Description:
Review
“Grisham is an absolute master.”—The Washington Post
“Taut, fast and relentless.”—San Francisco Chronicle
“Keeps the reader hooked . . . From the creepy first chapters . . . to the vise-tightening midsection and on to the take-the-money-and-run finale.”—The Wall Street Journal
“[An] ingenious man-in-the-middle thriller.”—Entertainment Weekly
About the Author
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
On the forty-eighth floor of a glistening tower on the southern tip of Manhattan, Mitch McDeere stood alone in his office and gazed out the window at Battery Park and the busy waters beyond. Boats of all shapes and sizes crisscrossed the harbor. Massive cargo ships laden with containers waited almost motionless. The Staten Island Ferry inched past Ellis Island. A cruise ship packed with tourists headed out to sea. A mega yacht was making a splendid entrance into the city. A brave soul in a fifteen-foot catamaran zigzagged about, dodging everything. A thousand feet above the water no fewer than five helicopters buzzed about like angry hornets. In the far distance, trucks on the Verrazano Bridge stood still, bumper to bumper. Lady Liberty watched it all from her majestic perch. It was a spectacular view that he tried to appreciate at least once each day. Occasionally he succeeded, but most days were too hectic to allow time for such loafing. He was on the clock, his life was ruled by it, just like the hundreds of other lawyers in the building. Scully & Pershing had over two thousand scattered around the world and vainly considered itself to be the premier international firm on the planet. Its New York partners, and Mitch was one, rewarded themselves with larger offices in the heart of the financial district. The firm was now a hundred years old and reeked of prestige, power, and money.
He glanced at his watch and the sightseeing came to an end. A pair of associates knocked and entered for another meeting. They met around a small table as a secretary offered coffee. They declined and she left. Their client was a Finnish shipping company having problems in South Africa. The authorities there had embargoed a freighter packed with electronics from Taiwan. Empty, the ship was worth about a hundred million. Fully loaded, it was worth twice that, and the South Africans were upset over some tariff issues. Mitch had been to Capetown twice in the past year and was not keen to return. After half an hour, he dismissed the associates with a list of instructions, and welcomed another pair.
At 5 p.m. sharp he checked in with his secretary, who was leaving, and walked past the elevators to the stairs. For short rides up and down he avoided the elevators to escape the mindless chitchat of lawyers he knew and didn’t know. He had many friends in the firm, and only a handful of known enemies, and there was always a new wave of fresh associates and eager junior partners with faces and names he was supposed to recognize. Often he did not, nor did he have time to pore over the firm directory and try to memorize them. So many would be gone before he knew their names.
Taking the stairs worked his legs and lungs and always reminded him that he was no longer in college, no longer playing football and intramural basketball and able to do so for hours. He was forty-one and still in decent shape because he watched his diet and skipped lunch at least three times a week while he worked out in the firm’s gym. Another perk for partners only.
He left the stairwell on the forty-second floor and hustled to the office of Willie Backstrom, another partner, but one with the luxury of not billing by the hour. Willie had the enviable position of running the firm’s pro bono programs, and though he kept up with his hours he did not send bills. There was no one to pay them. The lawyers at Scully made plenty of money, especially the partners, and the firm was notorious for its commitment to pro bono work. It volunteered for difficult cases around the world. Every lawyer was required to donate at least 10 percent of his time to various causes, all approved by Willie.
There was an even split down the middle of the firm on the issue of pro bono work. Half the lawyers enjoyed it because it was a welcome break from the stressful grind of representing high-pressure corporate clients. For a few hours a month, a lawyer could represent a real person or a struggling nonprofit and not worry about sending bills and getting paid. The other half paid lip service to the lofty notion of giving back but considered it wasteful. Those 250 hours a year could be better spent making money and improving one’s standing with the various committees that determined who got promoted, who made partner, and who eventually got the boot.
Willie Backstrom kept the peace, which wasn’t really that difficult because no lawyer, regardless of his or her ambition, would ever criticize the firm’s aggressive pro bono programs. Scully even gave annual awards to its lawyers who went beyond the call of duty in service to the less fortunate.
