Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Search - The Brethren

The Brethren
The Brethren
Author: John Grisham
A trio of federal judges-so-called the Brethren-are serving time in a minimum security federal prison. While writing briefs, handling cases for other inmates, practicing law without a license, and maintaining jailhouse justice has them comfortably occupied behind bars, a mail scam scheme that entails blackmailing rich, closeted gay men has them ...  more »
Info icon
ISBN-13: 9780440236986
ISBN-10: 0440236983
Edition: Unabridged
Rating:
  • Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
 30

3.6 stars, based on 30 ratings
Publisher: Bantam Books
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio Cassette, Audio CD
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

scrapbooklady avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 472 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
The premise here was enormously fun: three aging, disgraced judges serving time in a minimum security federal prison concoct a mail scam to extort money from unsuspecting victims. Their little scheme is succeeding quite well, slowly building enough money to give them hope that perhaps there is life after prison. When it turns out that one of the victims of the mail scam is the front-runner in the upcoming presidential election, things get very interesting and suddenly the three inmates realize they have far more power than they thought.

You'll be hooked within the first chapter. Grisham has a great sense of humor and it shows in this book, both in the characters and in the dialog.
KaysCMAlbums avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 97 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Intriguing - true Grisham. 3 judges in a medium-security federal prison call themselves the Brethren. Together they fine-tune a mail scam, but their little scam goes awry. Fast read - holds your interest.
reviewed The Brethren on + 8 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Great Grisham book that gives a story of corruption and fowl play that I think most of us suspect anyway in our justice system. He is still true to form with his great writing! One of his many books that I loved.
reviewed The Brethren on + 2 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I have read everything written by John Grisham but could not finish this book. It did not hold my interest long enough to really get into it for long, and I found myself having to re-read portions to get back into it when I picked it up again. Not much going on there for me.
countrylane avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 81 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
John Grisham is a master storyteller. This book is a romp in prison. Three corrupt judges, doing time, dream up a brilliant extortion scam. This book will have you rolling in the floor laughing at times. But these good old boys are deadly serious as they discover the perfect victim! A very entertaining book! There are quite a few surprises here. You will be grinning or gasping with each chapter. If you haven't read this one yet, don't wait any longer!
Read All 148 Book Reviews of "The Brethren"

Please Log in to Rate these Book Reviews

alicewen avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 3 more book reviews
A page turner!
groendog avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 8 more book reviews
Typical Grisham-- crafted with great skill, engrossing, fast and interesting,good read
reviewed The Brethren on + 5 more book reviews
I had a hard time getting into this book in the beginning. It did get better towards the middle, but I really had to make myself keep reading.
MKSbooklady avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 937 more book reviews
This is an older (2000) Grisham, and different from the courtroom stories. Three disgraced judges, doing time in a federal prison in Florida. Hilarity and drama ensues. Quick paced, and reading this twenty two years after it was written is interesting. Grisham doesn't disappoint, and this book is proof.
reviewed The Brethren on + 144 more book reviews
I read The Partner a couple years back and enjoyed that. A friend loaned me The Brethren. Part of the suspense of the book was wondering how and when the two storylines (the scam and the presidential candidate) would intersect. However, once that occurred, the story seemed to fall apart.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS: Trevor, the attorney/courier for the Brethren in the scam, was murdered by the CIA, apparently because he knew "too much." I found that hard to believe because Trevor really wasn't that involved with the actual scam--he delivered and sent mail and deposited money in an offshore account. The Brethren all were given early release from prison on the condition that they leave the U.S. for a specified period of time. Oh, and they were also each given $2 million. This was all engineered by the CIA. We're also supposed to believe that squeaky clean senator (and eventual presidential candidate) Lake suddenly decided to go to the "dark side" and respond to a gay lonely-hearts club ad. Then, while campaigning for the nomination, Lake makes a foolish and uncharacteristic mistake that reveals his identity to the Brethren. END OF SPOILERS

Book started out interesting but fizzled out.
samuraibunny avatar reviewed The Brethren on + 33 more book reviews
My first Grisham book and I have to say, it was alright. Nothing spectacular. It was sufficiently interesting to be read at a decent pace.

Surprisingly, at least to me, was the fact that the book followed more than the judges in prison. It offered a nice change of pace. After all, how much can be written about the days of inmates in a boring jail?

The ending was amusing, although I thought for certain that something else was going to happen.

There is enough legal mumbo-jumbo and politics to be classified as a political thriller, but I wouldn't call it a thriller. It's just fiction. Not thrilling in the least.
reviewed The Brethren on + 16 more book reviews
This was the 3rd book by Grisham I have read...it was ok. Not as good as the other two I read before.
reviewed The Brethren on + 12 more book reviews
Outstanding book... On of Grisham's best.
reviewed The Brethren on + 13 more book reviews
If you like Grisham, this is worth reading.
reviewed The Brethren on + 162 more book reviews
Another excellent John Grisham book!


Genres: