Much of Grisham’s work takes place in the southern United States. How does the setting of Biloxi, Mississippi, inform the development of The Runaway Jury?

Grisham uses third-person omniscient narration, shifting among multiple character perspectives. How does this style of narration impact the novel, and how would a first-person narration style have changed the book?

Nicholas is the main protagonist of the text, but Grisham also focuses heavily on Marlee and Fitch. How does this narrative structure allow the novel to explore the legal system from multiple angles?

Compare and contrast Fitch’s, Marlee’s, and Nicholas’s manipulations of other characters throughout the text. To what degree do their intentions matter in evaluating the moral impact of their actions?

Grisham has written over 50 books, many of them legal thrillers like The Runaway Jury. Compare this novel to other Grisham legal thrillers like The Pelican Brief or The Client. What themes and what narrative techniques do these novels share?

Though protagonists Nicholas and Marlee undergo little character development, remaining committed to their vision of justice from beginning to end, several jurors do face serious moral dilemmas. Which of these characters experience the most profound growth, and what forms does this growth take?

The film adaptation of The Runaway Jury replaces the tobacco consortium with a group of gun manufacturers. What other industries might a 2020s version of the novel focus on? How would the challenges for Nicholas and Marlee be different?

Judge Harkin’s ostensible role is to ensure the integrity of his courtroom. How successful is he in this goal, and what other motives conflict with this one?