Mitch was currently spending four hours a week working with a homeless shelter in the Bronx and representing clients who were fighting evictions. It was safe, clean office work, which was just what he wanted. Seven months earlier he had watched a death row client in Alabama utter his last words before being executed. He’d spent eight hundred hours over six years trying in vain to save the guy, and watching him die was heartbreaking, the ultimate failure.
Mitch wasn’t sure what Willie wanted, but the fact that he’d been called in was an ominous sign.
Willie was the only lawyer at Scully with a ponytail, and a bad one at that. It was gray and matched his beard, and just a few years before someone higher up would have told him to shave and get a haircut. But the firm was working hard to shed its fossilized image as a white-collar club filled with white men in dark suits. One of its radical changes was the ditching of a dress code. Willie grew hair and whiskers and went about his work in jeans.
Mitch, still in a dark suit but with no tie, sat across the desk as they went through the small talk. Willie finally got around to it with “Say, Mitch, there’s a case down south I want you to take a look at.”
“Please don’t tell me the guy is on death row.”
“The guy is on death row.”
“I can’t do it, Willie. Please. I’ve had two of those in the past five years and both got the needle. My track record is not very good.”
“You did great work, Mitch. No one could have saved those two.”
“I can’t take another one.”
“Will you at least listen?”
Mitch conceded and shrugged. Willie’s fondness for death row cases was legendary and few lawyers at Scully could say no to him. “Okay, I’ll listen.”
“His name is Tad Kearny and he’s got ninety days. A month ago he made the strange decision to fire his lawyers, all of them, and he had quite a team.”
“Sounds crazy.”
“Oh, he is. Off-the-charts crazy, probably legally insane, but Tennessee is pushing hard nonetheless. Ten years ago he shot and killed three undercover narcotics officers in a drug bust that went haywire. Bodies everywhere, total of five died at the scene. Tad almost died, but they managed to save him so they could execute him later.”
Mitch laughed in frustration and said, “And I’m supposed to ride in on a white horse and save the guy? Come on, Willie. Give me something to work with.”
“There’s virtually nothing to work with, except insanity. The problem is that he probably won’t agree to see you.”
“Then why bother?”
“Because we have to try, Mitch, and I think you’re our best bet.”
“I’m still listening.”
“Well, he reminds me a lot of you.”
“Gee thanks.”
“No, seriously. He’s white, your age, and from Dane County, Kentucky.”
For a second Mitch couldn’t respond, then managed to say, “Great. We’re probably cousins.”
“I don’t think so, but his father worked in the coal mines, same as yours. And both died there.”
“My family is off-limits.”
“Sorry. You caught a lucky break and had the brains to get out. Tad did not and before long was involved with drugs, both as a user and a dealer. He and some pals were making a big delivery near Memphis when they were ambushed by narcotics officers. Everybody died but Tad. Looks like his luck has finally run out.”
“No question about his guilt?”
“Certainly not for the jury. The issue is not guilt but insanity. The idea is to have him evaluated by some specialists, our doctors, and file a last-minute Hail Mary. First, though, someone has to go in and talk to the man. Right now he’s not accepting visitors.”
“And you think we’ll bond?”
“It’s a long shot, but why not give it a try?”
Mitch took a deep breath and tried to think of another way out. To pass the time he asked, “Who’s got the case?”
“Well, technically, no one. Tad has become quite the jailhouse lawyer and he filed the necessary papers to terminate his attorneys. Amos Patrick represented him for a long time, one of the best down there. You know Amos?”
“I met him once at a conference. Quite the character.”
“Most death row lawyers are real characters.”
Reviews:
ANOTHER great one from Grisham
I have now read every single novel by Grisham (except the kids' books). I really enjoyed this one. Well, I love em all, but this was a really good. Lot's of suspense... and all the other stuff he does. Hope you enjoy it too.
...engaging characters, elevated uncertainty, strong ending. Well done!
