“The Brethren,” by John Grisham

FM's ratings:

1. Premise 9
2. Prose 9
3. Plot 9
4. Characters 10
5. Overall 9

Comments (optional - but try to keep it under 3000 words!)

This book compares very favorably with “The Client,” which is my favorite Grisham book to date. Grisham is known for being a very solid writer and this work affirms that. There seems to be an emphasis on pure reading entertainment here that is not so evident in other works by him, but the creation of a smart plot still takes the spotlight. The main aspect which sets this book (and “The Client”) apart, however, is great characters. Even the secondary characters - such as Wes and Chap, the two CIA agents that work on the hapless, worthless, small-time lawyer, Trevor - are superbly rendered. As much as I admire Grisham’s works, I seem to neglect them, reading only one every 5 years or so; I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because he’s too “mainstream,” too popular, too political or “legal”? Or maybe it’s the titles of his books in their simplicity almost all starting the “The…”, which don’t really draw me in. Whatever the case, this is one that I can highly recommend!