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Mar 26, 2008

Cathie rated it:

I worked at a law firm where part of the movie was filmed. When Julia Roberts's character goes into a law firm to ask for a particular lawyer only to find out that he no longer works there and she leaves, that is my old firm. It is an ornate marble lobby with a small stream of water in the middle of the lobby. She goes through a glass door and can either go up an escalator or up some stairs to the reception desk, which overlooks the lobby. The walls are all glass and she can see across the f More...

2 comments like (3 people liked it)

Feb 28, 2010

Kiersten rated it:

This book was a lot more suspenseful and entertaining than I thought it would be. I don't know why I thought it would be so boring, since John Grisham is so popular. It was incredibly suspenseful at parts. It was the first book I'd read by Grisham, so I really didn't know what was coming. I had three problems with it: 1) Although, like I said, the book as a whole was really suspenseful, I thought the end was a bit anticlimatic. 2) The environmentalism was a bit heavy handed. I'm all about pr More...

0 comments like (4 people liked it)

Oct 17, 2008

Tom rated it:

Washington wakes up to the gruesome news that two members of the Supreme Court have been murdered overnight. The shocking part was in their diversity. The old, should have retired years ago, Democrat Justice Rosenberg and the younger Republican Justice Jensen. The fact that they were almost always on opposite sides of any issue left law enforcement with no clear political motive. The only clues left behind seemed to be ones of the killer’s choosing. A nylon cord used to garrote Jensen as h More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Aug 06, 2011

Nikole rated it:

When two Supreme Court Justices are assassinated just mere hours apart, the U.S. Government is at a loss to find the culprit.

In New Orleans, a second year law student decides to do some investigating of her own. Three days later, the Pelican Brief is born. It makes it's way to D.C. and soon after the law student finds herself running for her life. She trusts no one, except an investigative journalist from the Washington Post.

I've read some really great John Grisham novels (Th More...

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Mar 22, 2011

Remi rated it:

It all started out when two Supreme court judges have been assassinated. The names were Rosenberg and Jenson. Why were they killed? The police have yet to find a connection between the two shocking murders. One of the judges, Rosenberg was going to be dead anyway due to natural causes in an upcoming time. Judge Jenson on the other hand, was liked by most people. Will the FBI ever find the killer. The President and associates have now been under an immense amount of stress from the deaths. As th More...

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Feb 17, 2010

Patrick rated it:

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Oct 09, 2009

Drebbles rated it:

When two Supreme Court justices are assassinated on the same night, there is plenty of speculation as to who the assassin or assassins are and why the judges were murdered. Like many others, law student Darby Shaw thinks she knows the motive. She writes a brief, soon to be known as The Pelican Brief, and shows it to her law professor/lover, Thomas Callahan. Unfortunately, he shows it to a friend of his who works for the FBI, who passes it along, and it falls into the wrong hands. When Callahan i More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Oct 09, 2011

Michael rated it:

Abe Rosenberg at ninety one; The Supreme Court liberal is murdered, when a gun shot in the head, led to his demise. The country is perplexed, while the FBI, search for clues that led to his death. Glan Jensen is strangled by the same assassin, merely two hours later. The town is even more distraught and shocked about the deaths that cane right after each other. In addition, Darby Shaw a studious law student have come into a conclusion that led to an obscure connection between the two justices. B More...

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Jul 09, 2011

Stefania rated it:

John Grisham: primo fatale incontro.

'Il rapporto Pelican' è un libro "da apnea", ovvero appartiene a quel genere di libri che ti lasciano come unica via d'uscita la totale immersione. Non puoi smettere di leggere, il demone della frenesia da lettura si impossessa di tutte le tua facoltà fisiche e mentali, perciò non puoi fare altro che arrivare, in preda all'ingordigia, all'ultima pagina.

Tanto di cappello! Quante volte mi è capitato di avere la necessità fisica More...

