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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
It doesn’t take law firm Bendini, Lambert & Locke long to entice one of Harvard Law’s top five students to consider a job offer despite the firm being based in Memphis, Tennessee. Mitchell Y. McDeere is young, impressionable, hungry, recently married, and up to the ears - $23,00 - in student loan debt. To Royce McKnight (managing partner), Oliver Lambert (senior partner), and Lamar Quin (not yet made partner), McDeere is the perfect fit for their firm. Willing to do whatever it takes to make money, McDeere racks up the billable hours and spends more time at the office than at home.
It all changes one day when McDeere is having lunch at Lansky’s Deli. Special Agent Wayne Tarrance of the FBI approaches him and gives McDeere three pieces of advice and an offer he soon discovers he can’t ignore.
Other than a short Christmas novella, I’ve not had the pleasure of reading any of John Grisham’s books before. I had seen the movie over 20 years ago, and when I was surprised with a gifted ARC of Grisham’s sequel (The Firm #2), I knew I had to go back and read about McDeere’s work at The Firm. I loved this book and have added Grisham to my auto-read author list. Needless to say, I can’t wait to read The Exchange.
It all changes one day when McDeere is having lunch at Lansky’s Deli. Special Agent Wayne Tarrance of the FBI approaches him and gives McDeere three pieces of advice and an offer he soon discovers he can’t ignore.
Other than a short Christmas novella, I’ve not had the pleasure of reading any of John Grisham’s books before. I had seen the movie over 20 years ago, and when I was surprised with a gifted ARC of Grisham’s sequel (The Firm #2), I knew I had to go back and read about McDeere’s work at The Firm. I loved this book and have added Grisham to my auto-read author list. Needless to say, I can’t wait to read The Exchange.
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
This was an interesting legal thriller. However, the female characters were a little flat and the ending was a little disappointing.
I listened to the audiobook.
I listened to the audiobook.
Legal thrillers aren't something I've ever been drawn to but I decided to give a John Grisham a try for 2019. This book was well executed and well written. I knew the movie adaptation existed but I hadn't seen it. I struggled initially with imagining Mitch McDeere as Tom Cruise but after the first chapter I had my own picture in my mind.
I liked the story, the plot. The way the premise unfolded and we learn the intricacies of the firm and the mob was great. I liked how smart and driven McDeere was and but also how easily he fell for the firm's line. The things that fell a bit were Ray McDeere and Tammy. I thought they weren't particularly compelling and needed something else. I was also less thrilled with Tolar being killed away from the story. I thought he deserved more.
Also what is the moral universe of this story? Mitch steals criminal money and leaves with his wife and brother to the Caribbean. I disliked that Mitch seems to have learned nothing from his run in with criminality. He seems like the same hot-shot and arrogant ass that started the book. Abby is chastened and cut off from her family. She's with a man who cheated on her and a creepy felon brother in law. And Mitch wants to introduce a kid to this entourage.
The film is equally problematic. The ending is different, with Mitch and Abby heading up north and inexplicably avoiding trouble with the mob. But as a standalone work, the book succeeds when Mitch is seen as smart and capable, but struggles with the lack of reflection on his part. What role did his greed lead him to this firm? Why is he never moved by altruism? The book is good but a more sympathetic Mitch would've helped.
I liked the story, the plot. The way the premise unfolded and we learn the intricacies of the firm and the mob was great. I liked how smart and driven McDeere was and but also how easily he fell for the firm's line. The things that fell a bit were Ray McDeere and Tammy. I thought they weren't particularly compelling and needed something else. I was also less thrilled with Tolar being killed away from the story. I thought he deserved more.
Also what is the moral universe of this story? Mitch steals criminal money and leaves with his wife and brother to the Caribbean. I disliked that Mitch seems to have learned nothing from his run in with criminality. He seems like the same hot-shot and arrogant ass that started the book. Abby is chastened and cut off from her family. She's with a man who cheated on her and a creepy felon brother in law. And Mitch wants to introduce a kid to this entourage.
