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Book Reviews of The Brethren

The Brethren
The Brethren
Author: John Grisham
ISBN-13: 9780440295808
ISBN-10: 0440295807
Publication Date: 12/27/2000
Pages: 440
Rating:
  • Currently 3.2/5 Stars.
 8

3.2 stars, based on 8 ratings
Publisher: Dell
Book Type: Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

148 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

scrapbooklady avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 472 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
The premise here was enormously fun: three aging, disgraced judges serving time in a minimum security federal prison concoct a mail scam to extort money from unsuspecting victims. Their little scheme is succeeding quite well, slowly building enough money to give them hope that perhaps there is life after prison. When it turns out that one of the victims of the mail scam is the front-runner in the upcoming presidential election, things get very interesting and suddenly the three inmates realize they have far more power than they thought.

You'll be hooked within the first chapter. Grisham has a great sense of humor and it shows in this book, both in the characters and in the dialog.
reviewed The Brethren on + 8 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Great Grisham book that gives a story of corruption and fowl play that I think most of us suspect anyway in our justice system. He is still true to form with his great writing! One of his many books that I loved.
KaysCMAlbums avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 97 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Intriguing - true Grisham. 3 judges in a medium-security federal prison call themselves the Brethren. Together they fine-tune a mail scam, but their little scam goes awry. Fast read - holds your interest.
countrylane avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 81 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
John Grisham is a master storyteller. This book is a romp in prison. Three corrupt judges, doing time, dream up a brilliant extortion scam. This book will have you rolling in the floor laughing at times. But these good old boys are deadly serious as they discover the perfect victim! A very entertaining book! There are quite a few surprises here. You will be grinning or gasping with each chapter. If you haven't read this one yet, don't wait any longer!
reviewed The Brethren on + 2 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I have read everything written by John Grisham but could not finish this book. It did not hold my interest long enough to really get into it for long, and I found myself having to re-read portions to get back into it when I picked it up again. Not much going on there for me.
J avatar reviewed The Brethren on
Helpful Score: 1
I was never a Grisham fan, but this made me become one! Loved the book, loved the ending!
reviewed The Brethren on + 10 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Probably one of Grisham's most far-out-there books that I've read. Completely different story than usual. Three convicted Judges in jail pulling off schemes...Definitely worth the read.
miss-zuzu avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 15 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I thought this was a really great book.. couldn't put it down!! It's one of my favorites by John Grisham!
reviewed The Brethren on + 4 more book reviews
a good grisham book about scheming judges in prison
reviewed The Brethren on + 8 more book reviews
a very good book
dighton77 avatar reviewed The Brethren on
A great story by one of the great storytellers. Very fast paced book, you won't want to put it down.
reviewed The Brethren on + 4 more book reviews
I love Grisham and this book is a good one.
reviewed The Brethren on + 3 more book reviews
***** Always love Grisham. Three judges in prison running an extortion scam to get rich quick.
reviewed The Brethren on + 26 more book reviews
They call themselves the Brethren; three disgraced former judges doing time in a Florida federal prison. One was sent up for tax evasion. Another, for skimming bingo profits. The third for a creer ending drunken joyride. Meeting daily in the priso law library, taking exercise walks in their boxers, these judges-turned-felons can reminisce about old court cases, dispense a little jailhouse justice, and contemplate where their lives went wrong.
Or they can use their time in prison to get very rich-very fast.
reviewed The Brethren on + 145 more book reviews
This man has got an imagination! Another winner for Grisham
reviewed The Brethren on + 7 more book reviews
Classic Grisham, with a bit of tongue-in-cheek humor, his version of the "Gang Who Couldn't Shoot Straight", only in this case they're three members of the judiciary filling out their jail sentences while plotting to make money from behind bars.
lindalee avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 13 more book reviews
Another great one for Grisham! Corruption, big time!
reviewed The Brethren on + 4 more book reviews
Quirky premise but a pretty good read.
reviewed The Brethren on + 8 more book reviews
Grisham... need I SAY MORE?
reviewed The Brethren on + 31 more book reviews
Good book, lots of action, twisting plot that keeps you very interested, as many Grisham novels are! Keens insights on how presidential races are run and how candidates have to mold themselves for the public. I am sure the premise of this book has happened often times with smart people in low-security white-collar prisons with lots of time to plan.
SanJoseCa avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 328 more book reviews
A story about 3 disgraced judges, in a low security prison, setting up a "get rich quick scheme."
This novel, written in a thoughtful narrative style, has many clever subplots and plenty of suspense!
reesecup avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 11 more book reviews
this book was good to me it is about three disgraced former judges doing time in a florida federeal prison. where they run a get rich quick scam
MyLikeIt avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 450 more book reviews
Typical Grisham -- always a good read, and this one doesn't disappoint.
reviewed The Brethren on + 44 more book reviews
The Brethren, as they are called, are three former southern judges, serving time together in a federal prison for various bad deeds, which have taken away their freedom and their status in the community. However, inside the prison, they continue to practice law without a liscense, and concoct a blackmail scheme that begins making them some money, that is, until they bag a powerful 'mark' who could jeopardize everything. As usual, John Grisham keeps you on the edge of your seat, right til the end.
reviewed The Brethren on + 26 more book reviews
They call themselves the Brethren: three disgraced former judges doing time in a Florida federal prison. One was sent up for tax evasion. Another, for skimming bingo profits. And the third, for a career-ending dunken joyride. Meeting daily in the prison law library taking exercise walks in their boxer shorts, these judges-turned-felons can reminisce about old court cases, dispense a little jailhouse justice, and contemplate where their lives went wrong. Or they can use their time in prison to get very rich .....
reviewed The Brethren on + 11 more book reviews
The Brethren are three disgraced judges doing time in prison who collaborate on a brilliant extortion scheme. Meanwhile a bizarre presidential election is holding the nation in grips. For the brethren, the timing is perfect because they have found the perfect victim.
reviewed The Brethren on + 17 more book reviews
They call themselves the Brethren: three disgraced former judges doing time in a Florida Fedreal Prison.

