/30/2013" Good, smart, legal read. Lawyers only would likely enjoy. "
— Delight, 6/11/2013" it got better as it went on... i just had to push myself through the first hundred pages or so. liked it more than the emperor's children, whatever that means. i guess that this book has some redeemable characters. "
— Moria, 6/2/2013" Loved this book-one of my favorite legal thrillers ever. "
— Dawngoldstein, 6/1/2013" Interesting characters- however several of the story lines turn into dead ends. "
— Molly, 3/29/2013" Well written, if not the best storyline in the world. "
— Nick, 11/9/2012" It was a quick, easy read and was interesting. Overall, though, it just wasn't as stirring as I hoped. "
— Brandon, 10/11/2012" A little too dramatic for my taste pre-law school, a little boring as I reflect on it now. "
— Courtney, 9/15/2011" I heard him speak and so got his book. Kermit is a descendant of the Roosevelts. He also teaches law. He said he wrote this book to give his students what corporate law is like. I enjoyed the book. "
— Ange, 6/15/2011" Reminds me of my time at a big firm. "
— Nicole, 3/12/2011" Fiction. Legal genre. The best depiction of law firm life that I have ever read. "
— Irene, 12/12/2010" Interesting characters- however several of the story lines turn into dead ends. "
— Molly, 12/30/2009" A little too dramatic for my taste pre-law school, a little boring as I reflect on it now. "
— Courtney, 8/11/2009" Loved this book-one of my favorite legal thrillers ever. "
— Dawngoldstein, 6/17/2009" Really interesting view of the inside a fictional law firm. From my experience, a lot rings true "
— Jim, 3/22/2009" it got better as it went on... i just had to push myself through the first hundred pages or so. liked it more than the emperor's children, whatever that means. i guess that this book has some redeemable characters. "
— Moria, 3/5/2008" Good, smart, legal read. Lawyers only would likely enjoy. "
— Delight, 2/27/2008" It was a quick, easy read and was interesting. Overall, though, it just wasn't as stirring as I hoped. "
— Brandon, 1/24/2008" Well written, if not the best storyline in the world. "
— Nick, 1/5/2008" I heard him speak and so got his book. Kermit is a descendant of the Roosevelts. He also teaches law. He said he wrote this book to give his students what corporate law is like. I enjoyed the book. "
— Ange, 12/4/2007" Not a bad legal thriller, but Roosevelt is no Grisham. It was a decent beach read last year while I was on vacation. "
— Madelyn, 8/17/2007" Fiction. Legal genre. The best depiction of law firm life that I have ever read. "
— Joanne, 7/3/2007" Interesting take on the law--very good plotting and some memorable characters, though there were moments when the writing tilted a bit into genre. "
— Sharon, 5/12/2007Kermit Roosevelt is an assistant professor of law at the University of Pennslyvania Law School. A former clerk to a US Supreme Court Justice, he is a graduate of Yale Law School and has worked for law firms in New York, Chicago and Washington, DC.
Craig Wasson is an actor and audiobook narrator. His most notable film appearance was in the 1984 film, Body Double. Also a prolific reader of audio books, he narrated Stephen King’s novel, 11/22/63, as well as numerous books by James Ellroy and John Grisham.