In a minimum-security prison, three inmates - former judges calling themselves the Brethren - practice law, dispense jailhouse justice, and hatch money-making scams. From the author of "A Time to Kill", "The Firm" and "The Testament", comes this exciting new crime novel.
The Brethren
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Amazon Review
John Grisham's novels have all been so systematically successful that it is easy to forget he is just one man toiling away silently with a pen, experimenting and improving with each book. While not as gifted a prose stylist as Scott Turow, Grisham is among the best plotters in the thriller business and he infuses his books with a moral valence and creative vision that set them apart from their peers.
The Brethren is in many respects his most daring and accomplished book yet. The novel grows from two separate subplots. In the first, three imprisoned ex-judges (the "brethren" of the title), frustrated by their loss of power and influence, concoct an elaborate blackmail scheme preying on wealthy closeted gay men. The second story traces the rise of presidential candidate Aaron Lake, a man essentially created by CIA directory Teddy Maynard to fulfil Maynard's plans for restoring the power of his beleaguered agency.
Grisham's tight control of the two meandering threads leaves the reader guessing through most of the opening chapters how and when these two worlds will collide. Also impressive is Grisham's careful portraiture. Justice Hatlee Beech in particular is a fascinating, tragic anti-hero: a millionaire judge with an appointment for life who was rendered divorced, bankrupt and friendless after his conviction for drunk-driving homicide.
The book's cynical view of Presidential politics and criminal justice casts a somewhat gloomy shadow over the tale. CIA director Teddy Maynard is an all powerful demon with absolute knowledge and control of the public will and public funds. Even his candidate, Congressman Lake, is a pawn in Maynard's egomaniacal game of ad campaigns, illicit contributions and international intrigue. In the end, The Brethren marks a transition in Grisham's career towards a more thoughtful narrative style with less interest in the big-payoff blockbuster ending. But that's not to say that the last 50 pages won't keep you reading late into the early hours.--Patrick O'Kelley
Review
"Grisham spins out a compelling, beautifully written thriller... it's all absolutely brilliant" (Independent on Sunday)
"An engaging and fast-paced story of powerful men in high places and blackmail gone awry, it will hook you from the first page and won't let go" (New York Post)
"Completely gripping" (Mirror) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
"An engaging and fast-paced story of powerful men in high places and blackmail gone awry, it will hook you from the first page and won't let go" (New York Post)
"Completely gripping" (Mirror) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Having read all the John Grisham novels published to date, I bought The Brethren on a Saturday afternoon, when I got home I started to read it and couldn't put it down until I had finished early on Sunday morning. Two seperate stories that intertwine and come together, to create a story that holds you captivated until the final page. All his books are good but I think this is his best yet, I highly recommend it, if you like legal and political thriller you will not be disappointed.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This isn't the first Grisham novel I've read so I think it's safe to say that this is book somewhat unlike his others. Here, Grisham provides a real page turner that keeps the suspense going until the very last page. The characters in the novel are entirely believable from a bumbling and incompetent lawyer to the trio of clapped-out judges who share centre stage in the story (at times, caricatures of themselves). As usual Grisham takes time in developing the characters and presents each of them in a distinctly coherent way.
I'd truly hate to give the game away but, in short, with a subtle twist near the end of the story you'd be a fool to miss it!
I'd truly hate to give the game away but, in short, with a subtle twist near the end of the story you'd be a fool to miss it!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I confess that after the fiasco of "The Testament" and the semi-fiasco of "The Street Lawyer" I started to read "The Brethem" (Translated in Spanish as: "La Hermandad") somewhat worried. Many of the comments recorded in Amazon (this page) were not helping very much.
This initial reluctance turned soon into a deep interest in the history. The once intimidating 500 pages hardback novel became a page-turning affair. After ending the book, I started to wonder how John Grisham may invent these amazing, terrific histories. I think it's a very good modern novel in the track of "The Firm" or "The Pelican brief"; very appealing, although not perfect.
Considering again the large amount opinions about this book listed in Amazon (see below), I think readers could be divided into two broad families: people loving this book or people almost hating it. I am very involved on elucidate the reasons of such big differences in opinion about last Grisham book.
This initial reluctance turned soon into a deep interest in the history. The once intimidating 500 pages hardback novel became a page-turning affair. After ending the book, I started to wonder how John Grisham may invent these amazing, terrific histories. I think it's a very good modern novel in the track of "The Firm" or "The Pelican brief"; very appealing, although not perfect.
Considering again the large amount opinions about this book listed in Amazon (see below), I think readers could be divided into two broad families: people loving this book or people almost hating it. I am very involved on elucidate the reasons of such big differences in opinion about last Grisham book.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Stefan
VINE VOICE
Format:Paperback
I first read this novel when it was published in 2000. It was the first novel by Grisham that I ever read, and it set me on a two-month-long Grisham-marathon. There are basically two main storylines that run concurrently: that of the Brethren at Trumble, and Aaron Lake's presidential primary campaign. It's not stated how they connect, but one quickly figures it out (otherwise, there would clearly be no point in having them both in the same novel).