They use thier time in prison to devise a wickedly brilliant extortion scam... while events outside thier prison walls begin to erupt.
reviewed The Brethren on + 46 more book reviews
They call themselves the Brethern- three discrased former judges doing time in a Florida prison. There they plan the perfect extortion scam.
reviewed The Brethren on + 2 more book reviews
This is a great John Grissom thriller!!
reviewed The Brethren on
Grisham tells a great story and then blows the ending as usual.
ckim avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 13 more book reviews
Typical Grisham. It was a better than average read but not a book I'll read again. Formulaic but still entertaining thriller about crooked judges.
reviewed The Brethren on + 19 more book reviews
Interesting book. Took me awhile to get into it. It's a good, light read. To me, not what I expect from John Grisham.
sh0rtstak avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 89 more book reviews
This was my first book by this author and I must say I was disappointed. This story did nothing for me. Exploiting others for money by using the means it did was appalling. I found myself struggling to get thru this book and it just irritated me. I'm sure there's better writings by this author but for now i'm shelving the idea of reading anymore. This book just sucked.
reviewed The Brethren on + 162 more book reviews
Another excellent John Grisham book!
reviewed The Brethren on + 16 more book reviews
This was the 3rd book by Grisham I have read...it was ok. Not as good as the other two I read before.
reviewed The Brethren on + 13 more book reviews
If you like Grisham, this is worth reading.
reviewed The Brethren on + 12 more book reviews
Outstanding book... On of Grisham's best.
reviewed The Brethren on + 191 more book reviews
Good reading, I liked it
reviewed The Brethren on + 152 more book reviews
I read The Partner a couple years back and enjoyed that. A friend loaned me The Brethren. Part of the suspense of the book was wondering how and when the two storylines (the scam and the presidential candidate) would intersect. However, once that occurred, the story seemed to fall apart.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS: Trevor, the attorney/courier for the Brethren in the scam, was murdered by the CIA, apparently because he knew "too much." I found that hard to believe because Trevor really wasn't that involved with the actual scam--he delivered and sent mail and deposited money in an offshore account. The Brethren all were given early release from prison on the condition that they leave the U.S. for a specified period of time. Oh, and they were also each given $2 million. This was all engineered by the CIA. We're also supposed to believe that squeaky clean senator (and eventual presidential candidate) Lake suddenly decided to go to the "dark side" and respond to a gay lonely-hearts club ad. Then, while campaigning for the nomination, Lake makes a foolish and uncharacteristic mistake that reveals his identity to the Brethren. END OF SPOILERS

Book started out interesting but fizzled out.
samuraibunny avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 33 more book reviews
My first Grisham book and I have to say, it was alright. Nothing spectacular. It was sufficiently interesting to be read at a decent pace.

