The Client

The story begins with a young boy named Mark Sway, an 11-year-old street-smart kid living in Memphis, Tennessee. During the summer, Mark's life is filled with boredom and mischief as he hangs out with his friends and gets into various scrapes. However, his life takes a drastic turn when he encounters a prominent Louisiana lawyer, Jerome Clifford. As fate would have it, Mark and his mother had gone to New Orleans where Mark's father, a former lawyer, had died due to cancer. While Mark and his mother are visiting the cemetery, Mark sees Jerome Clifford being attacked by the Mafia's most infamous hitman, Barry 'The Blade' Muldano. In a desperate attempt to silence Clifford, Muldano threatens to kill his family, leaving Mark with a haunting memory. The events unfold as Jerome Clifford, before taking his own life, reveals to Mark that the Senator's body is buried in a location that only Mark is aware of. Mark panics and flees the scene, leaving Jerome's dead body behind. A young and naive Mark runs back home, trying to shake off the experience, but the memories of Jerome's words keep haunting him. Meanwhile, the FBI is alerted to Jerome Clifford's murder and discovers that he was being protected by the Bureau. However, when they arrive at the scene, they find Mark's signature 'sway' boot impression at the location. Agent Neal Trammell recognizes the significance of the boot and realizes that Mark might be a vital witness in Jerome's murder. As the story unfolds, Mark's world starts to spiral out of control. His mother, Margaret, a struggling single parent, tries to shield him from the reality of the situation but finds herself entangled in the FBI's investigations. Mark becomes a crucial piece in the puzzle of Jerome's murder, and both the FBI and the Mafia begin to show interest in him. The FBI, particularly Agent Jerry "The Bull" Baker, is eager to extract the information from Mark, while the Mafia is desperate to silence him before Mark reveals the location of the Senator's body. The situation takes a turn when Agent Trammell becomes increasingly sympathetic towards Mark, realizing that he is just a kid who has stumbled into a world filled with danger. Mark is forced to move his life into hiding as he is now on both the FBI's and the Mafia's radar. His relationships with his mother and his friends become strained as he struggles to keep them out of harm's way. The once carefree summer has now turned into a rollercoaster ride of emotions and danger for Mark. As the story unfolds, Mark finds himself getting into a complex web of danger, deception, and loyalty. With every passing moment, Mark's innocence fades away, and he is forced to grow up and confront the harsh realities of the world. The novel, which was written by John Grisham, and its movie adaptation, starring Brad Pitt and Susan Sarandon, masterfully weave together the themes of corruption, power, and the vulnerability of the human spirit, creating a gripping narrative that leaves the audience breathless.