2 comments like (4 people liked it)

Aug 27, 2011

Jen rated it:

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Oct 21, 2010

Karen & Gerard rated it:

The Pelican Brief (10/10) murder, thriller
The Pelican Brief by John Grisham is about Darby Shaw, a law student who does some research into a possible suspect who had two Supreme Court Justices assassinated. She finds herself on the run when her brief makes it all the way to the FBI, CIA and the President. There is a lot of killing in this book and Darby realizes she is in danger. This is a real thriller because Darby doesn’t know who to trust. She finally trusts Gray, an investigative More...

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Jan 21, 2010

Tony rated it:

Jn suburban Georgetown a killer's Reeboks whisper on the front floor of a posh home... In a seedy D.C. porno house a patron is swiftly garroted to death... The next day America learns that two of its Supreme Court justices have been assassinated. And in New Orleans, a young law student prepares a legal brief... To Darby Shaw it was no more than a legal shot in the dark, a brilliant guess. To the Washington establishment it was political dynamite. Suddenly Darby is witness to a murder -- a mu More...

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Feb 17, 2009

Russ rated it:

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0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Dec 30, 2010

Connie rated it:

This book kept my interest, page after page.

The story is different, in fact,very different from normal storylines in most of the books out there on the market. It is refreshing and interesting because it shows how one ordinary lady, Darby Shaw, can come up with a solution that all the experts could not think of. Even after two justices are killed without a trace of evidence, she decides to uncover the killer. Then, when her brief is handed over to the FBI, the agent dies two days lat More...

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Mar 30, 2011

Carol rated it:

The story is different and so well written from a normal book might be. I like it because it shows how one ordinary lady, Darby Shaw, can come up with a solution that all the experts could not think of. Even after two justices are killed without a trace of evidence, she decides to uncover the killer. Then, when her brief is handed over to the FBI, the agent dies two days later in Darby's place.
Once, she realizes that the killers are after her, she knows that she must stay one step ahead More...

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Jun 23, 2009

Peter rated it:

Wow. This was definitely the best Grisham book I've read. I read it in about 3 days because I couldn't stop reading it. I had not (and still have not) seen the movie, so I didn't know where the plot would go. This may be one of the reasons I thought it was so good. It was very unpredictable, which I love.

Darby Shaw is an incredible character. A brilliant law student, she survives and outsmarts those out to get her, but not necessarily in the most intuitive ways. She always seems to More...

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Sep 02, 2010

Shannon rated it:

I am 14 so this book was an advanced read. At first, it was slow and didnt really have a plot line. Things kept skipping from person to person randomly mid chapter. Once the characters identities developed. The story became intriguing. During the chase, I thought I could feel the emotions of Darby. During her chase, I became afraid for her. I thought Stump and Thin Man would play a larger role in the novel. I expected it to be a completely political book and enjoyed the love connection that deve More...

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May 15, 2007

Whitney rated it:

i had read a less well-known grisham book, and was pretty disappointed, so i decided to read this one, which is supposedly one of his best. terrible ending, tedious story for the most part. if you can read quickly you might not think you're wasting your time on this book.

0 comments like (4 people liked it)

Mar 19, 2011

Mando rated it:

After reading two of his books, I feel confident saying that Grisham is a master of suspense. Things start off quickly, go even faster, and grow more complex as time goes on. The ending is predictable in a way, but knowing that doesn't mean you'll want to put the book down. The characters are just detailed enough to be interesting without distracting too much from the plot progression. I liked that there were a couple recurring characters between the two books (even if they're minor). It ga More...

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Nov 15, 2011

Wesley rated it:

This is a time period success. To put this book out now would be almost amateur. It was made and inserted flawlessly into the years placed into circulation. So I will review it based on then. I was young but remember when it came out, then the movie, etc. I didn't read it until many years later though (2009). That being said it's a success. That's also it's negative though as well though. Some stories are old and we know that sure but there is something about this one that just stings me. I thin More...