Surprisingly, at least to me, was the fact that the book followed more than the judges in prison. It offered a nice change of pace. After all, how much can be written about the days of inmates in a boring jail?

The ending was amusing, although I thought for certain that something else was going to happen.

There is enough legal mumbo-jumbo and politics to be classified as a political thriller, but I wouldn't call it a thriller. It's just fiction. Not thrilling in the least.
reviewed The Brethren on + 204 more book reviews
Although this book was okay to read to pass some time, I would not recommend it to any of my friends to read. There were parts of the book that had some twists that made it fun but there were some portions that were predictable and seem "stretched" to make thing believable.
MKSbooklady avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 989 more book reviews
This is an older (2000) Grisham, and different from the courtroom stories. Three disgraced judges, doing time in a federal prison in Florida. Hilarity and drama ensues. Quick paced, and reading this twenty two years after it was written is interesting. Grisham doesn't disappoint, and this book is proof.
reviewed The Brethren on + 38 more book reviews
If you like John Grisham you will like this one.
sataro avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 50 more book reviews
Excellent book. Hard to put down... A very enertaining book to say the least.

BILLY T.
groendog avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 8 more book reviews
Typical Grisham-- crafted with great skill, engrossing, fast and interesting,good read
reviewed The Brethren on + 5 more book reviews
I had a hard time getting into this book in the beginning. It did get better towards the middle, but I really had to make myself keep reading.
alicewen avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 3 more book reviews
A page turner!
reviewed The Brethren on
This was actually a riveting book. It was easy to read and get into unlike some of Grisham's works. I'd recommend it.
reviewed The Brethren on + 24 more book reviews
Not one of Grisham's best. There are some highlights, and it's an easy read. It took me a while to get into it. The second half is a lot better than the first half of the book. If you like suspense, it's good, just not great!
reviewed The Brethren on + 16 more book reviews
Very good read!! A real page turner.. Keeps you wondering,"what the heck is going to happen".
reviewed The Brethren on + 17 more book reviews
The character were great and the legal dialogue very interesting to me. Funny and it had intrigue and a great story line. Enjoy
reviewed The Brethren on + 5 more book reviews
This book was very entertaining. I have read many of John Grisham's books and this is one of my favorites.
reviewed The Brethren on + 7 more book reviews
Grishams best since Pelican Brief in my opinion.
glowingstar avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 28 more book reviews
Vintage Grisham!
carriej73 avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 34 more book reviews
An enjoyable read - about 3 disgraced former judges in a Florida federal prison. Clever. I'd read it again.
reviewed The Brethren on + 49 more book reviews
Good fun. Not the regular Grisham. Plenty of suspense along with wicked humor. Great characters.
reviewed The Brethren on + 107 more book reviews
Former judges in prison for various misdeeds are bound together in THe Brethren...Common goal, "GREED"....
reviewed The Brethren on + 8 more book reviews
Love Grisham than you will love this read.
reviewed The Brethren on
Kept me reading, couldn't put it down.
reviewed The Brethren on + 469 more book reviews
Three disgraced judges in prison hatch a scheme to get rich--very quick. "Gripping . . . will hook you from the first page and won't let you go." NEW YORK POST
reviewed The Brethren on + 69 more book reviews
Its A Grisham, always an enjoyable read !
reviewed The Brethren on + 29 more book reviews
Grisham keeps on coming with good books!
reviewed The Brethren on + 25 more book reviews
No what I generally like to read, but very interesting
