Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining and a Quick Read
Review: I liked this book. Grisham has done again what he does consistently well. Unfold an interesting tale of criminality or nefarious doings that moves at a quick pace and never gets boring. Yes, it is not his best book, as many others point out, but still ranks as a good effort from one of the most popular authors in America today.This story hinges on a wonderfully simple criminal extortion scheme hatched by three judges doing time in a federal penitentiary. Their scheme (I don't want to give it away) plays upon people exercising a fantasy in a way they think is discrete, only to find themselves subject to paying to keep their identity and fetish secret from their families, friends and community. The difficult task for the schemers is doing this from inside the pen, but they overcome that problem with the help of a few well placed twenties and a corrupt local attorney. This story manages to intertwine the swindle with presidential politics, CIA intrigues and a counter-plan to silence the Brethern (as the judges refer to themselves) before they interfere with a chillingly brazen plan to capture the White House. I didn't think Grisham spent as much time developing most of his characters as he has in past books -- many make convenient appearances in order to advance the plot and then disappear again. But the pacing is quick, the story intriguing and clever, and all in all a fun read.
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.
Rating: 
Summary: Excuse me, your moralism is showing.
Review: Grisham built his reputation on the superb suspense of "The Firm," "The Pelican Brief" and "The Client." In "The Chamber" he slid into preachiness, but his mastery of the thought and speech of the unrepentant southern rake produced enough verbal zingers to carry it. "The Brethren" has rakes but few zingers, and the preachiness has metastasized, along with an endlessly repeated image of gay men reduced to quivering jelly at the threat of exposure, an image that might have flown in the 1950's. (In "The Street Lawyer," he simply dismisses gays as "queers.") Petulant criticism is unflattering to any writer, but a clumsy, unbelievable plot in addition to it, make this the worst thing a book can be: boring. BORING.
Rating: 
Summary: A page turner till the very end!
Review: Grisham starts out telling two completely different stories at the same time for the first several chapters. It wasn't confusing, it only adds to the interest. The plot really comes together when the two separate stories come together and forms the most magnificent scenario by Grisham yet. I found it very hard to put the book down and am thoroughly glad I read it.
Rating:
Summary: My first Grisham book
Review: This book was the first book I read by John Grisham. I have to say that I liked the book overall. I was VERY disappointed with the ending and how the CIA handled the situation. It made the CIA look like a bunch of wimps who were afraid of three redneck judges! If Grisham wants to include the CIA in his novels, he should read some of Clancy's work or do more research on the topic. Also in this book, there were characters introduced who did not play a big part in the story line. But, paragraphs and pages were written about these characters. This book did keep me in suspense and up late at night reading it. But I was very disapointed when I read the ending. My next Grisham book I will read is "The Firm". From what I've heard it is an excellent book. I'm looking forward to it.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed
Review: I guess this is John Grisham is due a bad book once in a while, I heard some people I spoke with his "laundry list" proving some people will buy anything certain authors write. Since the "Pelican Brief" Grisham has gone down hill some but this book is just plain bad. The story seems to go nowhere fast and seems to limp along at the end.
Rating:
Summary: Weak Plot
Review: This is Grisham's weakest novel todate and can only have made the bestsellers list based on reputation and promotion rather than merit. Certainly looks as though it was written with the movie rights in mind. Plot also weak in that it hard to believe that: - 3 convicts would be allowed the freedom to hold court sessions in prison - that the CIA would chose to negotiate with 3 convicts - a man on a life sentence would be incarcerated in an open prison. If Grisham publishes back to back books of this quality he will soon lose his following. I certainly won't purchase his next offering blind.
Rating:
Summary: Below Average
Review: I sure expected more from this book. Grisham does a fantastic job all the way through half the book. After that, the story is predictable, some secondary characters are never mentioned again (not that they were missed) and the conclusion is anti-climatic. Not best Grisham material.
Rating:
Summary: Unbleieveably amateurish!!
Review: I was one of those who could not wait for the next Grisham novel. For whatever reason I had not kept up with his latest couple or so. This one, was obviously written for one reason, and one reason only, to catitalize on his name. It is without question one of the worst books I have read. The plot(?) is telegraphed within the first couple of chapters. There are virtually no suprises in the whole book, except for the fact that there are no suprises. Character developement is shallow, superficial and meaningless. Rotten Read! I will have to pause before reading "The Testament" which I have available.
Rating:
Summary: As an English teacher...
Review: After reading, and loving, the other Grisham books, I eagerly anticipated the paperback release of The Brethern. Although I did finish it, I was incredibly disappointed in it. There was not enough of a balance between the main characters, and Teddy had more power than any other man I believe (or would like to believe) that a man could have. The ending was incredibly unsatisfying as well. When I put this book on my shelf, I knew it would be sitting there for a long time before I would take it off again.
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