Book Review: The Firm by John Grisham

For those who haven’t heard, Grisham has written a follow-up to “The Firm,” “The Exchange,” which will be released on 17 October 2023.

The Firm & The Exchange Amazon coversPhoto bythe author using PowerPoint Design Creations

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If you haven’t read The Firm, or, as was the case with me, it had been years since you read it, here is my no-spoiler review and the author’s introduction to The Exchange.

Introduction

John Grisham's The Firm is a gripping tale of corporate espionage, legal thrills, and suspense that catapulted him to literary stardom. As we await the sequel, The Exchange, readers are left with lingering questions about the fate of its protagonist and the dangerous world he navigated.

Summary

The Firm follows Mitch Y. McDeere, a promising law graduate, as he joins Bendini, Lambert, & Locke in Memphis, Tennessee—a seemingly ideal law firm with dark secrets. Seduced by the allure of wealth and a seemingly perfect life, Mitch quickly finds himself entangled in a web of lies, with the FBI and the mob breathing down his neck.

"You never feel completely safe, when you're a member of The Firm."

Narration

The story is narrated from a third-person omniscient perspective, giving readers an overarching view of Mitch's spiraling world.

Setting

Set primarily in Memphis during the early 90s, the urban landscape and the culture of high-stakes legal drama become pivotal to the tale.

"The streets of Memphis became a labyrinth of paranoia and dread for Mitch."

Theme

The underlying theme of The Firm revolves around the moral dilemmas faced when confronting corruption, the choices one makes for personal gain, and the price of integrity.

Genre

The Firm is a legal thriller. It is masterful in its pacing and tension-building.

Compared to other works in this genre, like Scott Turow's Presumed Innocent, Grisham's narrative stands out for its meticulous detailing of the legal world and its adept blend of action and suspense.

Author

John Grisham is a name synonymous with legal thrillers. He has given us numerous bestsellers, from A Time to Kill to The Pelican Brief. While most of his works delve into the legal realm, The Firm remains particularly riveting because it portrays a young lawyer's moral descent and the cascading effects of his choices.

Plot

Mitch McDeere, number four in his class at Harvard Law, is the only graduate that year recruited by The Firm offering a life he couldn't resist. They offered so much more than the others. A new BMW, a fancy “low interest” home mortgage, a fat salary, and more.

But beneath the glitz lies a mafia-controlled operation, and once you're in, there's no way out—“not alive anyway.” As Mitch realizes the depths of the firm's dealings, he's pursued by both the FBI, wanting him as an informant, and the mob, wanting to ensure his silence. In a race against time, Mitch devises a plan to outsmart both sides with the help of his wife, Abby and brother, Ray.

Book Recommendation

Ideal for readers aged 16 and up who enjoy tense, high-stakes dramas. Fans of legal thrillers and those who appreciate a meticulously plotted narrative will likely find this book and its sequel engrossing.

As we anticipate The Exchange, many questions loom large. Where have Mitch, Ray, and Abby been since the tumultuous conclusion of The Firm? How will they navigate the treacherous waters of the mob and the FBI? And as always, at what cost? Grisham's sequel promises to be an enthralling continuation of a tale where the stakes have never been higher.

John Grisham’s Introduction to The Exchange

As Mitch stands once again in Peabody in Memphis, he struggles with the memories and his decisions.

“How could he have been so foolish? Had it really been fifteen years? They were just kids back then and so naïve.”—From The Exchange.

#1 New York Times bestselling author John Grisham delivers high-flying international suspense in a stunning new legal thriller that marks the return of Mitch McDeere, the brilliant hero of The Firm.

What became of Mitch and Abby McDeere after they exposed the crimes of Memphis law firm Bendini, Lambert & Locke and fled the country? The answer is in The Exchange, the riveting sequel to The Firm, the blockbuster thriller that launched the career of America’s favorite storyteller. It is now fifteen years later, and Mitch and Abby are living in Manhattan, where Mitch is a partner at the largest law firm in the world. When a mentor in Rome asks him for a favor that will take him far from home, Mitch finds himself at the center of a sinister plot that has worldwide implications—and once again endangers his colleagues, friends, and family. Mitch has become a master at staying one step ahead of his adversaries, but this time there’s nowhere to hide.”—Amazon blurb.

Will the questions we harbored for nearly thirty years in real life years be answered? Will Mitch and Abby escape once again?

If you enjoy legal thrillers, you’ll love The Firm, and I’m sure The Exchange will be an exquisite continuation of the adventures of Mitch McDeere.

NOTE: This post contains affiliate links. When you click on a link and buy the product, I make a small commission, which does not change your price.

You can buy The Firm for Kindle on Amazon.

Pre-order The Exchange from Amazon.

There's also an amazing film starring Tom Cruise, Hal Holbrook, and Barbara Garrick. You can buy the DVD from Amazon for $4.99.

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