reviewed The Brethren on + 46 more book reviews
Well this is pretty interesting - like 2 stories in one book. I enjoyed it.
reviewed The Brethren on + 24 more book reviews
It's a very good book.
reviewed The Brethren on + 17 more book reviews
gripping reading from the beginning
reviewed The Brethren on + 9 more book reviews
one of grisham's better books. keep your interest
ButterflyAmy avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 8 more book reviews
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Trumble is a minimum-security federal prison, a "camp," home to the usual assortment of relatively harmless criminals - and three former judges who call themselves the Brethren: one from Texas, one from California, and one from Mississippi. They meet each day in the law library, their turf at Trumble, where they write briefs, handle cases for other inmates, practice law without a license, and sometimes dispense jailhouse justice. And they spend hours writing letters. They are fine-tuning a mail scam, and it's starting to really work. The money is pouring in." "Then their little scam goes awry.
reviewed The Brethren on + 34 more book reviews
The Bretheren are 3 former judges serving jail time in Florida. They meet daily in the prison law library crafting the ultimate extortion scam of the ultimate victim--the President of the United States.
reviewed The Brethren on + 31 more book reviews
They call themselves the Brethren: three disgraced former judges doing time in a Florida federal prison. One was sent up for tax evasion. Another, for skimming bingo profits. And the third, for a career-ending drunken joyride. Meeting daily in the prison law library, taking exercise walks in their boxer shorts, these judges-turned-felons can reminisce about old court cases, dispense a little jailhouse justice, and contemplate where their lives went wrong.
Or they can use their time in prison to get very rich - very fast.
And so they sit, sprawled in the prison library, furiously writing letters, fine-tuning a wickedly brilliant extortion scam... while events outside their prison walls begin to erupt. A bizarre presidential election is holding the nation in its grips - and a powerful government figure is pulling some very hidden strings. For the Brethren, the timing couldn't be better.
Because they've just found the perfect victim.
reviewed The Brethren on + 13 more book reviews
Huge Grisham fan; I write in the genre. This is one of his mediocre books. It is, however, funny and cynical, at times. I would recommend this book to those whom are fans of the legal thriller genre. This is a book to read on the ride home or on lunch break.
tabbycat25 avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 6 more book reviews
This novel features three antiheroes of a sort, the brethren of the title, judges serving time in a federal prison in Florida for white-collar offenses. They're a hard bunch to root for, though, as their main activity behind bars is running a blackmail scheme in which they bait, hook and squeeze wealthy, closeted gay men through a magazine ad supposedly placed by "Ricky," a young incarcerated gay looking for companionship. Then there's the two-bit alcoholic attorney who's abetting them by running their mail and depositing their dirty profits in an overseas bank. Scarcely more appealing is the big fish the trio snare, Congressman Anthony Lake, who meanwhile is busy selling his lifelong integrity when the director of the CIA offers to lever him into the White House in exchange for a doubling of federal defense spending upon Lake's inauguration. The expertly orchestrated and very complex plot follows these evildoers through their illicit enterprises, devoting considerable attention to the CIA's staging of Lake's presidential campaign and even more to that agency's potentially lethal pursuit of the brethren once it learns that the three are threatening to out candidate Lake. Every personage in this novel lies, cheats, steals and/or kills, and while Grisham's fans may miss the stalwart lawyer-heroes and David vs. Goliath slant of his earlier work, all will be captivated by this clever thriller that presents as crisp a cast as he's yet devised, and as grippingly sardonic yet bitingly moral a scenario as he's ever imagined.
reviewed The Brethren on + 30 more book reviews
great read
reviewed The Brethren on + 9 more book reviews
Wonderful tale by John Grisham.
reviewed The Brethren on + 10 more book reviews
I liked it! Not a life changing story, but an interesting one....
reviewed The Brethren on + 10 more book reviews
I had a hard time relating to this book. Just not my "cup of tea."
sealady avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 657 more book reviews
From Publishers Weekly: "Only a few megaselling authors of popular fiction deviate dramatically from formula--most notably Stephen King but recently Grisham, too. He's serializing a literary novel, A Painted House, in the Oxford American; his last thriller (The Testament) emphasized spirituality as intensely as suspense; and his deeply absorbing new novel dispenses with a staple not only of his own work but of most commercial fiction: the hero. The novel does feature three antiheroes of a sort, the brethren of the title, judges serving time in a federal prison in Florida for white-collar offenses. They're a hard bunch to root for, though, as their main activity behind bars is running a blackmail scheme in which they bait, hook and squeeze wealthy, closeted gay men through a magazine ad supposedly placed by "Ricky," a young incarcerated gay looking for companionship. Then there's the two-bit alcoholic attorney who's abetting them by running their mail and depositing their dirty profits in an overseas bank. Scarcely more appealing is the big fish the trio snare, Congressman Anthony Lake, who meanwhile is busy selling his lifelong integrity when the director of the CIA offers to lever him into the White House in exchange for a doubling of federal defense spending upon Lake's inauguration. The expertly orchestrated and very complex plot follows these evildoers through their illicit enterprises, devoting considerable attention to the CIA's staging of Lake's presidential campaign and even more to that agency's potentially lethal pursuit of the brethren once it learns that the three are threatening to out candidate Lake. Every personage in this novel lies, cheats, steals and/or kills, and while Grisham's fans may miss the stalwart lawyer-heroes and David vs. Goliath slant of his earlier work, all will be captivated by this clever thriller that presents as crisp a cast as he's yet devised, and as grippingly sardonic yet bitingly moral a scenario as he's ever imagined." Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
reviewed The Brethren on + 40 more book reviews
Not the best John Grisham, but good of course!
reviewed The Brethren on + 13 more book reviews
A fun Grisham novel.
icesk8tr avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 363 more book reviews
Good suspense! Some judges in prison are working a money making scam!
Interesting to see who all gets involved!
reviewed The Brethren on + 4 more book reviews
Awesome book!
reviewed The Brethren on
The book was exceptional. Grisham still has it!
reviewed The Brethren on + 50 more book reviews
Pub 2000 - Three disgraced former Judges are doing time in a federal prison. They meet daily in the prison law library and scheme to get very rich very fast.
reviewed The Brethren on + 93 more book reviews
I loved this book, and the way these men think. Very fun to read.
reviewed The Brethren on
Took me a few chapters to get into the book, but I enjoyed it!
reviewed The Brethren on + 18 more book reviews
Pretty good, easy Grisham read.
The plot is a little far-fetched though.
RaccoonGirl avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 97 more book reviews
They call themselves the Brethren: three disgraced former judges doing time in a Florida federal prison. One was sent up for tax evasion. Another, for skimming bingo profits. And the third, for a career-ending drunken joyride. Meeting daily in the prison law library, taking exercise walks in their boxer shorts, these judges-turned-felons can reminisce about old court cases, dispense a little jailhouse justice, and contemplate where their lives went wrong.

