Slow start (The Brethren - John Grisham)

Member Name: blackhorse

Product:	The Brethren - John Grisham
Date:	18/04/01 (34 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easy to read

Disadvantages: Not typical John Grisham

As a big John Grisham fan I was quite disappointed when I started to read the Brethren. Usually his books have me itching for more from the first chapter but it wasn't until half way through the book that I began to get really interested.

The basic plot is that three judges set up a scam to entice gay men who haven't "come out" to write to them in prison. They then extort money from these men, threatening to tell their wives/family if they do not pay the money. Somehow the three judges manage to ensnare the future president and the story then concentrates on his aide's efforts to stop the secret leaking out.

This is not a typical John Grisham novel, it is based much less in the legal world than his others, the lawyer in this story is not a strong character and the story doesn't centre on him. I thought that the story of the presidential elections distracted the reader from the main plot and wasn't really necessary.

If my expectations hadn't been so high I would have probably really enjoyed this book. As it was I was expecting something completely different and ended up a little disappointed.

Still worth a read though.

Summary: