Trumble is a minimum-security federal prison, a "camp," home to the usual assortment of relatively harmless criminals--drug dealers, bank...
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Dec 11, 2008
Brad
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The Brethren by John Grisham
I found this to be a pretty interesting book. It is the story of the brethren, three ex-judges in a low-security prison called Trumble, who come up with a scheme to extort money from older homosexual men. Two victims and one hundred eighty-nine thousand dollars into the scam the judges run across their biggest victim of all – Aaron Lake. He is the next president to be and seems to have a lot to offer.
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Feb 06, 2008
Marty
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I would not say I'm a reluctant John Grisham reader. I just haven't felt a dying urge to search out his novels. Maybe I'm just afraid of any sort of legal setting and try to avoid it in any medium it's presented in. Finally, I picked up a paperback of Grisham's novel, Runaway Jury and plodded through it. Certainly he can present some very intriguing characters and situations, and his mastery of plot intricacies and how it plays out demonstrated to me why he has garnered the bestselling status he
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Oct 25, 2007
Josh
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I really enjoyed this book. I've read several of the lesser known Grisham books because I've seen the others on film.
I thought Grisham tackled sensitive subject material with with grace and intelligence. We all know, paying attention to the news, that there are in fact closeted gay men in elite positions in this country. Grisham explores this reality in the novel, which makes for genuine and realistic prose.
It's hard to determine who the hero is in this work because ea More...
I thought Grisham tackled sensitive subject material with with grace and intelligence. We all know, paying attention to the news, that there are in fact closeted gay men in elite positions in this country. Grisham explores this reality in the novel, which makes for genuine and realistic prose.
It's hard to determine who the hero is in this work because ea More...
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Jan 23, 2011
Alex
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Doing Time Never Paid So Good
To quite a few people, when they hear that John Grisham has come out with a new novel, their first hasty generalization is that it is another “lawyer book.” This may have been true with his first five novels, but the subsequent five had been entirely different. Yes, each involved a lawyer or the court in some way, but they entailed an interesting story not to do with law and the courts, but with ordinary happenstances of life. Once again, John Grisham ha More...
To quite a few people, when they hear that John Grisham has come out with a new novel, their first hasty generalization is that it is another “lawyer book.” This may have been true with his first five novels, but the subsequent five had been entirely different. Yes, each involved a lawyer or the court in some way, but they entailed an interesting story not to do with law and the courts, but with ordinary happenstances of life. Once again, John Grisham ha More...
Jan 04, 2011
Matt
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I was very skeptical of this book because of the plot line, but I ended up enjoying the book. I think that I liked it because of the fun that was had at the expense of modern day politics. The judges were fun characters even though they were convicted of crimes and extorting innocent people they were hard not to like because of there polar opposite personalities that mesh so perfectly together.
Three former judges (known as "The Brethren") incarcerated at Trumble, a fictional, More...
Three former judges (known as "The Brethren") incarcerated at Trumble, a fictional, More...
Nov 01, 2010
Eric
rated it:
This is probably the 5th or 6th Grisham book that I have read and I would have to say that it is a middle of the pack book for him. It's isn't great but it also wasn't terrible. Most of the time when I pick up a Grisham book I have a hard time putting it down and will read it until it's finished. That was not the case with this book.
The plot took a very long time to develop and once it did you could see the ending coming for about 100 pages. Usually with his books there is a surprise a More...
The plot took a very long time to develop and once it did you could see the ending coming for about 100 pages. Usually with his books there is a surprise a More...
Oct 29, 2009
Siobhan
rated it:
John Grisham is the only author whose books attract attention when I'm reading them on the Metro. "Is that a new one?" another rider will ask, voice filled with excitement. Then, of course, they seem so deflated when I say I'm reading an old one. And I have to admit, I just don't get it.
Grisham writes airport fiction, athough when I bought The Brethren, I was just looking for a quick read, not for something to take my mind off my fear of flying.
I wouldn't say More...
Grisham writes airport fiction, athough when I bought The Brethren, I was just looking for a quick read, not for something to take my mind off my fear of flying.
I wouldn't say More...
Jun 18, 2009
Nathan
rated it:
Let me make a confession. I only checked this book out because, sitting in my bar review course on Constitutional Law, the teacher made a reference to a book titled "The Brethren" that purported to report that the clerks (and some of the Justices themselves) on the Surpeme Court would hold 'movie day' where they would watch the evidentiary movies that were being appealed on First Amendment obscenity-content/free-speech grounds. Such a statement was so absurd to me that I had to find-
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Mar 05, 2008
Adam
rated it:
It was a very interesting book, but I was never comfortable with the subject matter of the book. A group of ex-judges begin an extortion scam and inadvertently hook a very big fish. The judges pose in letters as a troubled young man looking for male companionship. Once they have built a relationship through letters they threaten to expose the secrets of their pen pal, but will remain quiet for money. I really don't know who I would recommend this book to even thought I didn't hate it.
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Feb 07, 2012
Jane
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Depressing topic. Unlikeable characters. No one was fun to watch.
STORY BRIEF:
Three former judges are running an extortion scam while serving their sentences in a minimum security prison. They write letters pretending to be Ricky a twenty-something gay guy looking for an older male friend. When they find someone who has money, a wife, and is still in the closet, they threaten to expose his gay activities and demand money. Trevor is their unscrupulous attorney who brings and More...
STORY BRIEF:
Three former judges are running an extortion scam while serving their sentences in a minimum security prison. They write letters pretending to be Ricky a twenty-something gay guy looking for an older male friend. When they find someone who has money, a wife, and is still in the closet, they threaten to expose his gay activities and demand money. Trevor is their unscrupulous attorney who brings and More...
Mar 28, 2010
Patrick
rated it:
This is a good book about three judges in minimum security prison who extorts rich married gay men in the closet and with a family for money. Suddenly, they hooked Aaron Lake who is the Republican candidate for presidency and the champion of the CIA. I did not like how the booke ended because the bad guys won. The three extortionist judges got $2 million a piece to live abroad for 2 years and the CIA because they have dirt on their candidate controls him because of answering to a gay ad.
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Aug 02, 2011
Horrid. Horrid. Horrid. Waste of paper, time and shelf space. The Brethren by John Grisham is a huge let down. Not that I'm surprised.
The book is about three wily judges who are stuck in "prison camp". They begin scamming rich, middle aged, in closet gay men by pretending to be a lonely, young boy who is in therapy for drug addiction. Their scheme seems to be running successfully until they ensnare the to-be President of America in their trap. The CIA goes all out trying to prevent sca More...
The book is about three wily judges who are stuck in "prison camp". They begin scamming rich, middle aged, in closet gay men by pretending to be a lonely, young boy who is in therapy for drug addiction. Their scheme seems to be running successfully until they ensnare the to-be President of America in their trap. The CIA goes all out trying to prevent sca More...
Jan 17, 2011
Tracy
rated it:
I give The Brethren 3.5 stars.
The Brethren by John Grisham is about a scam pulled off by 3 Felons in a low security federal prison, located in North Florida. But these aren’t your everyday criminals, they are public officials gone bad. With the help of a lazy attorney on the outside, they extort money from wealthy men with a secret they don’t want revealed. When they snag the wrong person in their trap things begin to unfold. Who they think is on to them really isn’t, but they More...
The Brethren by John Grisham is about a scam pulled off by 3 Felons in a low security federal prison, located in North Florida. But these aren’t your everyday criminals, they are public officials gone bad. With the help of a lazy attorney on the outside, they extort money from wealthy men with a secret they don’t want revealed. When they snag the wrong person in their trap things begin to unfold. Who they think is on to them really isn’t, but they More...
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Feb 03, 2009
Andrea
rated it:
I figured out the plot in the second chapter.
There are 2 stories happening simultaneously.
There is a guy running for president. The CIA picked him because he was clear and free of anything in his past or present that would cause a problem for a candidate.
There are 3 judges (in jail) who are extortionists. They are blackmailing rich men. While some of the subject matter in this book is "outing" gay men..I don't feel like it was explicit in any way. More...