Book Review – The Exchange – John GrishamI have read or listened to every book written by John Grisham. Although “The Exchange,” Grisham’s sequel to “The Firm” – also a blockbuster movie – it was not his best book, but I still found it compelling and reasonably intriguing and suspenseful. While there is very little legal plotting, Grisham does a masterful job drawing the reader into the tension of the various characters’ emotions – some agitated, some uncaring, a few greedy, and plenty of in between. Right up to the end of the story, the reader cannot be sure of its outcome, which is the hallmark of a well written suspense story. Also, this is not a ‘follow on’ to The Firm story, but rather another adventurous tale about the lives of Mitch and Abby McDeere who are now living in Manhattan, New York where Mitch is a partner at the largest law firm in the world. In this tale, Mitch finds himself at the center of a sinister plot that has worldwide implications—and once again endangers his colleagues, friends, and family. He’s become a master at staying one step ahead of his adversaries, but this time there’s nowhere to run or to hide. The Exchange has a believable story line, engaging characters, elevated uncertainty, and a strong ending. An international legal thriller with an ending that hints at something more to come. I enjoyed The Exchange and recommend it to mystery thriller readers.
It was just ok
I've been reading Grisham novels since he originally published The Firm. I was looking forward to this book as a sort of "where are they now" story. I loved The Firm but this novel honestly didn't feel necessary. Sure, it gave me an adventure with Mitch and his wife years after the events in The Firm but there didn't seem to be much in their lives that felt like a sort of lasting consequence or fallout from some pretty huge events during The Firm.Slight spoilers if you never read The Firm:I would think someone who finds himself and his family ensnared deep into the world of organized crime would be looking over his shoulder for the rest of his life after successfully escaping but nope. It's over, finished and done. Everyone went to prison from that underground organization and no one is left who resents him for any of it or who wants any sort of revenge. Neat and tidy wrapped up storyline .This book feels like a totally unrelated slice of life adventure. If you're ok with that then maybe you might like this book. As for me, it felt "meh".
Love his books!
Grisham books have great plots, and his stories keep your attention to the very end.
A fresh, exciting sequel to The Firm
Just a couple of weeks ago, I found out by chance that John Grisham had written a sequel to his first massive best seller, The Firm. I have read many of his books, with The Firm being my favorite. I just re-read it last year in fact. So becoming reacquainted with Mitch and Abbey McDeere again in The Exchange was incredibly unexpected and exciting.I used to be a huge Grisham fan and have read many of his books. But then I began to find his books had become stale and somewhat formulaic so I had stopped reading them. But in the last few years I did read one of his more recent ones (which was ok … not brilliant but ok), and I reread my two favorites of his (The Pelican Brief and The Firm). So, I was really pleasantly surprised that The Exchange was out.While I was cautious that it might be a letdown, it was absolutely not that. I was thoroughly engrossed in the story, much like I was with many of Grisham’s earlier books. He knows how to write a page-turner like no other writer I know. This book gets to a point where it’s hard to put down leaving the reader almost breathless while reaching the height of the story — something he has done brilliantly time and again throughout his career. But this isn’t just a walk down the memory lane of the Grisham-of-old. He has updated the McDeeres into their early 40s (in 2006 so alas I am sure he is planning a third installment). So the McDeeres are not fresh young adults any longer. But John Grisham is not a fresh young writer any longer either. Instead he has matured his writing-style to make his legal thriller style even better.I am now a reinvigorated, eager fan of John Grisham again. It feels like I have reconciled with an old friend after a long absence. Good to see you again, friend. Welcome back!
Intriguing and bland at the same time
I am a fan of John Grisham, I read everything he writes but this particular novel, I did not find engaging enough. I am more used to his more dramatic novels.
