- Paperback: 448 pages
- Publisher: Arrow; New Ed edition (1 Mar 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0099280256
- ISBN-13: 978-0099280255
- Product Dimensions: 11 x 3.2 x 17.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (106 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 297,121 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Brethren
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
John Grisham's novels have all been so systematically successful that it is easy to forget he is just one man toiling away silently with a pen, experimenting and improving with each book. While not as gifted a prose stylist as Scott Turow, Grisham is among the best plotters in the thriller business and he infuses his books with a moral valence and creative vision that set them apart from their peers.
The Brethren is in many respects his most daring and accomplished book yet. The novel grows from two separate subplots. In the first, three imprisoned ex-judges (the "brethren" of the title), frustrated by their loss of power and influence, concoct an elaborate blackmail scheme preying on wealthy closeted gay men. The second story traces the rise of presidential candidate Aaron Lake, a man essentially created by CIA directory Teddy Maynard to fulfil Maynard's plans for restoring the power of his beleaguered agency.
Grisham's tight control of the two meandering threads leaves the reader guessing through most of the opening chapters how and when these two worlds will collide. Also impressive is Grisham's careful portraiture. Justice Hatlee Beech in particular is a fascinating, tragic anti-hero: a millionaire judge with an appointment for life who was rendered divorced, bankrupt and friendless after his conviction for drunk-driving homicide.
The book's cynical view of Presidential politics and criminal justice casts a somewhat gloomy shadow over the tale. CIA director Teddy Maynard is an all powerful demon with absolute knowledge and control of the public will and public funds. Even his candidate, Congressman Lake, is a pawn in Maynard's egomaniacal game of ad campaigns, illicit contributions and international intrigue. In the end, The Brethren marks a transition in Grisham's career towards a more thoughtful narrative style with less interest in the big-payoff blockbuster ending. But that's not to say that the last 50 pages won't keep you reading late into the early hours.--Patrick O'Kelley --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"Terrific storytelling by one of the masters of the game."--"USA Today
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"Gripping . . . will hook you from the first page and won't let you go."--"New York Post"
"Fast-paced and action-packed . . . You'll be thoroughly entertained."--New Orleans" Times-Picayune"
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"A crackerjack tale.""--Entertainment Weekly"
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Brethren A Review,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Brethren (Mass Market Paperback)
This isn't the first Grisham novel I've read so I think it's safe to say that this is book somewhat unlike his others. Here, Grisham provides a real page turner that keeps the suspense going until the very last page. The characters in the novel are entirely believable from a bumbling and incompetent lawyer to the trio of clapped-out judges who share centre stage in the story (at times, caricatures of themselves). As usual Grisham takes time in developing the characters and presents each of them in a distinctly coherent way.I'd truly hate to give the game away but, in short, with a subtle twist near the end of the story you'd be a fool to miss it!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best John Grisham Book Written To Date,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Brethren (Paperback)
Having read all the John Grisham novels published to date, I bought The Brethren on a Saturday afternoon, when I got home I started to read it and couldn't put it down until I had finished early on Sunday morning. Two seperate stories that intertwine and come together, to create a story that holds you captivated until the final page. All his books are good but I think this is his best yet, I highly recommend it, if you like legal and political thriller you will not be disappointed.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A Decent Holiday Read,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Brethren (Paperback)
This isn't Grisham writing with passion; he's filling his time before embarking on another, better, idea, it seems. Having said that though, the premise of the story is an interesting one and, while the tale gets lost as the author indulges himself in his knowledge of Presidential primaries (and judging from the 2004 race Grisham does know of what he speaks), there are just enough confrontations and discoveries to keep a Grisham fan turning the pages until the - disappointing - end.
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