The Brethren

Rating:
Summary: Unoriginal plot but Grisham saves it
Review: The idea behind this book is simple. Three men in a prison are running a scam, and the President-to-be is caught in it. Thankfully, being the great writer he is, manages to keep the reader flipping the pages all the way till the end. A book worth waiting for.

Rating:
Summary: A disappointing effort
Review: I read this book with great anticipation. It had all of the elements necessary for me to love it: a tawdry plot, interesting characters, and a political story line (its so hard to find good political fiction). Yet this book is so disappointing. The ending seems to be building into a cresendo and then thud. You feel duped and betrayed. A decent book but nothing like I expected. If Grisham doesn't shape up soon, I am going to have to stop reading.

Rating:
Summary: "The Brethren" is a page turner
Review: This book was wonderful, and a great page turner. I had a very important test to be studing for, but I couldn't put it down! I love this book. Once again - a masterpiece by John Grisham. No one can compare to John Grisham

Rating:
Summary: Sequel
Review: Grisham has definitely matured as a writer. The plot was simple and a very interesting read. He did a good job linking the characters and slowly building up the tempo of the book. His characters are human and very believeable. Even the felonious Brethren have flashes of humanity and the squeaky clean Lake has his dark side. Now to the part that I definitely don't like. The book is incomplete, there is no other way to say it. First, either the publisher left out at least 100 to 150 pages accidentally, secondly, Grisham thoroughly lost interest in the project or thirdly, he plans to write a sequel. Mr. Grisham, if you read this, PLEASE send me an email as I really want to know when you plan to finish the book.

Rating:
Summary: Not Up To Standards
Review: This might not be a bad novel, unless you're John Grisham. The author set himself a very high standard with his previous work, so it was perhaps inevitable that he would eventually fail to live up to it. This book reads more like a cheap detective story than the well crafted, intricately plotted stories we have come to expect from this author. It will be interesting to see his next novel. Will he return to his former glory or churn out another example of pulp fiction.

Rating:
Summary: The Brethren
Review: It seems to me that once a person has made a name for themselves in the world of popular fiction their writing deteriorates. Once I had been introduced to all the players in the book it was predictable and therefore boring. It was just too easy and pointless. If this had been another author would this book have been published?

Rating:
Summary: Believable and Enjoyable
Review: I have read all of John Grisham's books and this is one of the better ones. It could have had a few more twists involved, but all in all an excellent plot.Quite enjoyable. It took me about 3 days to read.

Rating:
Summary: Not Grisham's Best
Review: I found this book predictable and depressing. The synical outlook on presidential politics would have been forgiveable if there was a protagonist to like, or even to understand. There were so many characters that no one's motivation was explored in any depth. The premise was promising, it was just the execution that was dissappointing.

Rating:
Summary: Where are the good guys?
Review: Where are the good guys in this book? I have read every Grisham novel, and this one I struggled to finish. The Pelican Brief, A Time to Kill, The Client, The Firm, and the Chamber were my favorites, and I will always purchase a Grisham novels, but haven't enjoyed the last few like the first ones. His prior novels had flow. And where is the good guy in these stories. These guys were all dispicable. I like evil characters, but enjoy Mr. Grisham's noble conflicted character somehow fighting for a moral victory. STILL and Always a Grisham Fan

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: Is this the same Grisham who wrote "A Time to Kill", "The Firm", "The Rianmaker" etc? Very boring book to read..