Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of The Client. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Bookish Wisdom earns from qualifying purchases. This doesn't change our picks or your price.
Quick answer: Eleven-year-old Mark Sway, who learned from a suicidal Mafia lawyer where the body of a murdered US senator is buried, leads his lawyer Reggie Love to the body in New Orleans. In exchange for his testimony, Mark and his mother and brother enter the witness protection program, choosing to move to Australia under new identities.
Quick facts
– Book: The Client by John Grisham
– First published: 1993
– Type: A legal thriller
– Tone of the ending: Satisfying
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
Mark and his brother Ricky witness lawyer Jerome Clifford's suicide. Clifford told Mark where Barry “The Blade” Muldanno hid the senator's body. The FBI and the ambitious prosecutor Roy Foltrigg pressure Mark; the Mafia threatens him. Mark hires Reggie, a lawyer.
What Happens at the End of The Client
Mark refuses to tell the authorities what he knows, even when a juvenile court judge sends him to detention, because the Mafia has threatened his family; his little brother Ricky is in hospital in shock, and their trailer is burned. Mark escapes from the hospital and, with Reggie, a sharp former alcoholic lawyer who charged him a single dollar, sneaks to New Orleans to make sure the body is really where Clifford said. They find it buried under a boat in Muldanno's lawyer's garage, barely escaping the mobsters searching for it. Reggie then negotiates a deal: the body's location in exchange for witness protection for Mark, his mother Dianne and Ricky, with good medical care for Ricky and a new home of their choosing. The family chooses Australia. Mark says a tearful goodbye to Reggie at the airport.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- Mark finds the body.
- Mark enters witness protection.
- Muldanno is caught.
- Reggie stays behind.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Mark Sway | Enters witness protection |
| Reggie Love | Mark's lawyer |
| Barry Muldanno | Arrested |
| Roy Foltrigg | The prosecutor |
What the Ending Means
The ending shows courage and a child's resourcefulness.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Readers love Mark and Reggie's bond, a streetwise kid and a lawyer who once lost her own children. Many say it is one of Grisham's most emotional books.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Courage. Mark's bravery.
Justice. The system's flaws.
Family. Mark protects his family.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of The Client as satisfying. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected John Grisham to do with the story, so it is worth asking friends how they felt before you compare notes.
Who Will Like This Ending
Readers who enjoy endings that are satisfying will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how John Grisham closes the story, which is exactly why many readers look it up. Either way, the final chapters reward a second look once you know where everything is heading, because small details from the middle of the book start to matter. If you are reading with a group, agree beforehand whether everyone has finished, so nobody has the last chapters spoiled.
Book Versus Adaptation
The 1994 film with Susan Sarandon follows the ending.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading The Client with a book club or a friend, these questions work well once everyone has finished:
- Did the ending surprise you, or had you seen it coming from the first chapters?
- What does the final scene say about courage, and do you agree with John Grisham's view?
- Which character made the most important choice in the last part of the book, and was it the right one?
- How would the story feel if it had ended one chapter earlier or one chapter later?
- Does the ending leave you hopeful about the characters, or do you worry about what comes next?
- Would you describe the ending as satisfying, or would you choose a different word?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces courage and how the ending answers it.
- Track each final choice. The table above shows where every main character ends up, so ask which of those outcomes was earned.
- Notice what John Grisham leaves unsaid. Gaps in the last pages are often deliberate, and they are where most of the debate about the ending begins.
- Listen for echoes. Images, phrases or settings from earlier in The Client often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of The Client earned by what came before it, or did it feel sudden?
- Which character's final moment affected you most, and why?
- If you could change one thing about the last chapters, what would it be?
- Did the ending change how you think about the opening pages?
Check price of The Client on Amazon
Books to Read After The Client
- The Firm by John Grisham
- The Pelican Brief by John Grisham
Related: The Client by John Grisham: Summary and Key Takeaways · The Judge’s List by John Grisham: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of The Client?
Eleven-year-old Mark Sway, who learned from a suicidal Mafia lawyer where the body of a murdered US senator is buried, leads his lawyer Reggie Love to the body in New Orleans. In exchange for his testimony, Mark and his mother and brother enter the witness protection program, choosing to move to Australia under new identities.
Is the ending of The Client happy or sad?
Most readers call it satisfying.
What does the ending of The Client mean?
The ending shows courage and a child's resourcefulness.
Is the ending of The Client the same in the adaptation?
The 1994 film with Susan Sarandon follows the ending.
Who wrote The Client and when was it published?
The Client was written by John Grisham and first published in 1993.
Is The Client worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy legal thrillers. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how John Grisham prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read The Client before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.