When it comes to reading books, I usually turn towards chick lit, however with nothing left in the house I wanted to read, I grabbed a copy of The Firm from my partner's book pile. I used to read Grisham years ago, but I cannot remember much about what I read, so I started this book with a completely open mind.

Mitch McDeere is just about to graduate from Harvard as a lawyer, and is looking for his first job. With offers from all the big firms, why is he considering an offer from a small law firm in Memphis? The money and package they offer are why Mitch is giving them serious consideration.
With a starting salary higher than any of the large firms, a new BMW, low mortgage on the house of his choice, it really couldn't get any better for Mitch and his wife Abby, who have struggled through the last few years whilst Mitch has been studying.

Once Mitch starts at the tax lawyers firm, he is very impressed with the quality of treatment given to him. He knows hard work is required but he doesn't mind that. It's a shame that the week before he started two lawyers were killed in a tragic accident, but he tries not to let that change the excitement he feels for his new job.
That is until he is confronted by an agent in the FBI who warms Mitch about his employers. Mitch doesn't know what to think, but even after talking to his employers, there is a slight doubt in his mind.
Five employees of the firm have died in fifteen years, and no one ever leaves for another job. Something doesn't sit right with Mitch, and it doesn't take long for him to work out that he's being followed everywhere he goes.
Despite all this Mitch still works as hard as he ever has. Not quite sure what's happening, but clever enough to know that something isn't right, Mitch does a bit of digging, and needless to say doesn't like what he finds.

For me this is where the story starts. We take quite a long time learning about the background of the firm, about Mitch and then it quickly takes a new turn when Mitch starts to fear for his and his wife's life.
We follow Mitch as he has to make the right decisions to help himself and his family. Will he help the FBI or stick by the firm?
The last 100 or so pages are spread over a few days, but there is a lot of information for the reader to take in. This is the part of the book where you really have to follow the words and it helps to be able to concentrate on it.

I thought the storyline was good, made a lot of sense, and was easy to follow. There was one major flaw at the end of the book that I read twice, and wondered how Grisham managed to just brush over a couple of facts. However saying that the book has a good ending and I haven't let a couple of minor facts ruin the storyline for me.
I am off to find some more by Grisham now.
Price: £5.89 (Amazon)
ISBN: 978-0099830009
Published: 1998