| Plot Summary of The Pelican Brief |
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"A law student wrote a brief explaining her theory about how a Supreme Court Justice was murdered. It got into the wrong hands and whoever killed the Justice was after Darby. Her objective--who and why?"
Amarjot Biring, Resident Scholar
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"Darby Shaw wrote a brief that contained facts about two of the Supreme Court Justices being killed. The governement thinks she knows too much; they are out to kill her to destroy any evidence."
Rebecca , Resident Scholar
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"One night, Justice Rosenberg, the most liberal of the supreme court, and Justice Jensen, the most conservative, are killed. Why would someone kill the most liberal and the most conservative. It couldn't have been political. The FBI have no clues. Darby Shaw, a law student at Tulane, writes a brief. She figures out a connection betweent the two judges. Her brief is a very crazy idea, but it is all they have. She almost gets killed in a car bomb. Somebody found out about her brief. She contacts a reporter at the Washington Post. She tells him about her brief. He thinks that it could be the biggest story since Watergate. They run together, trying not to get killed. "
Geoff Pears, Resident Scholar
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" The book begins with the assassination of two Supreme Court Justices, by the names of Rosenberg and Jensen. The general populace can see no connection between the two, nor can they speculate as to why either would be killed--Rosenberg was rapidly approaching death by natural causes, and Jensen had never seemed to be too opinionated. The FBI is baffled; the Oval Office is in a state of chaotic stress. The list of suspects seems far too obvious, and proves to be filled with dead-ends. However, Tulane law student Darby Shaw begins an investigation of her own--stirring up whirlpool of suspense and terror.
Darby researches Rosenberg and Jensen's court records, searching for a similarity in beliefs, something that would give someone a cause to kill them both. Once she has found her answer, she composes a brief, explaining the identity of the man who hired the assassin, his motive, and his position. She conjectures that it was Victor Mattiece, a man who had an upcoming appeal to regain oil-drilling land that had formerly been protected due to the endangered brown pelicans on the territory. Jensen and Rosenberg, both staunch environmentalists, would have decreased his chances of winning the appeal had they stayed on the Supreme Court. Being friendly with the president, Mattiece knew that he would appoint new justices that would rule more in his favor. Darby gives a copy of what she names "The Pelican Brief" to Thomas Callahan, her lover and Constitutional Law professor. After he reads it, he passes a copy to his friend Gavin Verheek, a lawyer with the FBI. Verheek then passes it on to FBI director Voyles, who, in turn, passes it on to the president and vice president. Shortly after, a bomb, intended for Darby, is placed on Callahan's car while the two are in a restaurant. Darby does not enter the car, telling Thomas that she will walk home due to his lack of sobriety. Immediatley after starting the car, it explodes, killing Callahan instantly. After going on the run, Darby speaks with Verheek, arranging to meet him for FBI protection. He too, is killed, by the notorious assassin Khamel (hired by Mattiece).
After running and hiding for days, Darby contacts Gray Grantham of the Washington Post, and together, they strive to expose Mattiece--and save their own lives.
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Mary Dwyer, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of The Pelican Brief |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book
descript. of violence and chases - 30%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 20%
Tone of story
- very upbeat
Time/era of story:
- 1980's-1999
Spying/Terrorism Thriller
Yes
Cloak & Dagger Plotlets:
- investigating murder of politician(s)
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Legal Thriller
Yes
Legal Plotlets
- investigating murder of lawyer(s)
- finding out whether someone is really guilty
Main Character
Gender
- Female
Profession/status:
- student
Age:
- 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How much violence does he/she use?
- none
Ethnicity/Race
- White/American
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- an organization
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Setting
City?
Yes
City:
- New York
- Washington D.C.
- New Orleans
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- very gorey descriptions deaths/dead bodies
How many deaths?
- 3-4
Sex
Yes
Amount of dialog
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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