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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5354.The_Brethren?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=blog_review" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="The Brethren" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165518893m/5354.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5354.The_Brethren?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">The Brethren</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/721.John_Grisham">John Grisham</a> 
 <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8214695?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review"><h3>My review</h3></a>
 rating: 3 of 5 stars 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 each character seems to be so extremely flawed. There's Aaron Lake, a presidential candidate who is running as the CIA's inside man. He lives a double life which includes corresponding with a gay love interest via mailed letters. Lake turns out to be a teflon man, with everything sliding off him at the last moment. While he avoids any major controvercy in the U.S. government, you wonder if he's beeter off in doing so without being able to give expression to his real wants and desires.
 
 The Brethren, the three ex-judges whose elaborate extrotion scam makes them millions of dollars, pry on the wealthy and feeble. They are motivated by money, not by a real sense of what is right and wrong. The question as the plot unfolds is whether or not the three of them will eventually see the worng in what they are doing and become somewhat moral individuals. That of course never occurs which brings a sort of unresolved conclusion to the story. It seems that the Bretheren will continue on with their scheming ways and Aaron Lake will continue a life of unfulfilled fantasies in a deep state of denial. The ending of this masterful work is both tragic and plausible, making it one of Grisham's finest works do date.
 <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/575972?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">View all my reviews.</a>

Josh's review
rating:

bookshelves: thriller
recommended for: suspense junkies
status: Read in June, 2007

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 each character seems to be so extremely flawed. There's Aaron Lake, a presidential candidate who is running as the CIA's inside man. He lives a double life which includes corresponding with a gay love interest via mailed letters. Lake turns out to be a teflon man, with everything sliding off him at the last moment. While he avoids any major controvercy in the U.S. government, you wonder if he's beeter off in doing so without being able to give expression to his real wants and desires.

The Brethren, the thr...more

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