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Aug 10, 2011

Imnot rated it:

interesting story; fair pacing; (generally) solid writing--though some of the dialogue seemed too contrived and the decision to refer to Darby Shaw's body in the objective, rather than possessive, was risky; furthermore, though everyone likes to see a protagonist strive, Darby's character seemed too unrealistic, too perfect, and at times was melodramatic and annoying. all in all an enjoyable read but nothing i'll be thinking about in the morning... my lukewarm reception to the work of a one-time More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Jan 11, 2010

Paul rated it:

Though it's easy to think of this book as "The Firm" with a female protagonist--and the general framework of the story justifies that view to some extent--this book benefits from two things: an interesting premise concerning the motives for the murder of two Supreme Court Justices and two very likable main characters (a law student and a reporter). Although you get the feeling soon enough that justice will somehow prevail, Grisham makes you want to know how the characters will connec More...

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Jul 31, 2011

Meredith rated it:

I am always intrigued by John Grisham - I've been reading his books since middle school, but for some reason stopped reading through college. On a vacation, I picked up the Pelican Brief and couldn't put it down. Since some of my history and background is based in Louisiana, it was exciting to see (even from a fictional standpoint)the effects and choices of others on the environment, and how the legal factors can play such an important role in protecting our resources. Furthermore, I noted ho More...

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May 24, 2011

Dankwa rated it:

After reading seven John Grisham books (so far) this is my second favorite. I like it because it involves an (administrative) threat to the United States presidency uncovered by a tiny little paper written by a college student-the “Pelican Brief”. The eventual story about the brief and its aftermath was equally compelling.

Of the seven, my favorites in order:
(All links lead to GoodReads)

1. The Client (1993) http://bit.ly/j7c6jW
2. The Pelican Brief (1992)
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Jul 11, 2011

Astrid rated it:

This book was entertaining and pretty suspenseful, but it has a lot of problems. I have read two other Grisham books, The Client and The Firm, and I didn't think this one was as good.

Okay. Firstly, the characters are flat. This is acceptable because this is a thriller, but it would have been much better if people had some personality. Darcy, the protagonist, was so stereotypical as a beautiful (men can't help but lust after her oft-mentioned long legs) and brilliant law student.

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Nov 23, 2008

Albert rated it:

Another heart-pounding and pulse racing novel of John Grisham. This is story of a young female law student who happened to write a brief about the killings of three justices of US Supreme Court.

Because of this simple law-student brief, her lover and profesor was killed in order to threat her. This even caused her to hide and not finish her degree. Eventually, he found herself under the comfort of a Washington Post reporter who helped through out her journey against the killers of th More...

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Sep 19, 2008

Dusty rated it:

One of Grisham's best, if not THE best. A suspense classic.

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Feb 01, 2011

Chrissia rated it:

"...the wrong words hit the wrong ears.."

well, actually I'm challenging myself whether I can be focussed on reading it to the last page or not.. and I did!! even if I need a long time to finish it, but there's also some hard times to stop continuing read this, because I really could feel the atmospheres written there.. like felt hungry too when Darby's eating here and there.. haha..
I found out the sentences are easy to understand since I don't use english as my mai More...

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Apr 27, 2010

Tina rated it:

My first Grisham novel and probably my last. The book was much too formulaic and a bit dull (not for an avid mystery reader and an adrenaline junkie)though at certain points it was a fast page turner. The plot was really weak. Maybe this environmental conspiracy plot was breakthrough in the 90s but in 2010, it's a tad bit overused and overdone. What made this book unbearable was Grisham characterization of Darby. She is the generic 90s heroine...extremely smart, absolutely stunning, with a spunk More...

1 comment like (2 people liked it)

Jan 14, 2012

Mars rated it:

(read this book immediately after reading A Time to Kill, so just compared the two)

This is superior to A Time To Kill in every way in which one book can be superior to another. Gone are the endless repetitions of meaningless stuff, the language is improved, the story is better organized, it is something actually resembling a mystery (although of course we don't see any of the clues, but that's ok), and the list goes on and on, but I've actually finished it some weeks before writing the More...

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