It's pre-9/11, and the Cold War is still on people's minds, not to mention the fear of a renewed war - cold or otherwise - with a frustrated Russia. This is the nightmare scenario CIA chief Teddy Maynard is trying to push into the American consciousness. Maynard wants a pliable president, one with the CIA and defence department's interests at heart. Aaron Lake is the perfect candidate - squeaky clean, respected but not flashy, and a work horse on Congressional defence committees. The political side of this novel could be characterised as the military-industrial-complex meets Wag the Dog - a distillation of everything conspiracy theorists (and, increasingly, more-sane citizens) worry about the American democratic process - that is, secret moneyed interests in the defence industry buying the election for a candidate who sells his soul for cash and political fame. Only, it's also as if the conspiracies about the military-industrial-complex are not only real, but they're not big enough - the CIA is trying to pick a president, and they'll engineer international events to prove him a foreign policy visionary, and in the end scare the American public into voting for him, in return getting their increased defence budgets and an eternal state of readiness.
Maynard is wonderfully Machiavellian. Read more ›
It's pre-9/11, and the Cold War is still on people's minds, not to mention the fear of a renewed war - cold or otherwise - with a frustrated Russia. This is the nightmare scenario CIA chief Teddy Maynard is trying to push into the American consciousness. Maynard wants a pliable president, one with the CIA and defence department's interests at heart. Aaron Lake is the perfect candidate - squeaky clean, respected but not flashy, and a work horse on Congressional defence committees. The political side of this novel could be characterised as the military-industrial-complex meets Wag the Dog - a distillation of everything conspiracy theorists (and, increasingly, more-sane citizens) worry about the American democratic process - that is, secret moneyed interests in the defence industry buying the election for a candidate who sells his soul for cash and political fame. Only, it's also as if the conspiracies about the military-industrial-complex are not only real, but they're not big enough - the CIA is trying to pick a president, and they'll engineer international events to prove him a foreign policy visionary, and in the end scare the American public into voting for him, in return getting their increased defence budgets and an eternal state of readiness.
Maynard is wonderfully Machiavellian. Read more ›
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The header of this page stated that it is hard to believe that it is just John Grisham toiling away and producing these novels at speed. Personally, I would rather be patient and have a quality novel every few years. The Brethren basically limps from page to page with the dull tale of three judges running a scam in prison and of a golden boy plucked to become President so long as he toes the line of the shadowed manipulators, who will create war to get him there. Grisham's books always provide a character you are rooting for and who welcomes you back each time you pick it up. This book lacks the character and also the convinction to at least finish with sparkle. The end is a real disappointment. I only hope Grisham just needs a holiday to revitalise his creative brain-cells.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
This isn't Grisham writing with passion; he's filling his time before embarking on another, better, idea, it seems. Having said that though, the premise of the story is an interesting one and, while the tale gets lost as the author indulges himself in his knowledge of Presidential primaries (and judging from the 2004 race Grisham does know of what he speaks), there are just enough confrontations and discoveries to keep a Grisham fan turning the pages until the - disappointing - end.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
I love it
This a very good read
Published 6 days ago by Mr. T. Karslake
5.0 out of 5 stars
Grisham at his best
One of my favourite authors so I'm a bit biased but this really is an excellent ,enthralling read in best Grisham style
Published 7 days ago by andy birrell
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great read and a definite cannot put down once you start !
This book has a slow start and if it were a film then maybe I would switch over by the first break, but somehow the plot suddenly becomes clear and draws you in from all sides and... Read more
Published 14 days ago by Simon
3.0 out of 5 stars
Mixed feelings
I chose three stars as it was a pleasant read but not nearly as detailed or legally authoritative as the John Grisham books I read avidly a few years ago, the plot was far fetched... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Ron
4.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable, as always
I've read most of John Grisham's books and always enjoy his stuff. I like the consistent themes of the stories (greed, corruption, aspiration, hustling for a quick buck, etc) and... Read more
Published 2 months ago by kingtom84
4.0 out of 5 stars
Almost up there with his best
The one thing that stopped me thoroughly enjoying this legal/criminal romp was the lack of any character that I could latch on to. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mrs. N. E. Alford
4.0 out of 5 stars
a good john Grisham read
John Grisham books are good easy page turners, as was this one. The idea of the CIA being so evil was a bit scary, and there were no good guys at all except buster.
Published 3 months ago by Meranda
5.0 out of 5 stars
John Grisham is the best
Love the way this guy writes. He keeps you guessing right until the end. Once I start reading his books I barely put them down - this book was no exception
Published 6 months ago by biba
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
I truly enjoyed this book. It has confirmed what I always suspected in real life that CIA is involved in so many covert operations .
Published 9 months ago by janetta nuttall
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good read
A good read with two stories intertwining throughout the book. The only slight disappointment was the quick ending which left wanting more.
Published 9 months ago by Chris
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