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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
I have a really hard time enjoying books with characters that are totally unsympathetic. And not only that, but it was an abrupt twist after having basically an unreliable character much of the way through the book. Because I enjoyed it most of the way through, it ended up 3 stars, but I won't read it again.
I miss reading Grisham! this was a good one, and a quick read
It's been so long since I've read a John Grisham mystery! (Although I did enjoy revisiting [b:Skipping Christmas|5357|Skipping Christmas|John Grisham|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347598629s/5357.jpg|1588709] on audio this past Christmas.) This was an enjoyable read, but I agree with others that it wasn't up to Grisham's usual standard. Reading this did make me want to go back and catch up on the few other Grisham mysteries I see I've missed over the past few years.
The author's note at the end was a disappointment. I didn't want to know that research wasn't a priority and accuracy wasn't crucial. It just sounds lazy when he says "long paragraphs of fiction were used to avoid looking up facts." What? Don't tell me that. It brings the whole book down a notch for me. 2.5 stars.
The author's note at the end was a disappointment. I didn't want to know that research wasn't a priority and accuracy wasn't crucial. It just sounds lazy when he says "long paragraphs of fiction were used to avoid looking up facts." What? Don't tell me that. It brings the whole book down a notch for me. 2.5 stars.
Typical Grisham. Entertaining plot. Essentially the same characters from novel to novel. And no brains cells were harmed in the reading of the novel. In three weeks I won't remember if I read this one or a different Grisham. Typical Grisham.
Good but not as entertaining as Grisham's previous novels..
Once again John Grisham does not disappoint. I was part way through [b:Life After Life|15790842|Life After Life|Kate Atkinson|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1358173808s/15790842.jpg|21443207], hating it, and on vacation...so I chucked it for this and ended up much happier.
The story starts with a federal judge being murdered. An inmate in a white collar prison claims to know the identity of the killer and strikes a deal to provide that information to the feds in exchange for his freedom. The story is definitely not as straightforward as that, but that's at least a starting point.
The book is a fun romp - there's Witness Protection, a love story, a main character similar to [a:Nelson DeMille|1238|Nelson DeMille|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1377030719p2/1238.jpg]'s John Corey, a twisty plot, and about 40 pages where I was completely lost as to what was going on. I flipped back a bunch of pages, reread, was still lost, and soldiered on. The payoff at the end was worth it.
My only criticism was a few paragraphs in a few places where Grisham got on his soapbox around prison reform and legal system reform. But I'll allow him that...as long as he keeps writing books that are fun to read.
The story starts with a federal judge being murdered. An inmate in a white collar prison claims to know the identity of the killer and strikes a deal to provide that information to the feds in exchange for his freedom. The story is definitely not as straightforward as that, but that's at least a starting point.
The book is a fun romp - there's Witness Protection, a love story, a main character similar to [a:Nelson DeMille|1238|Nelson DeMille|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1377030719p2/1238.jpg]'s John Corey, a twisty plot, and about 40 pages where I was completely lost as to what was going on. I flipped back a bunch of pages, reread, was still lost, and soldiered on. The payoff at the end was worth it.
My only criticism was a few paragraphs in a few places where Grisham got on his soapbox around prison reform and legal system reform. But I'll allow him that...as long as he keeps writing books that are fun to read.
While the book ended quite well, I must say that from the 55% mark until the 80% mark I was incredibly bored. I almost stopped reading the book completely because I genuinely did not care what happened in the end. I'm glad I finished it, though, because I didn't want to hate this book. It had had a pretty interesting beginning and the end wasn't so bad.
pretty standard Grisham. quick and enjoyable but lacking substance.