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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 the Hardcover edition.
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"
--This text refers to the
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format: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!
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
Format: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
Format: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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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Brethren
I don't do so often but you pretty much know what you're going to get when you pick up a Grisham book: a legal themed story, not too complex, that has unsuspecting persons... Read more
Published 21 days ago by Casper Denck
Prescient or far-fetched?
The opening has a highly original scene, consisting of a sitting of an informal court inside a low-risk federal prison. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Fusionfan
A brilliant read!
This is the first book that I've read by this author, but it will certainly not be the last! A well written story with a lot of tension and suspense. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Digby
Great writing, interesting premise
I first read this novel when it was published in 2000. It was the first novel by Grisham that I ever read, and it set me on a two-month-long Grisham-marathon. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Stefan
Lack-luster and unentertaining
Once again Grisham writes about but fails to confront prejudice in this somewhat lack-luster novel about a trio of imprisoned judges whose scam blackmails rich gay Americans. Read more
Published 17 months ago by J. R. Johnson-Rollings
John Grisham Novels
I've read approximately 90% of John Grisham's novels as he always tells a good story with an ever-winding plot. This is a prime example of that.
Published 21 months ago by Ms. A. James
The Brethren - John Grisham
I am a great fan of John Grisham but I did not enjoy this book as much as I have the other books I have read. The plot is quite clever but it is not gripping - i.e. Read more
Published on 2 May 2010 by Locky
I do not recommend this book
While this book is certainly well-written and gripping, the plot, especially the end, is shallow. In addition, the long-winded digressions about the presidential race are quite... Read more
Published on 14 Jan 2010 by M. Casanova
Good, but not that good
I don't really know what to say about this book... it started well, then dragged, then picked up, then dragged, then quickly resolved itself and then ended! Read more
Published on 28 Feb 2009 by R. L. Judd
Totally absorbing read
My favourite book from this author. Very believable characters, even if you don't warm to any of them -- even the blackmail victims for the most part aren't particularly likeable... Read more
Published on 22 Feb 2009 by CrinkleCutChip
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