Or they can use their time in prison to get very rich--- very fast.

And so they sit, sprawled in the prison library, furiously writing letters, fine-tuning a wickedly brilliant extortion scamwhile events outside their prison walls begin to erupt. A bizarre presidential election is holding the nation in its grips--- and a powerful government figure is pulling some very hidden strings. For the Brethren, the timing couldnt be better.

Because theyve just found the perfect victim
reviewed The Brethren on
fast paced and action packed loved it
reviewed The Brethren on + 517 more book reviews
Three disgraced judges in A Florida prison. All of the thrills and action that Grisham usually provides. Very good book
reviewed The Brethren on + 20 more book reviews
Fast paced and action packed!
reviewed The Brethren on + 12 more book reviews
Typical John Grisham story. You'll find the end of the story where it belongs....the end!
reviewed The Brethren on + 14 more book reviews
3 corrupt judges almost topple a presidential election FROM JAIL. Great read!!!
reviewed The Brethren on + 21 more book reviews
This book had me chuckling out loud many times. It was a fun read. I enjoyed the sly compliment to Tom Clancy in the book, too.
reviewed The Brethren on + 7 more book reviews
I love John Grisham books and this one was excellent!
reviewed The Brethren on + 6 more book reviews
Another good one from Grisham.
reviewed The Brethren on + 8 more book reviews
Enjoyed this one, blackmail at it's most original.
reviewed The Brethren on + 31 more book reviews
Gripping, will hook you from the first page and won't let you go
reviewed The Brethren on + 54 more book reviews
Wow. Blown away by this one.
reviewed The Brethren on + 15 more book reviews
Good, interesting read.
reviewed The Brethren on
I don't think I have ever read a John Grisham book that I haven't loved and this one is no exception!!
reviewed The Brethren on + 5 more book reviews
3 disgraced former judges in a Florida pederal prison fine-tuning an extortion scam. A powerful government figure is pulling some very hidden strings. For the Brethern the timing couldn't be better.
reviewed The Brethren on + 45 more book reviews
Another Grisham great!
lipslady avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 101 more book reviews
One of his best!
reviewed The Brethren on + 32 more book reviews
Great Read!
reviewed The Brethren on + 145 more book reviews
You can miss with Grisham. A must read!
debs avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 650 more book reviews
The Brethren are three judges in federal prison. Interesting premise and this turned into a good page turner. At first I thought I was going to hate the chapters dealing with politics, but soon realized they were not the main focus. Didn't like the ending; this book really needed one more chapter instead of leaving things up to your imagination.
reviewed The Brethren on + 2 more book reviews
one of his best
reviewed The Brethren on
good book love john grisham's books
reviewed The Brethren on + 10 more book reviews
Another good John Grisham book.
reviewed The Brethren on + 17 more book reviews
excellent
busyboy avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 46 more book reviews
The Brethren,is one of those books that you just cant stop reading once you start the story. Thats why i give it such a good rating. Its a really excellent story,it keeps you guessing and wondering what will happen next. I loved this book. John Grisham at his best. A must read.
reviewed The Brethren on + 16 more book reviews
loved it,but already read it OOps
reviewed The Brethren on + 2 more book reviews
Another great Grisham story!
reviewed The Brethren on + 14 more book reviews
Sometimes even the bad guys win!
reviewed The Brethren on + 2 more book reviews
Great story.
reviewed The Brethren on + 18 more book reviews
One of this authers best. Good reading
reviewed The Brethren on + 59 more book reviews
"NYTimes Bestseller!" "Terrific storytelling by one of the Masters of the game."--USAToday
maggieminnich avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 400 more book reviews
I enjoyed the twists in this book, which kept me guessing where we were going and how everything ends. The ending is good, yet there is room left to continue the story, if Grisham wants. A lighter read which would be perfect for vacation.
reviewed The Brethren on
i'm not the biggest grishman fan - i like his hits (the firm, runaway jury), and am ambivalent about his misses (the gingerbread man)...this fell somewhere in between for me.
reviewed The Brethren on + 20 more book reviews
If you've not read a Grisham, then you should start with this one! True to his style, The Brethren held me spellbound until the end!
reviewed The Brethren on + 6 more book reviews
This is my favorite Grisham book.
reviewed The Brethren on + 76 more book reviews
Another great book by Grisham!
reviewed The Brethren on + 15 more book reviews
Lives up to Grisham's reputation and style
reviewed The Brethren on + 6 more book reviews
Very good book as usual for Grisham.
reviewed The Brethren on + 50 more book reviews
Unlike Grisham's other books this one is a little slow in the beginning, but picks up and keeps your interest the rest of the way!
reviewed The Brethren on + 22 more book reviews
meh. john grisham was better when he was hungry and thoughtful. i find his recent work to be dull, slow-moving, uninventive and preachy.
reviewed The Brethren on
It's a true Grisham novel; an easy read. I enjoyed it as I have all of his books (even the non-fiction one he slipped in on me).
reviewed The Brethren on + 9 more book reviews
Grisham never disappoints!
