Helpful Score: 7
I have avoided Grisham's writing for a while, but after accidentally picking up one of his books, "The Testament" and enjoying it, I picked up "The Associate" the day it came out.
The plot's concept wasn't bad. The characters were okay, I would have liked a little more development.
The worst part is that as the book draws to an end, I found myself with more questions than answers.
It feels like Grisham wrote another chapter, which somehow never made it to printing. Another reviewer suggested that the end hinted at a possible sequel, but after the way this book ended, I doubt I'd force myself to plod through a sequel and risk being disappointed again.
If I had only paid a credit, I don't think I'd be disappointed. But even with the 40% off Border's coupon, I feel like I overpaid.
The plot's concept wasn't bad. The characters were okay, I would have liked a little more development.
The worst part is that as the book draws to an end, I found myself with more questions than answers.
It feels like Grisham wrote another chapter, which somehow never made it to printing. Another reviewer suggested that the end hinted at a possible sequel, but after the way this book ended, I doubt I'd force myself to plod through a sequel and risk being disappointed again.
If I had only paid a credit, I don't think I'd be disappointed. But even with the 40% off Border's coupon, I feel like I overpaid.
This is another example of John Grisham doing what he does best. As usual, the plot line is full of twists and turns and all sorts of action. This book is different, however, in a couple of ways. First, we're allowed into the character more in that we know what he's thinking, we know what actions he intends to take regarding what's going. But, there are some open ends. You hear about particular stores, but you are never with the main character when he visits them. You know that the main character must be doing research, but other than stating that the main character has a sudden penchant for spy novels, you never are told what research he did.
Finally, the ending was just flat and completely anticlimactic. Furthermore, I feel like I've been robbed because I wasn't told ANYTHING! Now, I know that recently Grisham has going a little sneaky about giving the reader an unexpected ending, but this was NO ending. It was, to me, an utter disappointment. And, because nothing was told, it actually made me wish that I hadn't read the book at all.
Go a head and read this, but remember that you will know just as little at the end of the book as you do in the begining.
Finally, the ending was just flat and completely anticlimactic. Furthermore, I feel like I've been robbed because I wasn't told ANYTHING! Now, I know that recently Grisham has going a little sneaky about giving the reader an unexpected ending, but this was NO ending. It was, to me, an utter disappointment. And, because nothing was told, it actually made me wish that I hadn't read the book at all.
Go a head and read this, but remember that you will know just as little at the end of the book as you do in the begining.
Helpful Score: 3
Grisham at his best. A well developed main character and fascinating plot and a great glimpse at life in a big Wall Street law firm. The ending seemed a little abrupt or quiet for some reason but very satisfying.
Helpful Score: 3
I really enjoyed John Grisham's latest book. It was a fast read for me as I didn't want to put the book down. The story kept my interest as I wanted to know what would happen next. I enjoyed Grisham's work as he covered the little details. I felt the descriptions of New York were great from the street names to a mention of the Mets ahead and likely to lose it in the stretch. The story kept me guessing throughout and have no problems with how this story ended. It is very fitting for it to end the way it did.
Helpful Score: 3
Kyle McAvoy is a young, intelligent lad with all the right values inherited by his father and his small-town law office in Pennsylvania. Since early childhood he'd been dreaming of becoming a lawyer, taking his father as an example. His decision to become a community lawyer earning less money but doing good for the less fortunate has long been made and he can't wait to start as soon as he's made it through the bar. After that the same doors already open for him, will still be open.
His plans however are smashed into 1000 pieces when he is threatened to be exposed as being present at a crime scene where a young girl was raped while unconscious.
Five years ago Kyle was like many other students: he drank, he participated in parties and he had girls who were willing. The video unfortunately places him in the same room like three others and a girl. While Kyle and a friend were heavily drunk and placed and passed out in front of the TV, two other friends had some fun with a girl know as being an easy girl. When she passed out they raped her.
Now Kyle has to decide to do as he is told or endanger his whole future and decide about his friends future as well.
An alias, Bennie Wright, wants him to accept a job offer with one of the biggest law firms in the U.S., Scully and Pershing whose client Trylon Aeronauticts fights with another leading company over a multi billion dollar contract with the Air Force.
With all the technology and secrets involved, the case is handled as the biggest and highest valued case in the history and so is its protection.
While Kyle has to work himself into the trust of the litigation partners from the bottom up, the pressure on him is held by Wright. Fearing for his life when one of the two rapists is found dead with a bullet in his head Kyle knows his live is as much in danger as his dead friends life was.
Opportuniy and a way out of his misery opens when due to arguments a few of the litigation partners and associates seperate from the firm and Kyle is assigned to the Trylon case.
-
John Grisham's new thriller is just as good as his other legal thrillers except that the idea doesn't feel new to the reader. The story, the whole plotline about espionage, has already been written one way or the other by many other well known writers and probably by Grisham himself in The Firm. (I haven't read The Firm.)
However, the book is nicely written and conclusive. At some points I thought it could have been more racy or exciting but overall it kept me reading.
The ending unfortunately was uneventful and a huge bore. It leaves the reader with too much questions.
His plans however are smashed into 1000 pieces when he is threatened to be exposed as being present at a crime scene where a young girl was raped while unconscious.
Five years ago Kyle was like many other students: he drank, he participated in parties and he had girls who were willing. The video unfortunately places him in the same room like three others and a girl. While Kyle and a friend were heavily drunk and placed and passed out in front of the TV, two other friends had some fun with a girl know as being an easy girl. When she passed out they raped her.
Now Kyle has to decide to do as he is told or endanger his whole future and decide about his friends future as well.
An alias, Bennie Wright, wants him to accept a job offer with one of the biggest law firms in the U.S., Scully and Pershing whose client Trylon Aeronauticts fights with another leading company over a multi billion dollar contract with the Air Force.
With all the technology and secrets involved, the case is handled as the biggest and highest valued case in the history and so is its protection.
While Kyle has to work himself into the trust of the litigation partners from the bottom up, the pressure on him is held by Wright. Fearing for his life when one of the two rapists is found dead with a bullet in his head Kyle knows his live is as much in danger as his dead friends life was.
Opportuniy and a way out of his misery opens when due to arguments a few of the litigation partners and associates seperate from the firm and Kyle is assigned to the Trylon case.
-
John Grisham's new thriller is just as good as his other legal thrillers except that the idea doesn't feel new to the reader. The story, the whole plotline about espionage, has already been written one way or the other by many other well known writers and probably by Grisham himself in The Firm. (I haven't read The Firm.)
However, the book is nicely written and conclusive. At some points I thought it could have been more racy or exciting but overall it kept me reading.
The ending unfortunately was uneventful and a huge bore. It leaves the reader with too much questions.