The film is equally problematic. The ending is different, with Mitch and Abby heading up north and inexplicably avoiding trouble with the mob. But as a standalone work, the book succeeds when Mitch is seen as smart and capable, but struggles with the lack of reflection on his part. What role did his greed lead him to this firm? Why is he never moved by altruism? The book is good but a more sympathetic Mitch would've helped.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
I read this when it came out, and re-reading it now in preparation for its ‘sequel’. (Before I forget- do not read the sequel
Thrilling plot with splashes of sexism, racism, homophobia and infidelity at the core of the story though
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Really enjoyed this, for a slow reader I read this in 1.5 days! Very close to 4*, would have been pushed up if parts in spoiler tags added. Learning the author was a criminal lawyer added a fun layer after reading!
Enjoyed the writing style, the first two thirds were very different from the last. I did feel that there was a little build up that didn't pay off,I would have liked to have actually seen a confrontation between Mitch and the law partners and their sentencing, how they grapple with that. I also agree with lots of other reviews that there seemed to be a lot of time spent on talking about salaries and mustache twirling. Also whilst some moments of sexism/racism from the lawyers made sense and were relevant to their character, a few times in Grisham's descriptions of characters this felt too much.
Overall, a really good read. Really tense and exciting, a classic 'cant put it down book,' will look forward to watching the film and reading some more of Grisham's books.
Enjoyed the writing style, the first two thirds were very different from the last. I did feel that there was a little build up that didn't pay off,
Overall, a really good read. Really tense and exciting, a classic 'cant put it down book,' will look forward to watching the film and reading some more of Grisham's books.
"Have you ever made love on the beach?"
Mitch hesitated for a slight second. "Uh no."
"Then drink up, sailor. Let's get drunk and make a baby."
Wow. W O W. The last lines of this book are a punchline about how the main character cheats on the wife and he completely gets away with it because she never finds out. Yeah, the joke is on Mitch's completely faithful, loving wife who risked her life for him for the entirety of the book. What a completely disgusting and sour note to end an otherwise meh book on.
GROSS.
Honestly, the set-up of this book is way more interesting than the latter half. There's hardly any resolution, climax, or emotional catharsis - Mitch never actually confronts the bosses who were planning on killing him, and in fact, their plan to kill him never gets off the ground, so this is really just 500 pages of listening to Mitch talk to an FBI agent without getting much done. I have to presume that Grisham has literally never spoken to an editor in his life, because that is the only explanation for why this book isn't half as long as it is.
... also none of the character names sound like they belong to human beings, ok, sorry i'm done now i really didn't hate this book THAT much, in all honesty i was planning to give it a 4 because it is what it's trying to be but the final exchange really pissed me off and now all i can see are flames on the side of my face
Mitch hesitated for a slight second. "Uh no."
"Then drink up, sailor. Let's get drunk and make a baby."
Wow. W O W. The last lines of this book are a punchline about how the main character cheats on the wife and he completely gets away with it because she never finds out. Yeah, the joke is on Mitch's completely faithful, loving wife who risked her life for him for the entirety of the book. What a completely disgusting and sour note to end an otherwise meh book on.
GROSS.
Honestly, the set-up of this book is way more interesting than the latter half. There's hardly any resolution, climax, or emotional catharsis - Mitch never actually confronts the bosses who were planning on killing him, and in fact, their plan to kill him never gets off the ground, so this is really just 500 pages of listening to Mitch talk to an FBI agent without getting much done. I have to presume that Grisham has literally never spoken to an editor in his life, because that is the only explanation for why this book isn't half as long as it is.
... also none of the character names sound like they belong to human beings, ok, sorry i'm done now i really didn't hate this book THAT much, in all honesty i was planning to give it a 4 because it is what it's trying to be but the final exchange really pissed me off and now all i can see are flames on the side of my face