reviewed The Brethren on + 19 more book reviews
Engaging
sfc95 avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 686 more book reviews
This book was ok. It did not offend me as some people have suggested but it wasn't thrilling and suspenseful it just was....
reviewed The Brethren on
Predictable John Grisham genre.
reviewed The Brethren on + 10 more book reviews
very good
reviewed The Brethren on + 16 more book reviews
They call themselves the Brethren: three disgraced former judges doing time in a Florida federal prison. One was sent up for tax evasion. Another, for skimming bingo profits. And the third, for a career-ending drunken joyride. Meeting daily in the prison library, taking exercise walks in their boxer shorts, these judges-turned-felons can reminisce about old court cases, dispense a little jailhouse justice, and contemplate where their lives went wrong.
OR they can use their time in prison to get very rich--very fast.
And so they sit, sprawled in the prison library, furiously writing letters, fine-tuning a wickedly brilliant extortion scam...while events outside thier prison walls begin to erupt. A bizarre presidential election is holding the nation in its grips--and a powerful government figure is pulling some very hidden strings. For the Brethren, the timing couldn't be better. Because they've just found the perfect victim....
mscottcgp avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 231 more book reviews
One of John Grisham's better legal thrillers
thecomet avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 125 more book reviews
This book takes place in a prison. Who is in control? Was a great read and very interesting.
reviewed The Brethren on + 12 more book reviews
Three disgraced former judges doing time, despense a little jailhouse justice and get very rich.
reviewed The Brethren on + 7 more book reviews
a realey
spellbinding tale of prison and law.
Mousey avatar reviewed The Brethren on
Skillfully written and plotted with an eye for logic as well as humor
OmahaJohn avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 54 more book reviews
Good book.
reviewed The Brethren on + 191 more book reviews
John Grisham thriller.
reviewed The Brethren on + 275 more book reviews
A earlier Grisham book.
reviewed The Brethren on + 106 more book reviews
#1 NY Times bestseller
reviewed The Brethren on + 55 more book reviews
Good book.
reviewed The Brethren on + 7 more book reviews
#1 New York Times Bestseller, a tale of 3 disgraced former judges doing time in a Florida federal prison. Very entertaining novel!
QuilterInTexas avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 2 more book reviews
This book is NOT SIGNED, I cannot seem to fix the error that keeps saying that it is...it is NOT. It is just the hardcover version...that is all...
mrspotts66 avatar reviewed The Brethren on
From Publishers Weekly
Only a few megaselling authors of popular fiction deviate dramatically from formula--most notably Stephen King but recently Grisham, too. He's serializing a literary novel, A Painted House, in the Oxford American; his last thriller (The Testament) emphasized spirituality as intensely as suspense; and his deeply absorbing new novel dispenses with a staple not only of his own work but of most commercial fiction: the hero. The novel does feature three antiheroes of a sort, the brethren of the title, judges serving time in a federal prison in Florida for white-collar offenses. They're a hard bunch to root for, though, as their main activity behind bars is running a blackmail scheme in which they bait, hook and squeeze wealthy, closeted gay men through a magazine ad supposedly placed by "Ricky," a young incarcerated gay looking for companionship. Then there's the two-bit alcoholic attorney who's abetting them by running their mail and depositing their dirty profits in an overseas bank. Scarcely more appealing is the big fish the trio snare, Congressman Anthony Lake, who meanwhile is busy selling his lifelong integrity when the director of the CIA offers to lever him into the White House in exchange for a doubling of federal defense spending upon Lake's inauguration. The expertly orchestrated and very complex plot follows these evildoers through their illicit enterprises, devoting considerable attention to the CIA's staging of Lake's presidential campaign and even more to that agency's potentially lethal pursuit of the brethren once it learns that the three are threatening to out candidate Lake. Every personage in this novel lies, cheats, steals and/or kills, and while Grisham's fans may miss the stalwart lawyer-heroes and David vs. Goliath slant of his earlier work, all will be captivated by this clever thriller that presents as crisp a cast as he's yet devised, and as grippingly sardonic yet bitingly moral a scenario as he's ever imagined. Agent, David Gernert. 2.8 million first printing. (Feb. 1)
reviewed The Brethren on + 33 more book reviews
They call themselves the Brethren: three disgraced former judges doing time in a Florida federal prison. One was sent up for tax evasion. Another, for skimming bingo profits. And the third, for a career-ending druken joyride. Meeting daily in the prison law library, taking exercise walks in their boxer shorts, these judges-turned felons can reminisce about old court cases, dispense a little jailhouse justice, and contemplate where their lives went wrong.

Or they can use their time in prison to get very rich - very fast.
reviewed The Brethren on + 28 more book reviews
They call themselves the Brethren: three disgraced judges doing time. And they are using their time in prision to get very rich - very fast.