The Brethren (Grisham novel)
LC Class | PS3557.R5355 B74 2000b |
The Brethren is a 2000 legal thriller novel by American author John Grisham.
Plot
The "Brethren" are three former judges who are incarcerated at Trumble, a fictional
With the help of their
Meanwhile, Teddy Maynard, the ruthless and soon-to-retire director of the
The CIA plant a man inside Trumble, who tells the Brethren that he knows about the scam. A deal is worked out, money changes hands and the judges are pardoned by the outgoing
Reception
In a starred review, Publishers Weekly highlighted how Grisham is one of "only a few megaselling authors of popular fiction [who] deviate dramatically from formula". In line with this praise, they noted that "Grisham's fans may miss the stalwart lawyer-heroes and David vs. Goliath slant of his earlier work", given the fact that "every personage in this novel lies, cheats, steals and/or kills"; however, they concluded that "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".[1]
The A.V. Club's Tasha Robinson also discussed how "The Brethren presents a curious speed bump in [Grishman's] decade-long ride on literary cruise control", adding that, "most notably, there isn't a single film-friendly hero here".[2]
While Publishers Weekly referred to the plot as "expertly orchestrated and very complex plot",[1] Robinson argued that "Grisham takes his time" connecting seemingly disconnected plot lines, and "even when the book finally coheres, the fireworks are minimal".[2]
Robinson concluded, "The Brethren isn't especially exciting, nor is it especially glib. But it is suspiciously relevant to the current presidential election, as well as a satisfying break from Grisham-as-usual."[2]
References
- ^ a b "The Brethren by John Grisham". Publishers Weekly. 2000-01-31. Archived from the original on 2023-02-06. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
- ^ a b c Robinson, Tasha (2002-03-29). "John Grisham: The Brethren". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2024-02-12.