The Firm

Rating:
Summary: Your basic nightmare come true
Review: Grisham's first book describes one of our society's basic nightmares come true in a way that keeps you turning the pages till the very end where you might be a bit surprised about the solution but I don't want to give the story away and spoil the fun so I won't write anything about the ending.

Mitch McDeere is a law student in the last year of the university who is asked by a little law firm in Memphis to work for them for an unbelievable amount of money and other bits (car, house, etc.). Although it seems too beautiful to be true, Mitch accepts the offer but the dream becomes a nightmare very quickly.

The house, the car is bugged, lawyers begin to disappear, the FBI investigates, molests Mitch and as he passes the bar exam he knows that there's no right way out for him. He starts to play a trick which might be his very last trick... if he ever succeeds in playing the trick.

This book is still the best of Grisham, tightly paced, no disturbing side-stories, shocking and keeps you guessing till the end. Yes, we all know, Mitch will get away with it. The only question is: how?

Rating:
Summary: Smart guy turns tables on Mafia, FBI
Review: I was disappointed in this novel. I read "The Brethren," a later work by Grisham, and found it interesting. "The Firm" is a bore. It's a "reverse sting" kind of thing, but there's no tension or real struggle here.

Why? Because it's all about the hero and heroine, and the other guys, mostly bad guys, are just cardboard nobodies. You've heard of the Keystone Kops? These guys are funnier in their ineptitude. It reminded me of a Mel Brooks comedy the way the Mafioso and the FBI keep stepping on each other's feet. Meanwhile brilliant Mitch, his brilliant brother (speaks how many languages that he learned in prison?), and his brilliant wife (suckers one of the dumb lawyers into spilling the beans), slip off into the night on a little boat.

You'll waste a lot of time reading this book. I didn't see the movie, so can't compare there, but here's the bottom line: Mitch's opposition is no threat to him because they are all so utterly inept. You know he's going to make it, no problem. There's no tension built up.

On the positive side, for those interested in local scenary, maybe the settings in Memphis and the Cayman Islands would be of interest.

I noticed that Grisham presented a theme in both "The Brethren" and in this book: sailing off into the sunset, never a fixed abode, just living on the boat and moving on when ready. You think he's doing this now? Or has done it?

Diximus.

Rating:
Summary: A Book that will keep you saying WOW!
Review: I tried reading other kinds of books, like Stephen King books but they just didnt do it for me. The action started way to late. However, in The Firm the action started right in the begininning of the book. After the first 40 pages I could already notice something wasnt quite right about the Firm. This made me want to find out even more. Some of the situations that Mitch Mc Deere got himself out of were pure genius on Grisham's behalf. It was also the plot as a whole was just superb. I urge everyone to read it. The thrill of this book will keep you yurning pages until you finish. It had a fully satisfying ending. I just couldnt stop think WOW how did he get himself out of that. It is my new favorite book and I cant wait to read some more of his book. Also , if you like the Firm you will also enjoy the client.

Rating:
Summary: A classic!
Review: I believe this is one of John Grisham's best three legal thrillers, along with "The Partner" and "The Runaway Jury". It's a must.