The Street Lawyer

John Grisham is back with his latest courtroom conundrum, The street lawyer. This time the lord of legal thrillers dives deep into the world of the homeless, particularly their barely audible legal voice in a world dominated by large, all-powerful law firms. Our hero, Michael Brock, is on the fast track to partnership at D.C.s premier law firm, Sweeny & Drake. His dream of someday raking in a million-plus a year is finally within reach. Nothing can stop him, not even 90-hour workweeks and a failing marriage -until he meets DeVon Hardy, a.k.a. Mister, a Vietnam vet with a grudge against his landlord - and a few lawyers to fry. Hardy, with no clear motive, takes Brock and eight of his colleagues hostage in a boardroom, demanding their tax returns and interrogating them with a conviction that would have put perpetrators of the Spanish Inquisition to shame. Hardy, a man of few words and a lot of ammunition, mumbles cryptically, Who are the evictors? as he points a .44 automatic within inches of Brocks face. The violent outcome of the hostage situation triggers an abrupt soul-searching for the young lawyer, and Hardys mysterious question continues to haunt him.