Another enjoyable and stimulating novel from the master of literary fiction
In the conclusion to an Author’s Note at the end of this book, The Exchange, John Grisham says, “A special thanks to the readers who have enjoyed The Firm over the years and have been kind enough to write and ask: Will we ever see Mitch and Abby (McDeere) again?” Well, The Exchange is Grisham’s 41st novel, and 38 others have been written by this prolific author since The Firm, the book that introduced the McDeere’s to this author’s readership.In terms of time, it has been fifteen years since Mitch McDeere stole $15 million from the mob and disappeared. In its passing narrative, occupying some 334 pages from the Hodder and Stoughton publishers, The Exchange fills-in some of the details of that event, by way of offering a possible reason why, since then, Mitch and his wife, Abby, have lived in relative obscurity, with Mitch working his way to being one of the top lawyers working for the biggest law firm in the world, Scully & Pershing.It is not by chance that John Grisham is amongst the foremost writers of his time, and, in The Exchange, John Grisham tells the story of how a new case takes Mitch McDeere to Libya and his involvement in one of the biggest hostage negotiations in recent history. Terrorists who have murdered, and will do so again, have captured a fellow London-based lawyer with the firm of Scully & Pershing, Giovanna, the daughter of a wealthy Italian, Luca. Mitch and Giovanna had been representing Luca in his legal battle with the Libyan government over the latter’s refusal to reimburse Luca for his company's work in building a bridge for the Libyan government in the Libyan desert.Whilst in Libya, Giovanna had been captured by terrorists and held for a $100 million ransom – to be paid within ten days. Mitch, and in due course, his wife Abby, has become central to the negotiations with the terrorists for Giovanna’s release. The narrative of the novel develops from this situation. In some ways, The Exchange is a follow-up to The Firm, but in other ways it is a separate story which, with Grisham’s narrative skills, simply and clearly offers some parallels between Mitch McDeere’s previous experiences and those he now faces and shares with Abby. The difference now is that with the clock ticking, Mitch must remain one step ahead of those who have kidnapped Giovanna. So too, unlike his experiences with the mob who are intent on revenge, there is nowhere where Mitch can now hide.Early in the novel, John Grisham prepares his readers well for what is to come. There is a gradual development of the story, with important background information concerning his major characters. There are no overwhelming emotional or physical junctures, but it is a narrative that gradually draws in the reader as the story continues and develops. When it is reached, the denouement of the plot and the conclusion to the novel provides satisfaction and literary completion, rather than great tension and surprise. This is the mark of an experienced and successful writer, and, in these areas, there are few who are the equal of John Grisham.The Exchange is, for this reviewer, one of the most enjoyable and stimulating of John Grisham’s later novels. Not only does The Exchange reintroduce the character of Mitch McDeere, but there is also a gentle but firm reminder that the author, John Grisham, remains one of the modern legends of literary fiction. The Exchange is well worth its purchase price and comes with this reviewer’s highest recommendation.
The Exchange
Not the best, I feel John Grisham's newer novels to be a tedious read, a bit boring at time
The Exchange
El Sr Grisham nunca defrauda, tiene una mente maravillosa y hace disfrutar al lector enormemente. He leido varios libros de él e invariablemente me deja pensando en frases, diàlogos, sitios. Le deseo mucho éxito y bendiciones.
great
Really enjoyed this book the air miles were something else hope we will see Mich and Abby again some time in the near future
Gaddafi' s Lybia.
A very good thriller !
Visit the Doubleday Store
The Exchange: After The Firm (The Firm Series)
AED10312
Quantity:
Order today to get by 7-14 business days
Delivery fee of AED 20. Free for orders above AED 200.
Imported From: United States
At BOLO, we work hard to ensure the products you receive are new, genuine, and sourced from reputable suppliers.
BOLO is not an authorized or official retailer for most brands, nor are we affiliated with manufacturers unless specifically stated on a product page. Instead, we source verified sellers, authorized distributors or directly from the manufacturer.
Each product undergoes thorough inspection and verification at our consolidation and fulfilment centers to ensure it meets our strict authenticity and quality standards before being shipped and delivered to you.
If you ever have concerns regarding the authenticity of a product purchased from us, please contact Bolo Support. We will review your inquiry promptly and, if necessary, provide documentation verifying authenticity or offer a suitable resolution.
Your trust is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in every transaction.
All product information, images, descriptions, and reviews originate from the manufacturer or from trusted sellers overseas. BOLO is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an authorized retailer for most brands listed on our website unless stated otherwise.
While we strive to display accurate information, variations in packaging, labeling, instructions, or formulation may occasionally occur due to regional differences or supplier updates. For detailed or manufacturer-specific information, please contact the brand directly or reach out to BOLO Support for assistance.
Unless otherwise stated, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.
BOLO operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of United Arab Emirates. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the UAE will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in United Arab Emirates are listed on our website.
All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.
All orders are processed manually, and we make every effort to process them promptly once confirmed. Products cancelled due to the above reasons will be permanently removed from listings across the website.
