Duplicitous Nature of a Psychopath/Motif

Grisham gives the reader a look into the duplicitous nature of the thoughts and lifestyle of a psychopath as he describes Ross Bannick. Even though Bannick is a serial killer, he manages to maintain the facade of a normal life. Bannick feels no remorse, only a sense of power when he kills his victims. Finally, Bannick is not afraid of being in trouble if he is caught. He fears getting caught because he does not want to stop killing.

As a sitting judge, Bannick appears to live a normal, respectable lifestyle even though he secretly has a hit list. Gray is surprised when Lacy tells him that the suspected serial killer is a sitting judge in Florida. Gray responds: “Wow. Quite unusual. Narcissistic, split personality, able to live in one world as a respected, productive member of society while spending his...