Rating: 
Summary: Good, but leaves you wanting more
Review: I have been a reader of John Grisham's books for years, and although his books are often rather predictable (lawyer loves law, lawyer finds great job of some sort, lawyer has life-altering experince, lawyer narrowly escapes death/some tradgedy, lawyer declares he hates law, lawyer sails off in a boat or something), they are usually fairly entertaining. His last few books, however, have left me wanting more at the end (does anyone want to talk about The Partner??), and The Brethren was no different. I thought the dual storylines of 3 judges in prison with a money making scheme and the rise of an unknown Senator to the Oval Office was an interesting concept. But the book was also very predictable. At the beginning, Grisham goes on about how Aaron Lake is the perfect presidental candidate, which immediately sets off warning bells that this man has a huge flaw of some kind, and, guessing by what we've been told in previous chapters, he's probably gay and being scammed by the Brethren. The only thing I wondered about was how Lake would be exposed. My other major gripe is with the ending. I felt like, after reading the last page, that I should just flip back to page one and begin reading all over again to find out what happens next. The only thing that changes is the locale. There was really no sense of closure - you can't put the book down and confidently know that there has been any kind of conclusion. I don't think the Brethren should have just packed off to Europe and lived out their days on the Mediterranean (that would have been totally out of character), but it would have been nice if at least something had changed - their ad in the magazine, or even the magazine they published it in. I kind of got the sense that Grisham didn't really know how to end the book, so he just didn't end it, and instead left it purposefully ambiguous, like a movie expecting a sequel. Overall, this book wasn't bad. It was still interesting, and a quick, relatively enjoyable read. But it doesn't really feel like Grisham at his best, and leaves you wanting more at the end.
Rating: 
Summary: Oh, brother
Review: I read "The Firm" when it was first published, and immediately wondered why the world was making so much of this Grisham guy. I thought the writing was clunky, the plotting unbelievable and the characters absolutely empty. So years later I decided to take another pass to see if perhaps his enduring popularity indicated some kind of creative development on Grisham's part. If "The Brethren" is a representative sample of his work, than the answer is "no way!" In fact, I would have thought in impossible for a man to write so many novels without even moderately improving his skills.Once again, his writing is clunky and amateurish (featuring such grammatical whoppers as "If crying would help, then he would've certainly had a good one.") and his story almost unspeakably silly. The novel concerns two parallel narratives: the first involving a group of disgraced judges in a federal prison who begin a scam which involves extorting money from wealthy and closeted gay men. The other narrative is about Aaron Lake, a straight-shooting senator who makes a deal with the CIA to put him on track to become the next President. The judges in prison plot is certainly the less absurd and the more interesting, and that alone might have made an interesting premise for a novel, but the political narrative is utterly devoid of any credibility. Lake, who appears to be a fairly stand-up guy, doesn't even blink when the CIA wants to orchestrate international conflicts, the sort that result in people dying, in order to promote their agenda. In other words, these characters are cardboard cut-outs, placed in situations by Grisham, but neither thinking nor feeling the way people think or feel. I will admit that his writing has a certain narrative energy that kept me reading, by it kept me reading despite, not because of, any pleasure I might be taking in the novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Better than recent works, not as good as earlier books
Review: Overall i thought this was a very entertaining book. Grisham's writing isn't going to win any awards, but, the plot was interesting & kept me reading, which is why i read his books. I read the last 300 pages in 1 1/2 days. Only negative was that the ending seemed like it came together way too fast & easy- Almost like it was an afterthought. I liked the 2 plot lines intertwining. There was really no obvious good guy that had to come out on top, so the outcome was not a sure thing. Also, the CIA & The Brethren's games w/each other were great improvements over his recent good guy plays puppetmaster type stuff in recent books. Overall i'd rate this book about 4th or 5th on his list. Below his earlier works like The Firm, A Time to Kill, The Pelican Brief, & maybe The Rainmaker (Another book ruined by a bad end),but, above his more recent, you-could-see-the-end-coming-a-mile-away-books like The Partner(also totally implausible..even for Grisham),The Runaway Jury, The Street Lawyer, The Testament (I'd put this 6th), & the way too long & boring The Chamber..Never read The Client
Rating:
Summary: classic grisham
Review: Grisham has once again written a masterpiece, yet without clearly identifying a main protagonist. The story constantly changes the central character but still manages to advance the plot as is needed. Unfold an interesting tale of criminality or evil doings that moves at a quick pace and never gets boring is what Grisham does best. In his latest novel, Grisham brings a modern factor into his storytelling. He shows the endlessly repeated image of gay men reduced to quivering jelly at the threat of exposure that is hard for the average reader to identify with. While most of the characters aren't likable they aren't unlikable either. The interesting part of the book is watching the interactions between the characters. While some books are filled with action and sudden plot twists this book is more subtle and always leaves open many different plot paths to hold your interest. The influence of money and company interests, the manipulation of the people by media are all factors that Grisham has gone to again and again in almost all of his books. This book is unique in that it follows two apparently different stories until they predictably meet in the middle. This another example of Grisham's classic writing style which still turns out page turners.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting plot
Review: The book is well written., looks like two story lines that are tied together extremely well. The two premises are very interesting. Three imprisoned judges pulling off for them what appears to be a safe blackmail scheme. And the CIA buying the Next predident of The USA. A book with no romance in it, and thank God. For this book is funny and easy to read. But it; you will not be sorry. Much better than his last couple.
Rating:
Summary: A disappointing read
Review: While THE BRETHREN has Grisham's characteristic pace and styling, two major flaws made it a disappointing read. First, there were no likeable characters - no one to cheer for or fear for. Second, the plot lacked suspense - likely because I didn't really care what happened to any of the characters. Grisham seems to have written this one while in a cynical funk.
Rating:
Summary: Judges in Jail. COOL!!!!!!
Review: I passed on the last few Grisham books, but as a lawyer I couldn't resist reading about judges in jail. (Could there be a song in that?) While this does not live up to Grisham's early novels, it is well written and has lots of intrigue. It is certainly worth a look.
Rating:
Summary: GOOD BUT NOT HIS BEST WORK
Review: I am a John Grisham fan and I thought this book was good, though I cannot say, personally, that I would rank it among his best. The plots are quite interesting. I guess my mind could never think of a scam like the one the prisoners come up with which is why I was impressed. But the characters lacked the depth found in most of Grisham's books. Normally when I finish a JG book, I give it to my husband to read. I did not with this one.
Rating:
Summary: A good book but not his best
Review: I enjoyed this book but it was hard to find a "good guy." Three former judges sitting in a federal prison were trying to hook rich men by placing classified ads in gay magazines. Their extortion scam heats up when they hook a huge fish, the front runner in the presidential race. Thing is, this fish has the FBI on his side. I won't give any more away except to say that I was happily surprised by the ending. Grisham is an excellent weaver of fiction and he keeps proving it. I read the preview of "The Painted House" and it seems like quite a departure from the norm.
Rating:
Summary: First time may not always be the charm
Review: This was my first time reading a book by john grisham.For years i have read reviews of his books and have also seen some of the movies made from his writings. I guess i was never impressed.The Brethren was a book club selection and it was okay but I probably will not read anything else by him unless it's assigned reading.The whole concept of these guys having the run of the prison was too farfetched and security in the prison was so bad that a man could just walk away. I wondered too why the guy who had buried the money under the tree didn't go and get that.These guys weren't that wealthy.I also didn't like the way the book ended. they just started their con game all over again somwhere else and it was okay.
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