More from this brand
Similar items from “Political”
Share with
Or share with link
https://www.bolo.ae/products/U0385548958
Visit the Doubleday Store
The Exchange: After The Firm (The Firm Series)
AED10312
Quantity:
Order today to get by 7-14 business days
Delivery fee of AED 20. Free for orders above AED 200.
Imported From: United States
At BOLO, we work hard to ensure the products you receive are new, genuine, and sourced from reputable suppliers.
BOLO is not an authorized or official retailer for most brands, nor are we affiliated with manufacturers unless specifically stated on a product page. Instead, we source verified sellers, authorized distributors or directly from the manufacturer.
Each product undergoes thorough inspection and verification at our consolidation and fulfilment centers to ensure it meets our strict authenticity and quality standards before being shipped and delivered to you.
If you ever have concerns regarding the authenticity of a product purchased from us, please contact Bolo Support. We will review your inquiry promptly and, if necessary, provide documentation verifying authenticity or offer a suitable resolution.
Your trust is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in every transaction.
All product information, images, descriptions, and reviews originate from the manufacturer or from trusted sellers overseas. BOLO is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an authorized retailer for most brands listed on our website unless stated otherwise.
While we strive to display accurate information, variations in packaging, labeling, instructions, or formulation may occasionally occur due to regional differences or supplier updates. For detailed or manufacturer-specific information, please contact the brand directly or reach out to BOLO Support for assistance.
Unless otherwise stated, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.
BOLO operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of United Arab Emirates. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the UAE will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in United Arab Emirates are listed on our website.
All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.
All orders are processed manually, and we make every effort to process them promptly once confirmed. Products cancelled due to the above reasons will be permanently removed from listings across the website.
Description:
Review
“Grisham is an absolute master.”—The Washington Post
“Taut, fast and relentless.”—San Francisco Chronicle
“Keeps the reader hooked . . . From the creepy first chapters . . . to the vise-tightening midsection and on to the take-the-money-and-run finale.”—The Wall Street Journal
“[An] ingenious man-in-the-middle thriller.”—Entertainment Weekly
About the Author
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
On the forty-eighth floor of a glistening tower on the southern tip of Manhattan, Mitch McDeere stood alone in his office and gazed out the window at Battery Park and the busy waters beyond. Boats of all shapes and sizes crisscrossed the harbor. Massive cargo ships laden with containers waited almost motionless. The Staten Island Ferry inched past Ellis Island. A cruise ship packed with tourists headed out to sea. A mega yacht was making a splendid entrance into the city. A brave soul in a fifteen-foot catamaran zigzagged about, dodging everything. A thousand feet above the water no fewer than five helicopters buzzed about like angry hornets. In the far distance, trucks on the Verrazano Bridge stood still, bumper to bumper. Lady Liberty watched it all from her majestic perch. It was a spectacular view that he tried to appreciate at least once each day. Occasionally he succeeded, but most days were too hectic to allow time for such loafing. He was on the clock, his life was ruled by it, just like the hundreds of other lawyers in the building. Scully & Pershing had over two thousand scattered around the world and vainly considered itself to be the premier international firm on the planet. Its New York partners, and Mitch was one, rewarded themselves with larger offices in the heart of the financial district. The firm was now a hundred years old and reeked of prestige, power, and money.
He glanced at his watch and the sightseeing came to an end. A pair of associates knocked and entered for another meeting. They met around a small table as a secretary offered coffee. They declined and she left. Their client was a Finnish shipping company having problems in South Africa. The authorities there had embargoed a freighter packed with electronics from Taiwan. Empty, the ship was worth about a hundred million. Fully loaded, it was worth twice that, and the South Africans were upset over some tariff issues. Mitch had been to Capetown twice in the past year and was not keen to return. After half an hour, he dismissed the associates with a list of instructions, and welcomed another pair.
At 5 p.m. sharp he checked in with his secretary, who was leaving, and walked past the elevators to the stairs. For short rides up and down he avoided the elevators to escape the mindless chitchat of lawyers he knew and didn’t know. He had many friends in the firm, and only a handful of known enemies, and there was always a new wave of fresh associates and eager junior partners with faces and names he was supposed to recognize. Often he did not, nor did he have time to pore over the firm directory and try to memorize them. So many would be gone before he knew their names.