There are 2 stories happening simultaneously.
There is a guy running for president. The CIA picked him because he was clear and free of anything in his past or present that would cause a problem for a candidate.
There are 3 judges (in jail) who are extortionists. They are blackmailing rich men. While some of the subject matter in this book is "outing" gay men..I don't feel like it was explicit in any way. More...
Mar 26, 2009
Susan
rated it: 
I like John Grisham as a writer, but not this book.
Three things:
1:
There was something about the homophobia in the novel that made me squeamish. I understand there are homophobes, but there was nothing in this novel to offset it. It's a dominate theme in the novel, normal and accepted, as if there is no alternative to homophobia.
2:
The reader gets to know the inner workings of the minds of some of the worst lowlifes in the book, which is amu More...
Three things:
1:
There was something about the homophobia in the novel that made me squeamish. I understand there are homophobes, but there was nothing in this novel to offset it. It's a dominate theme in the novel, normal and accepted, as if there is no alternative to homophobia.
2:
The reader gets to know the inner workings of the minds of some of the worst lowlifes in the book, which is amu More...
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Jul 27, 2011
Eerie, how prophetic this novel is. Terrorism. A new election. Promises for retribution. Even passivists wanting blood. A politician using taxpayer money to visit an international mistress. Corruption. War. I thought, SURELY this novel treaded on some toes! So, I glanced at the front to see when it was published.
2000.
Grisham's novels "roar to life," as one critic noted. I have never encountered a novel of his that I could put down. Every book I end up finishing at 4 or 5 in More...
2000.
Grisham's novels "roar to life," as one critic noted. I have never encountered a novel of his that I could put down. Every book I end up finishing at 4 or 5 in More...
Jun 27, 2007
Sulan
rated it:
As far as John Grisham goes... I have to say I was disappointed. I mean it was easy to read, and entertaining as Grisham always is, but the ending really sucked. To be fair, I don't know if he could ever top his classics like The Firm and A Time to Kill, etc. Let's just say, I wouldn't bother making a film out of this one.
Apr 26, 2011
JoPaul
rated it: 
I don't have any doubt that Grisham will once again cast a spell on me with th rich story he had crafted through The Brethen. This is despite the selected diatribes I have read from the critics and fellow goodreaders. Undeniably, this novel is an amalgamation of humor and wit.
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Mar 03, 2011
Kevin
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Mar 31, 2011
Nicole
rated it:
Solid Grisham; if you like his other books, you'll like this one, too. The two plots involve 3 incarcerated judges holding court in a federal prison and a presidential candidate that is merely a puppet of the CIA. (You'll have to read the book to find out how those two very different stories come together.) What I found most interesting is that Grisham wrote this book in 2000, ie pre-9/11. The threat of terrorists is what compels the CIA head to use his vast resources and PAC money to get in
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Apr 06, 2009
Jodi
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
May 24, 2011
Crystal
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This book is about three judges in prison. They have court cases inside the prison and send notes to people to trick them into sending the judges money. They manage to get a hold of a certain man, Aaron Lake, a candidate to become president of the U.S. Aaron attempts to keep the letters a secret and hides his identity behind a fake name, but then he slips. The judges knows about the letters and who he is and so does someone else. Is this the thing that will stop him from becoming president?
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Oct 14, 2011
Cheryl
rated it:
E-library download to my Nook. Extortion scheme by 2 former judges and a former justice of the peace doing 'easy' time in a minimum security federal prison in Florida. Oh... these are some VERY greedy and opportunistic people with a scam against successful closeted gay men with a LOT to lose! I thought some of the high tech snooping was a bit unrealistic but maybe I am just naive! I also thought the plot was sort of predictable until page 196 - and then WHAMO! Yikes!
The manipulati More...
The manipulati More...
