60 pages • 2-hour read
John GrishamA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
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Simon is a disillusioned, financially struggling lawyer who sleeps in a small apartment above his office to avoid his failing marriage. He maintains a secret sports gambling habit that drains his finances. When an elderly widow claims to possess a massive secret fortune, he sees an opportunity to solve his financial woes by taking control of her estate planning.
Attorney for Eleanor "Netty" Barnett
Estranged husband of Paula Latch
Father of Janie Latch
Father of Buck Latch
Father of Danny Latch
Stepson of Arn
Employer of Matilda "Tillie" Clark
Client of Spade And Chub
Rival of Wally Thackerman
Former boyfriend of Yolanda "Landy"
Netty is an 85-year-old widow living a quiet, frugal life in a modest suburban home. She confides in Simon that she possesses a secret fortune worth over $20 million hidden from her late husband's estranged sons. Her claims of immense wealth trigger extreme reactions from the lawyers she consults.
Client of Simon Latch
Former client of Wally Thackerman
Widow of Harry Korsak
Stepmother of Clyde And Jerry Korsak
Wally is a local attorney in Braxton who previously handled Netty Barnett's estate planning. He drafted a highly self-serving will that placed her supposed assets into a trust under his sole control, complete with a hidden cash gift to himself. His actions provide a blueprint for other lawyers looking to exploit vulnerable clients.
Former attorney for Eleanor "Netty" Barnett
Rival of Simon Latch
Assault victim of Clyde And Jerry Korsak
Clyde and Jerry are the estranged sons of Netty's late husband, Harry Korsak. They harbor a deep sense of entitlement regarding their father's estate and are convinced they are owed a massive inheritance. Clyde is brutish and impulsive, while Jerry employs more calculating methods to secure the money they believe is rightfully theirs.
Stepsons of Eleanor "Netty" Barnett
Sons of Harry Korsak
Attackers of Wally Thackerman
Clients of Teddy Hammer
Matilda is Simon's loyal and discreet secretary, essentially running the administrative side of his law practice for over a decade. Her professional stability crumbles when she notices Simon taking secret meetings and hiding documents related to Netty Barnett's estate. She grows increasingly suspicious of her boss's uncharacteristic behavior.
Secretary to Simon Latch
Receptionist for Eleanor "Netty" Barnett
Raymond is a loud and boisterous criminal defense attorney with a highly prominent courtroom reputation. He operates as a cynical pragmatist who understands that public perception and persuasive narratives often outweigh actual evidence in the justice system. He takes on clients facing severe, high-profile charges.
Defense attorney for Simon Latch
Paula is Simon's wife, enduring a marriage that has deteriorated into emotional distance and financial stress. She works and manages their three children while preparing for an impending divorce. She formally proposes an open marriage as their relationship fractures, prioritizing practicality over affection.
Spade is an unlicensed private investigator, while Chub is a local bookie who runs an illegal sports betting operation out of a pub. Together, they represent the illicit underworld that Simon frequents. They provide him with off-the-books information and facilitate the gambling addiction that worsens his financial ruin.
Bookie and investigator for Simon Latch
Associate of Zander
Landy is an FBI agent and Simon's former law school girlfriend. She reconnects with him in Braxton, balancing her professional obligations with their shared history and renewed personal interest.
Former girlfriend of Simon Latch
Janie is Simon and Paula's daughter. She is deeply affected by the tension in her parents' marriage and is heartbroken when they finally announce their divorce.
Daughter of Simon Latch
Daughter of Paula Latch
Buck is one of Simon and Paula's sons. He begins picking up on gambling terminology from watching sports, reflecting his father's hidden habits.
Son of Simon Latch
Son of Paula Latch
Danny is Simon and Paula's son. He reacts emotionally to the news of his parents' impending divorce.
Son of Simon Latch
Son of Paula Latch
Teddy is an aggressive, flashy attorney hired to represent the Korsak brothers. He utilizes media leaks and rapid legal maneuvering to challenge the handling of Netty Barnett's estate.
Attorney for Clyde And Jerry Korsak
Legal adversary of Simon Latch
Detective Barr is a local police investigator who follows up on an anonymous tip regarding a suspicious death. He leads the evidence collection and strictly views the case through a lens of presumed motive.
Investigator of Simon Latch
Colleague of Cora Cook
Cora is the Commonwealth's Attorney, an older prosecutor known for her revealing clothing choices and steely rigor. She is highly skilled at weaving circumstantial evidence into a persuasive narrative of guilt.
Loretta is a charge nurse who oversees Netty's medical care following a severe car accident. She observes the constant flow of visitors and staff with access to the hospital rooms.
Oscar is an X-ray technician employed at the local hospital where Netty is treated. He frequently interacts with staff on the floor and becomes a person of interest to those observing the busy hospital environment.
Coworker of Loretta Goodwin
Judge Pointer is a local judge in Braxton who handles the initial legal maneuverings surrounding Netty Barnett's estate and subsequent criminal proceedings.
Judge overseeing Simon Latch
Appointer of Clement Gelly
Buddy is a principal at a high-net-worth wealth management firm in Atlanta. He acts as the financial advisor for the Korsak family, possessing the true history of their assets.
Financial advisor to Eleanor "Netty" Barnett
Former advisor to Harry Korsak
Harry is Netty's deceased husband and a former employee of the Coca-Cola company. He intentionally kept his sons away from his finances, creating a lasting sense of resentment and mystery regarding his estate.
Late husband of Eleanor "Netty" Barnett
Late father of Clyde And Jerry Korsak
Clement is a neutral attorney assigned to audit and manage Netty Barnett's estate. He investigates the actual value of her assets, uncovering the truth behind her financial claims.
Appointee of Judge Mary Blankenship Pointer
Investigator of Buddy Brown
Judge Shyam is a highly competent and ethical jurist. She imposes strict rules, such as gag orders, to limit media influence and ensure procedural fairness in a heavily publicized courtroom.
Zander is a skilled hacker operating outside the law. She specializes in obtaining secure digital records, employment files, and background information for clients who need unconventional assistance.
Hired hacker for Simon Latch
Associate of Spade And Chub
Alan is a disillusioned former lawyer who quit practicing law after witnessing gross corporate misconduct. He holds highly sensitive files detailing a major institutional cover-up.
Informant to Simon Latch
Arn is Simon's unpleasant and financially controlling stepfather. He dominates his wife's finances and refuses to assist his stepson during a crisis.
Stepfather of Simon Latch