Rating: 
Summary: Light, but fun
Review: I am a great fan of Grisham. After loving The Testament, I was looking forward to the publication of The Brethren. I was somewhat disappointed in that Brethren does not contain the depth of characterization or plot that I have come to expect in a good Grisham read. Both the characters and plot could have been fleshier. Overall, though, the book was fun and pleasant. The unabridged audio version I bought was well read, as always, by Frank Muller. I look forward to a superior product in Mr. Grisham's next book.
Rating: 
Summary: Ok, definitely not the best
Review: This book seemed to show the author to be very pressured in writing it. His books are usually exceptional and exciting, however, this one was choppy and seemed to go nowhere. It could have been much more dramatic as all of his other ones are, but it was more of a bunch of brainstorming ideas bunched together without any real form. Not my favorite, but I haven't lost my love for Grisham's books yet, and look forward to upcoming ones.
Rating:
Summary: Movie of the Week
Review: Grisham's once crafty legal thrillers are fast becoming movie of the week material. Entertainig enough to watch, but you wouldn't recommend it to a friend or ever mention that you watched it. He's churning out these stories faster than you can microwave popcorn. Grisham's novels usually end with a good deal of closure and the bad guys getting theirs. In The Brethren, everyone walks away with more than what they started with. You're not really sure who to cheer for either. I agree with one reviewer that it appears that a chapter or two might be missing from the end. I finished this book saying "I smell a sequal", although that may have been the popcorn.
Rating: 
Summary: What happened?
Review: Like many others I looked forward to The Brethren. I've read all of John Grisham's books and enjoyed every one. This was a big disappointment. The story bored me and I couldn't connect to the characters. I didn't find it suspensful--I knew immediately what was going to happen at the end -- and I was right.
Rating:
Summary: Not a single redeeming character
Review: I know that characters should have flaws to seem realistic, but there isn't one person I could relate to in this book. They are all scum. Combine this with the eery resemblence of two main characters to Mr. Burns and Smithers and the totally unbelievable ending, and I've come to the conclusion Mr. Grisham is getting his plots from MadLibs.
Rating:
Summary: Just kinda drifts off...
Review: Great premise and could have been an extraordinary story, but it appears that Grisham forgot to flesh it out past a Hollywood treatment. Reading the last few pages, I was on edge waiting for the EXPLOSIVE finale. Didn't happen. I think that he was already into his next big, blockbuster, chart-busting, top o'the list bestseller and just shoved this one to the side...
Rating:
Summary: Down the Slippery Slope
Review: Unfortunately, we are witnessing, first hand, a formerly-talented author take a slide down the proverbial "slippery slope." He "mailed this one in." He went up to the plate, took his three cuts and loafed back to the bench. I apologize for the baseball analogy, but I know how much he enjoys the game. I have enjoyed the majority of Mr. Grisham's work over the years based upon both a professional kinship and a genuine enjoyment. Never expecting or receiving tremendous character development or thrilling plotlines, I, nevertheless, enjoyed his early work and came to find myself always buying the next book. However, I must confess that I feel as though his latest work, "The Brethren" is simplistic, boring, vague and devoid of any redeeming characteristics. The subplot with Congresman Lake and the CIA Director, whose name escapes me if, for no other reason, because he is totally unremarkable, is absolutely ludicrous. I am as cynical as the next relatively informed citizen, but come on now. The subplot with The Brethren and their "Angola Scam", named after my Pelican State's penitentiary, is utterly boring and trite. In relative comparison to his early work, which I found (sometimes) gripping and always interesting, "The Brethren" falls short and flat. Sorry, John, unless things change soon, you won't be making into back my starting rotation.
Rating:
Summary: It's not worth H/C price. Buy it on paperback.
Review: Thoroughly disappointed. John wrote a movie script, not a novel. Where is the climax? Who's the good guy and who's the bad guy? John took the easy way out with ending and there wasn't any intrigue as to what could and should have been to Brethren. Why take care of Trevor in one way and deliver different fate to the Brethren? John is losing his touch and this is the last H/C of his I bought.
Rating:
Summary: Quite simply, Mr. Grisham's worst.
Review: I have enjoyed a few of Grisham's novels to pass time on long flights or the beach. Most have been enjoyable for the genre; that is, don't take it too seriously. Obviously Grisham is an author looking to sell books, rather than write a strong story. I think he does have it in him, I would certainly welcome the attempt.The Brethren is by far his worst. I am embarrased to have read it and finished it. The only benefit I can see in my "accomplishment" is that I can save others from such a folly. Read anything, just not this.
Rating:
Summary: No Mystery-Just Another Enemy of the State
Review: I cannot beleive I paid good money for this book It was so predicatable from beginning to end-I was disappointed(although Testamont was even more disapponting)I maay have to stop reading John Grisham Books-Mary Higgins Clark is so much better I mean Big Brother,Homesexuals and Prison Inmates-give me a break-John Grisham please don't make a movie out of this one
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