Oct 12, 2010
J_louche
rated it:
Not Grisham's best, but entertaining. It's fun to read books that still have to use "old tech" to solve the crime/murder. These days with all of the high tech ways to monitor killers and catch the proverbial "bad guys" it's nice to take a step back in time to a pre-facebook era. This book made me want to watch "Matlock" or "Murder, She Wrote." However, I didn't like the ending, unless I just didn't get it. It didn't quench my blood lust, I suppose. *
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Dec 15, 2011
Michael
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I never thuoght I would rate a book lower than a three by one of my favorite authors, but it has come to past.I was disappointed after reading this book, judging by the synopsis, I thought it was going to be an intriguing and interesting read,but I was wrong. Three judges that handle cases without a license,they are called the brethren,until they catch the wrong victim. One of the things I did not enjoy about the book was the fact that the plot was not consistent, I could`nt follow the story. Th
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May 30, 2011
Allison
rated it:
I have read several John Grisham novels and this particular one did not have the usual punch that are typical in his stories. In other books of his there is suspense and intrigue, but I would not say The Brethren has these characteristics.
The dual plots are slow in developing and once the two converge it is fairly predictable from there. With a lack of twists and turns it was really difficult to stay engaged in the book. With no true climax or twists to drive the story it felt like i More...
The dual plots are slow in developing and once the two converge it is fairly predictable from there. With a lack of twists and turns it was really difficult to stay engaged in the book. With no true climax or twists to drive the story it felt like i More...
Jan 09, 2010
Mel
rated it:
I had two weeks of forced vacation, and tried to read every Grisham I had not already read, and in the process re-read a few I had read before. The books I am adding today are those I have read since Dec 23, our first vacation day.
The Brethren is a soft quiet read by Grisham standards. It has his usual intrigue, and complex plot, but this one had a slowness to it.
The sitting is a prison library, where three ex-judges ( now prisoners ) find ways to steal money.
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The Brethren is a soft quiet read by Grisham standards. It has his usual intrigue, and complex plot, but this one had a slowness to it.
The sitting is a prison library, where three ex-judges ( now prisoners ) find ways to steal money.
More...
Nov 08, 2009
David
rated it:
Standard Grisham: page-turning plot, easy-to-read style, and a cynical view of humanity. This was entertaining but seemed a little short for what the story was trying to accomplish. The book centers on a trio of incarcerated former judges who are running a scam from prison to blackmail closeted gay men. I would have preferred to see a more balanced view of homosexuality, but then I guess Grisham has never been one to inject any social message to balance the negative perspectives and actions o
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Dec 19, 2009
dioscurio
rated it:
Karya Grisham paling kocak dan penuh ironi menurut gw..
Mungkin rada2 nyindir Bush Jr. karena cerita ini mengangkat isu pemilihan presiden dan pernak-perniknya. Tentu aja bukan pernak-pernik biasa karena di sini CIA turut campur (alias jadi pendukung bayangan) seorang calon presiden yg semula nggak dikenal, tapi langsung melejit karena propaganda dan program2 militernya mengenai US sebagai kekuatan super power yg semakin lembek dalam hal militer (dan dananya seolah nggak terbatas kare More...
Mungkin rada2 nyindir Bush Jr. karena cerita ini mengangkat isu pemilihan presiden dan pernak-perniknya. Tentu aja bukan pernak-pernik biasa karena di sini CIA turut campur (alias jadi pendukung bayangan) seorang calon presiden yg semula nggak dikenal, tapi langsung melejit karena propaganda dan program2 militernya mengenai US sebagai kekuatan super power yg semakin lembek dalam hal militer (dan dananya seolah nggak terbatas kare More...
Dec 21, 2010
Tom
rated it:
Another enjoyable story by Mr. Grisham.
Again, Mr. Grisham has not disappointed me with this story. In the Brethren the author took me on a journey into a political campaign, and how the government can control an election. The characters of the three judges' and their activities were believable. What I appreciated about John Grisham is that each new book that he releases takes me into a new world and I always learn something from his stories. The Brethren is a super story. Enjoy it, More...
Again, Mr. Grisham has not disappointed me with this story. In the Brethren the author took me on a journey into a political campaign, and how the government can control an election. The characters of the three judges' and their activities were believable. What I appreciated about John Grisham is that each new book that he releases takes me into a new world and I always learn something from his stories. The Brethren is a super story. Enjoy it, More...
