Book Reviews of The Associate

This is another example of John Grisham doing what he does best. As usual, the plot line is full of twists and turns and all sorts of action. This book is different, however, in a couple of ways. First, we're allowed into the character more in that we know what he's thinking, we know what actions he intends to take regarding what's going. But, there are some open ends. You hear about particular stores, but you are never with the main character when he visits them. You know that the main character must be doing research, but other than stating that the main character has a sudden penchant for spy novels, you never are told what research he did.
Finally, the ending was just flat and completely anticlimactic. Furthermore, I feel like I've been robbed because I wasn't told ANYTHING! Now, I know that recently Grisham has going a little sneaky about giving the reader an unexpected ending, but this was NO ending. It was, to me, an utter disappointment. And, because nothing was told, it actually made me wish that I hadn't read the book at all.
Go a head and read this, but remember that you will know just as little at the end of the book as you do in the begining.

Grisham at his best. A well developed main character and fascinating plot and a great glimpse at life in a big Wall Street law firm. The ending seemed a little abrupt or quiet for some reason but very satisfying.

Definitely not is best work, but still a good read...except for the ending. Don't worry, I won't give away the ending...because there isn't one!

Really unimpressed with the ending...

I thought that this Grisham would finally draw me back into his writing. Until it lost steam about half way though. I feel the ending was thrown together without much thought, and there were several holes that didn't quite get stitched up. Not enough to entice me to rush out for his next one.

A good Grisham book, more like some of his earlier work. The ending was not at all what I expected. Certainly gives you some to think about.

Typical Grisham page-turner. Great escape for a plane ride or beach.

Another hard-to-put-down Grisham in his old style of writing. Thumbs Up!

Classic Grisham, a page turner you can't put down!

Good Grisham novel. Suspense, excitement, well thought-out action. Even though it was very different, it reminded me of The Firm as the main characters are similar and get into trouble not of their making.

I enjoyed this book very much! Great reading and it was an exciting book to read.

The book was great, but the ending -well where was the ending? It really left you hanging-I was very bummed about the ending-pretty flat-you were still wondering what happened-thought I missed something and I did-the ENDING!

Typical Grisham. Lot's of legal ease and a soggy ending. Try something else unless you are a true grisham fan

Grisham at his best.

Kyle McAvoy possesses an outstanding legal mind. Good-looking & affable, he has a glittering future. He also has a dark secret that could destroy his dreams, his career, even his life. One night that secret catches up w/him. Th men who accost Kyle have a compromising video they'l use to ruin him - unless he does exactly what they say. What they offer Kyle is something any mbitious young lawyer would kill for - a job in Manhattan as an associate at the world's largest law firm. If Kyle accepts, he'll be on the fast track to partnership & a fortune. But there's a catch. Kyle won't be working for the firm but against it in a dispute between 2 powerful defense contractors worht billions. Now Kyle is caught between the criminal forces manipulating him, the FBI, & his own law firm - in a malignant conspiracy not even Kyle with all his intellect, cunning, and bravery may be able to escape alive.

Not sure why this is getting almost universal raves. It's an interesting premise that not only doesn't seem to really go anywhere, but doesn't even get to where it's not going. Did he get tired of writing it and just say "screw it" and stop? Unless he was setting himself up for a sequel? I mean, nothing seems to get resolved!

For Grisham completists only, IMO. A decent enough yarn with some insight into how law school graduates are treated as first year associates at the big firms, but other than that, enh.

True to John Grisham suspenseful and a page turner. For the first time I felt somewhat disappointed with the ending and was left unfulfilled.

Having not read Grisham for a while, I thought it would be fun to read this one as I have enjoyed several of his books in the past: "Time to Kill", "The Firm", "The Client". I thought it was going pretty well until the ending just floundered completely as there was no ending. I almost wonder if Grisham got tired and just dropped the writing altogether. Disappointing to have a botched up ending.

This book was a great read. It kept my interest and I actually loved it when I was reading it.
I could not get to the end to see all of the details unravel and understand more of the plot (the who and the why).
Then the book ended and I was so completely disappointed!!!! :-(
It just ended and left too many unanswered questions.
I am a huge Grisham fan but this one fell short in the end.

Kyle McAvoy grew up in his father’s small-town law office in York, Pennsylvania. He excelled in college, was elected editor-in-chief of The Yale Law Journal, and his future has limitless potential.

But Kyle has a secret, a dark one, an episode from college that he has tried to forget. The secret, though, falls into the hands of the wrong people, and Kyle is forced to take a job he doesn’t want—even though it’s a job most law students can only dream about.

Three months after leaving Yale, Kyle becomes an associate at the largest law firm in the world, where, in addition to practicing law, he is expected to lie, steal, and take part in a scheme that could send him to prison, if not get him killed.

Classic Grisham novel.

Another excellent book by John Grisham. I was a little disappointed with the ending though.

I do most of my reading on the commuter bus, and I was always so eager to get in my seat and keep reading "The Associate." It is very suspenseful and I did share all the emotions of Kyle McAvoy, the protagonist. I felt the ending was a bit flat considering all the detailed narrative build-up, but I do recommend this book as a thrilling read.

John Grisham once again puts us on a twisted ride of legal suspense. You feel for Kyle and his co-workers as they put in 15-20 hour days, some even sleeping under their desk as first year associates. Kyle is caught up in what he believes to be is a no-win situation where he must perform or his past will be revealed! Another must-read by Grisham!

Good read, pretty intense and it does keep you on the edge. As with some of Grisham's other work I thought the ending was a little flat.