Taking the stairs worked his legs and lungs and always reminded him that he was no longer in college, no longer playing football and intramural basketball and able to do so for hours. He was forty-one and still in decent shape because he watched his diet and skipped lunch at least three times a week while he worked out in the firm’s gym. Another perk for partners only.
He left the stairwell on the forty-second floor and hustled to the office of Willie Backstrom, another partner, but one with the luxury of not billing by the hour. Willie had the enviable position of running the firm’s pro bono programs, and though he kept up with his hours he did not send bills. There was no one to pay them. The lawyers at Scully made plenty of money, especially the partners, and the firm was notorious for its commitment to pro bono work. It volunteered for difficult cases around the world. Every lawyer was required to donate at least 10 percent of his time to various causes, all approved by Willie.
There was an even split down the middle of the firm on the issue of pro bono work. Half the lawyers enjoyed it because it was a welcome break from the stressful grind of representing high-pressure corporate clients. For a few hours a month, a lawyer could represent a real person or a struggling nonprofit and not worry about sending bills and getting paid. The other half paid lip service to the lofty notion of giving back but considered it wasteful. Those 250 hours a year could be better spent making money and improving one’s standing with the various committees that determined who got promoted, who made partner, and who eventually got the boot.
Willie Backstrom kept the peace, which wasn’t really that difficult because no lawyer, regardless of his or her ambition, would ever criticize the firm’s aggressive pro bono programs. Scully even gave annual awards to its lawyers who went beyond the call of duty in service to the less fortunate.
Mitch was currently spending four hours a week working with a homeless shelter in the Bronx and representing clients who were fighting evictions. It was safe, clean office work, which was just what he wanted. Seven months earlier he had watched a death row client in Alabama utter his last words before being executed. He’d spent eight hundred hours over six years trying in vain to save the guy, and watching him die was heartbreaking, the ultimate failure.
Mitch wasn’t sure what Willie wanted, but the fact that he’d been called in was an ominous sign.
Willie was the only lawyer at Scully with a ponytail, and a bad one at that. It was gray and matched his beard, and just a few years before someone higher up would have told him to shave and get a haircut. But the firm was working hard to shed its fossilized image as a white-collar club filled with white men in dark suits. One of its radical changes was the ditching of a dress code. Willie grew hair and whiskers and went about his work in jeans.
Mitch, still in a dark suit but with no tie, sat across the desk as they went through the small talk. Willie finally got around to it with “Say, Mitch, there’s a case down south I want you to take a look at.”
“Please don’t tell me the guy is on death row.”
“The guy is on death row.”
“I can’t do it, Willie. Please. I’ve had two of those in the past five years and both got the needle. My track record is not very good.”
“You did great work, Mitch. No one could have saved those two.”
“I can’t take another one.”
“Will you at least listen?”
Mitch conceded and shrugged. Willie’s fondness for death row cases was legendary and few lawyers at Scully could say no to him. “Okay, I’ll listen.”
“His name is Tad Kearny and he’s got ninety days. A month ago he made the strange decision to fire his lawyers, all of them, and he had quite a team.”
“Sounds crazy.”
“Oh, he is. Off-the-charts crazy, probably legally insane, but Tennessee is pushing hard nonetheless. Ten years ago he shot and killed three undercover narcotics officers in a drug bust that went haywire. Bodies everywhere, total of five died at the scene. Tad almost died, but they managed to save him so they could execute him later.”
Mitch laughed in frustration and said, “And I’m supposed to ride in on a white horse and save the guy? Come on, Willie. Give me something to work with.”
“There’s virtually nothing to work with, except insanity. The problem is that he probably won’t agree to see you.”
“Then why bother?”
“Because we have to try, Mitch, and I think you’re our best bet.”
“I’m still listening.”
“Well, he reminds me a lot of you.”
“Gee thanks.”
“No, seriously. He’s white, your age, and from Dane County, Kentucky.”
For a second Mitch couldn’t respond, then managed to say, “Great. We’re probably cousins.”
“I don’t think so, but his father worked in the coal mines, same as yours. And both died there.”
“My family is off-limits.”
“Sorry. You caught a lucky break and had the brains to get out. Tad did not and before long was involved with drugs, both as a user and a dealer. He and some pals were making a big delivery near Memphis when they were ambushed by narcotics officers. Everybody died but Tad. Looks like his luck has finally run out.”
