Rating: 
Summary: Dissapointing Ending
Review: I thought that this was the best Grisham plot to date. I really liked the corrupt politics and extortion scam, I thought that it was very similiar to how our (united states) government really works. However I was extremely disapointed in the ending of the book. I think Grisham took the easy way out. It would have been much more interesting if the "main extortion" would have actually been reported to the media. Regardless, I couldnt put this book down and recommend it to all Grisham fans along with anyone who distrusts the government.
Rating: 
Summary: The Brethren
Review: easy reading, fast story telling and good for weekend reading. But there is no climax, and it's awful ending. I still don't get what is his point. I have to say that this is the worst book he has written ever. I guess I expected too much for John Grisham.
Rating: 
Summary: do not waste the money
Review: This is the first Grisham book I have had to make myself finish. No plot to speak of,no interesting main character. Dull and boring!
Rating:
Summary: Very disappointing
Review: I used to be a Grisham fan, but you can be let down by a writer just so many times. His last books have been mildly disappointing. With The Brethren he has conceived the most unbeliavable plot line, characters appear and disappear for no logical reason. Everything in this book is so one-dimensional and contrived that you never forget that it is only a piece of fiction - and bad fiction at that. Mr. Grisham was never a great writer, but he was always good entertainment. Not anymore.
Rating: 
Summary: The Brethren
Review: As good as, if not better than The Testament. I couldn't put it down
Rating:
Summary: Not your typical Grisham
Review: A not-so-typical thriller from the master of court room suspense. The story is situated in Florida, in a prison of all places, where three scrofulous judges do their time in a federal prison system. However, they do have a money making plan that is run from their "club-med" like prison. They perform an extortion scheme with the help of a drunkard lawyer. Their scheme, posing as a young homosexual man who wants a penpal, quickly nets them some big money from various rich, married men. However, they snare the wrong man: the front runner in the presidential race, who is a closet homosexual. The story doesn't end there as the candidate is backed by the CIA, who must protect their man at all costs.This story is like an Alfred Hitchcock suspense and less court room drama. The fact that the criminals are judges or lawyers doesn't play that much of a part in the book. I liked the book and found myself captivated by it, but I had a hard time finding someone to cheer for. The candidate was backed by the CIA and was a yes-man and could be bought. The judges were crooks. Their lawyer a bum. One sympathized with the men they extorted but they were minor players. This was different than Grisham's other books, which always have a hero to root for.
Rating:
Summary: This is a good book!
Review: The content keeps you interested into what will happen next even though the reader might think he/she already knows. Although this is not as good as The Firm, this kept me interested!The plot and content might be out of the ordinary,but again it keeps you hooked.I read this book in three days time! Cannot understand why others gave it such a bad review.
Rating:
Summary: Another Disappointment
Review: John Grishom is far more talented than this book reflects. The first several chapters hint at a rather good plot line, but from there if fizzles. The story line lacks any rising action and tends to just "go on." Also, the book ends without any wrap up or solid ending. The resolution of the conflict needs to be much more suspenseful and thrilling. The characters of this book also lack any depth. The background on the characters of the bretren group are soggy and lifeless. There is no intense emotion involved with them, so the reader tends to not care what they do. A good read if you need to cure your insomnia.
Rating:
Summary: Dark Comedy and Easy Ride
Review: The book jacket gives the plot synopsis, but what it doesn't tell the reader is that this dark comedy has a one-line joke: people take the easy ride in life! The three judges are fused into one character and this character moves through the day without conscience and with poor motivation, doing the easy thing. The lawyer takes the path of least resistance. The politician falls easily into the path that is made straight for him by a ruthless power figure, who is simply doing what needs to be done. It is like everyone is just killing time until time kills them! Money and/or power are offered as motivation, but the unquenchable thirst for them is simply not there. Even the desire for freedom is limp. John Grisham presents easily visible scuzzy people without falling into the use of gutter language. He tackles a sexual subject without pornographic language. He creates cynicism without judgment. He fleshes out characters who are what they are and remain that way from their initial introduction until their departure from the pages. I laughed at the end. The joke works.
Rating:
Summary: Grisham gets lazy
Review: I generally find it hard to put down a John Grisham book, but with The Brethren I had to force myself to pick it up. None of the charactors have any redeeming qualities. There is no one to root for, no one to care about, no one to like, no one to even pity. I just didn't give a hoot about what happened to anyone. The ending was unclimatic, but I was thrilled that it finally arrived.
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