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3.2 AVERAGE
3.2 AVERAGE
This can hardly be called a follow-up to The Firm. It has hardly anything to do with that book. And Mitch McDeere is arguably Grisham's most unlikeable protagonist. Was anyone really asking for more of him?
He's marginally nicer this time around but lacks any depth. Zero character development. Zero appeal.
There is also no story arc. None. It's incredible, actually.
There is no suspense. No threat. At no point is he or his family in peril. Instead, he's trying to save a woman he barely knows after she gets kidnapped in Libya by terrorists. Then it's just Mitch taking private planes all over the world trying to raise $100M for her ransom. Nothing much else happens.
60% of the book is:
"Did [insert company/govt] agree to contribute to the ransom fund?"
"We're still waiting."
"Okay, I'll check back tomorrow."
A better title would've been The Fundraiser.
It's also ridiculously unbelievable, even for Grisham.
Grisham's worst book by far.
He's marginally nicer this time around but lacks any depth. Zero character development. Zero appeal.
There is also no story arc. None. It's incredible, actually.
There is no suspense. No threat. At no point is he or his family in peril. Instead, he's trying to save a woman he barely knows after she gets kidnapped in Libya by terrorists. Then it's just Mitch taking private planes all over the world trying to raise $100M for her ransom. Nothing much else happens.
60% of the book is:
"Did [insert company/govt] agree to contribute to the ransom fund?"
"We're still waiting."
"Okay, I'll check back tomorrow."
A better title would've been The Fundraiser.
It's also ridiculously unbelievable, even for Grisham.
Grisham's worst book by far.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Violence, Kidnapping
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Minor: Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Islamophobia
Sadly, the love affair is over.
Extremely disappointed in this novel. I’m sorry I spent the time finishing it. Definitely NOT what is expected of John Grisham. I need to go back and reread his earlier works for a reminder of why I feel in love with his books.
I remember the John Grisham from “A Time to Kill”, “Pelican Brief”, and “The Racketeer”. I loved the non-legal “A Painted House, “Playing for Pizza”, and “Sooley”.
THIS is NOT the “reading until 3 am, knowing I’ll be exhausted at work, just have to finish this book” Grisham novels I fell in love with.
Extremely disappointed in this novel. I’m sorry I spent the time finishing it. Definitely NOT what is expected of John Grisham. I need to go back and reread his earlier works for a reminder of why I feel in love with his books.
I remember the John Grisham from “A Time to Kill”, “Pelican Brief”, and “The Racketeer”. I loved the non-legal “A Painted House, “Playing for Pizza”, and “Sooley”.
THIS is NOT the “reading until 3 am, knowing I’ll be exhausted at work, just have to finish this book” Grisham novels I fell in love with.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Did I miss the ending somehow?
All that lead up to -- nothing? No resolution? No twist? I want to know WHO DID IT and why!
All that lead up to -- nothing? No resolution? No twist? I want to know WHO DID IT and why!