"The Pelican Brief" is a legal thriller novel written by John Grisham, published in 1992. The story follows a law student named Darby Shaw who writes a legal brief speculating on the motives behind the assassinations of two Supreme Court justices. Her brief attracts the attention of powerful figures, putting her life in danger. As Darby seeks to uncover the truth, she teams up with a journalist named Gray Grantham to expose a conspiracy involving high-level corruption. The novel explores themes of justice, power, and the risks of seeking the truth in a dangerous political landscape.