“No question about his guilt?”
“Certainly not for the jury. The issue is not guilt but insanity. The idea is to have him evaluated by some specialists, our doctors, and file a last-minute Hail Mary. First, though, someone has to go in and talk to the man. Right now he’s not accepting visitors.”
“And you think we’ll bond?”
“It’s a long shot, but why not give it a try?”
Mitch took a deep breath and tried to think of another way out. To pass the time he asked, “Who’s got the case?”
“Well, technically, no one. Tad has become quite the jailhouse lawyer and he filed the necessary papers to terminate his attorneys. Amos Patrick represented him for a long time, one of the best down there. You know Amos?”
“I met him once at a conference. Quite the character.”
“Most death row lawyers are real characters.”
Reviews:
ANOTHER great one from Grisham
I have now read every single novel by Grisham (except the kids' books). I really enjoyed this one. Well, I love em all, but this was a really good. Lot's of suspense... and all the other stuff he does. Hope you enjoy it too.
...engaging characters, elevated uncertainty, strong ending. Well done!
Book Review – The Exchange – John GrishamI have read or listened to every book written by John Grisham. Although “The Exchange,” Grisham’s sequel to “The Firm” – also a blockbuster movie – it was not his best book, but I still found it compelling and reasonably intriguing and suspenseful. While there is very little legal plotting, Grisham does a masterful job drawing the reader into the tension of the various characters’ emotions – some agitated, some uncaring, a few greedy, and plenty of in between. Right up to the end of the story, the reader cannot be sure of its outcome, which is the hallmark of a well written suspense story. Also, this is not a ‘follow on’ to The Firm story, but rather another adventurous tale about the lives of Mitch and Abby McDeere who are now living in Manhattan, New York where Mitch is a partner at the largest law firm in the world. In this tale, Mitch finds himself at the center of a sinister plot that has worldwide implications—and once again endangers his colleagues, friends, and family. He’s become a master at staying one step ahead of his adversaries, but this time there’s nowhere to run or to hide. The Exchange has a believable story line, engaging characters, elevated uncertainty, and a strong ending. An international legal thriller with an ending that hints at something more to come. I enjoyed The Exchange and recommend it to mystery thriller readers.
It was just ok
I've been reading Grisham novels since he originally published The Firm. I was looking forward to this book as a sort of "where are they now" story. I loved The Firm but this novel honestly didn't feel necessary. Sure, it gave me an adventure with Mitch and his wife years after the events in The Firm but there didn't seem to be much in their lives that felt like a sort of lasting consequence or fallout from some pretty huge events during The Firm.Slight spoilers if you never read The Firm:I would think someone who finds himself and his family ensnared deep into the world of organized crime would be looking over his shoulder for the rest of his life after successfully escaping but nope. It's over, finished and done. Everyone went to prison from that underground organization and no one is left who resents him for any of it or who wants any sort of revenge. Neat and tidy wrapped up storyline .This book feels like a totally unrelated slice of life adventure. If you're ok with that then maybe you might like this book. As for me, it felt "meh".
Love his books!
Grisham books have great plots, and his stories keep your attention to the very end.
A fresh, exciting sequel to The Firm
Just a couple of weeks ago, I found out by chance that John Grisham had written a sequel to his first massive best seller, The Firm. I have read many of his books, with The Firm being my favorite. I just re-read it last year in fact. So becoming reacquainted with Mitch and Abbey McDeere again in The Exchange was incredibly unexpected and exciting.I used to be a huge Grisham fan and have read many of his books. But then I began to find his books had become stale and somewhat formulaic so I had stopped reading them. But in the last few years I did read one of his more recent ones (which was ok … not brilliant but ok), and I reread my two favorites of his (The Pelican Brief and The Firm). So, I was really pleasantly surprised that The Exchange was out.While I was cautious that it might be a letdown, it was absolutely not that. I was thoroughly engrossed in the story, much like I was with many of Grisham’s earlier books. He knows how to write a page-turner like no other writer I know. This book gets to a point where it’s hard to put down leaving the reader almost breathless while reaching the height of the story — something he has done brilliantly time and again throughout his career. But this isn’t just a walk down the memory lane of the Grisham-of-old. He has updated the McDeeres into their early 40s (in 2006 so alas I am sure he is planning a third installment). So the McDeeres are not fresh young adults any longer. But John Grisham is not a fresh young writer any longer either. Instead he has matured his writing-style to make his legal thriller style even better.I am now a reinvigorated, eager fan of John Grisham again. It feels like I have reconciled with an old friend after a long absence. Good to see you again, friend. Welcome back!
Intriguing and bland at the same time
I am a fan of John Grisham, I read everything he writes but this particular novel, I did not find engaging enough. I am more used to his more dramatic novels.
Another enjoyable and stimulating novel from the master of literary fiction
In the conclusion to an Author’s Note at the end of this book, The Exchange, John Grisham says, “A special thanks to the readers who have enjoyed The Firm over the years and have been kind enough to write and ask: Will we ever see Mitch and Abby (McDeere) again?” Well, The Exchange is Grisham’s 41st novel, and 38 others have been written by this prolific author since The Firm, the book that introduced the McDeere’s to this author’s readership.In terms of time, it has been fifteen years since Mitch McDeere stole $15 million from the mob and disappeared. In its passing narrative, occupying some 334 pages from the Hodder and Stoughton publishers, The Exchange fills-in some of the details of that event, by way of offering a possible reason why, since then, Mitch and his wife, Abby, have lived in relative obscurity, with Mitch working his way to being one of the top lawyers working for the biggest law firm in the world, Scully & Pershing.It is not by chance that John Grisham is amongst the foremost writers of his time, and, in The Exchange, John Grisham tells the story of how a new case takes Mitch McDeere to Libya and his involvement in one of the biggest hostage negotiations in recent history. Terrorists who have murdered, and will do so again, have captured a fellow London-based lawyer with the firm of Scully & Pershing, Giovanna, the daughter of a wealthy Italian, Luca. Mitch and Giovanna had been representing Luca in his legal battle with the Libyan government over the latter’s refusal to reimburse Luca for his company's work in building a bridge for the Libyan government in the Libyan desert.Whilst in Libya, Giovanna had been captured by terrorists and held for a $100 million ransom – to be paid within ten days. Mitch, and in due course, his wife Abby, has become central to the negotiations with the terrorists for Giovanna’s release. The narrative of the novel develops from this situation. In some ways, The Exchange is a follow-up to The Firm, but in other ways it is a separate story which, with Grisham’s narrative skills, simply and clearly offers some parallels between Mitch McDeere’s previous experiences and those he now faces and shares with Abby. The difference now is that with the clock ticking, Mitch must remain one step ahead of those who have kidnapped Giovanna. So too, unlike his experiences with the mob who are intent on revenge, there is nowhere where Mitch can now hide.Early in the novel, John Grisham prepares his readers well for what is to come. There is a gradual development of the story, with important background information concerning his major characters. There are no overwhelming emotional or physical junctures, but it is a narrative that gradually draws in the reader as the story continues and develops. When it is reached, the denouement of the plot and the conclusion to the novel provides satisfaction and literary completion, rather than great tension and surprise. This is the mark of an experienced and successful writer, and, in these areas, there are few who are the equal of John Grisham.The Exchange is, for this reviewer, one of the most enjoyable and stimulating of John Grisham’s later novels. Not only does The Exchange reintroduce the character of Mitch McDeere, but there is also a gentle but firm reminder that the author, John Grisham, remains one of the modern legends of literary fiction. The Exchange is well worth its purchase price and comes with this reviewer’s highest recommendation.
The Exchange
Not the best, I feel John Grisham's newer novels to be a tedious read, a bit boring at time
The Exchange
El Sr Grisham nunca defrauda, tiene una mente maravillosa y hace disfrutar al lector enormemente. He leido varios libros de él e invariablemente me deja pensando en frases, diàlogos, sitios. Le deseo mucho éxito y bendiciones.
great
Really enjoyed this book the air miles were something else hope we will see Mich and Abby again some time in the near future
Gaddafi' s Lybia.
A very good thriller !
More from this brand
Similar items from “Political”
Share with
Or share with link
https://www.bolo.ae/products/U0385548958