If you’re into John Grisham's legal thrillers like I am, you might be curious about his first collection of novellas, "Sparring Partners." I've been a fan of Grisham's work for a while now, having read over a dozen of his books, but this collection didn't quite hit the mark for me.

The novellas in Sparring Partners all revolve around the theme of law, which is a common thread in Grisham's writing and something I usually enjoy. In “Homecoming,” we follow Jake Brigance, a familiar character from Grisham's previous novels, as he’s called upon to help his old friend Mack Stafford, a disgraced former attorney who disappeared with his clients’ money, leaving behind his family.

“Strawberry Moon” introduces us to Cody Wallace, a young man sitting on death row for a crime he committed as a teenager. As his execution approaches, he has one last wish, adding an interesting layer to the story.

Finally, in “Sparring Partners,” we meet Kirk and Rusty Malloy, two brothers who inherit their father’s law firm after he’s imprisoned for murdering his wife. As the firm falls apart, they turn to Diantha Bradshaw for help.

While I was excited to dive into these stories, I found the character development lacking and the plots underwhelming. Given Grisham’s track record of forty-seven consecutive #1 bestsellers, I expected more from this collection. However, if you’re a die-hard Grisham fan or simply love legal thrillers, it might still be worth a read. I’d give it 3 stars.

** Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy of this book. The opinions are my own.

I'm a long time John Grisham fan and try to read everything he writes. This set of short stories didn't disappoint. Sparring Partners by John Grisham is a collection of three short stories. I enjoyed each of the three stories and didn't want any of the three stories to end.
"Homecoming" brings back Jake Brigance. Jake is asked to help an old friend who fled the country after illegally taking some settlement money.
"Strawberry Moon" is a tale of a young man on death row with only hours left to live.
"Sparring Partners" is about two brothers that are lawyers. They hate each other and are forced to work together when their dad goes to prison for killing his wife.

It’s been a minute since I’ve read a Grisham book, but I forgot how often dry his writing is. While I was excited to see a story about Jake Brigance again, the first story this this collection of novellas was just that for me: dry.
His others stories were a little morning interesting for me. The second one was more emotional about a death row inmate. It was probably my favorite. Maybe Grisham just isn’t my jam anymore (or just right now) because it didn’t interest me a lot but it was definitely well written and put together.

2 of these stories I loved and then not so much. But I’ll always read anything John Grisham bc he’s a master at this. Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for review

Rather than the typical John Grisham novel, this book is a collection of three novellas. Each is unique and an interesting read. The author has done a great job in creating stories that grab your attention and though a quick read, the characters and story line are well developed. The book is comprised of mystery, intrigue, drama, betrayal, greed, and political corruption. I highly recommend this book whether you are a long-time John Grisham fan or interested in reading one of his books for the first time. I promise that you’ll be hooked and soon will be devouring his books!

Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Thank you for the opportunity to preview Sparring Partners by John Grisham.
John Grisham is one of the best authors in the legal genre. In this book he takes a new turn and delivers short stories.
He throws in the locale and a few names you recall if you are a follower and I think it works!
Something new and different. 3.5 stars

Sparring Partners is a collection of short stories by John Grisham. This is a departure from Grisham's typical body of work but the stories are all woven together with a theme of the legal system. The stories have similar settings and even a character from prior books so it seems like we are revisiting some favorites. I'm a fan of short stories so this book was perfect for me. I like the legal storylines as well as the character development and settings. Read and enjoy!

I love Grisham's older novels. And I do like many short stories - but the short stories have to have a beginning. a middle, and an end. I didn't find these three short stories to be complete stories. They felt to me like story ideas not complete stories. My favorite story was "Strawberry Moon" - I liked Cody Wallace - the young death row inmate but the ending felt rushed - not satisfying for me.

John Grisham does not disappoint! I have been a fan of him for years and that will not change!

John Grisham returns with his first collection of novellas Sparring Partners regarding the ins and outs of the law and some moral crossing lines between good and evil. Jake Brigance is back in Ford County in the first novella and it was nice to return to this world and thoroughly enjoyed the writing, characters, and storylines! Novellas 2 & 3 had different characters but tackled different issues, like in novella 2, their last day on death row.

Thank you to Netgalley, author, and publisher for the arc in exchange for a review!

Something new and different from Grisham - a book of novellas. I really enjoyed this book because it was a quick read.

John Grisham returns with his first collection of novellas SPARRING PARTNERS regarding the ins and outs of the law and some moral crossing lines between good and evil.

"Homecoming" is a favorite and most intriguing since it takes us back to Ford County and Jake Brigance. When called to help out an old friend, Mack Stafford (former lawyer), who stole money from his clients and disappeared, never to be heard from again (hiding out in Costa Rica on the beach). When Jake gets a surprise visit with word from Mack, he gets stuck in the middle and leans on his old friends for help. But can he go back and pick up life with his daughters like nothing happened? The story does not wrap up with a bow and leaves us hanging with our thoughts. I would love for this story to be continued with Jake Brigance/Mack!

"Strawberry Moon" is an emotionally sad story of a death row inmate, which is always a popular topic in the South. An engaging story about a 29-year-old death row inmate Cody Wallace, who is hours away from being executed. Incarcerated for a home invasion that resulted in the deaths of his brother/partner in crime and the two residents of the house they were in the process of burgling, his appeals and requests for clemency have been denied, and now he waits for THE END. You feel for the guy. No one seems to be able to save Cody Wallace, but a guard helps him with his last wish.

"The Sparring Partners" was my least favorite of the novellas and more ruthless. Not a lot of likable characters. The Mallory family is not a very nice one. Kirk and Rusty—brothers, inherited the firm when their father was sent to prison. They would like to keep their dad there. From collusion, deceit, bribery, corruption, and financial fraud. Their sister, Diantha, winds up with an idea to save the day and outsmarts them.

It is an entertaining collection, and thanks for the teaser short stories; however, missing the Grisham punch from his usual full-length stand-alone and legal thriller series. Hope he gets back to the innocence project, and wrongful convictions soon as thoroughly enjoy them.

Still a fan and will read anything he writes!

Thank you to #Doubleday and #NetGalley for an ARC to read, review, and enjoy.

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My Rating: 4 Stars
Pub Date: May 31, 2022
May 2022 Must-Read Books

3.5 stars as these short stories left me wanting more as the endings left me hanging. The best one was Strawberry Moon as it deals with the last days on death row. It was also nice to revisit some characters from his previous stories.

Filled with the legal themes and writing styles John Grisham is known for, Sparring Partners is a collection of three novellas: "Homecoming," "Strawberry Moon," and "Sparring Partners."

All three stories were very well written and narrated, however "Strawberry Moon" was the definitely the stand-out story for me. The other two stories were more cold feeling while "Strawberry Moon" had something very special and compelling to it, which I really enjoyed.

Published by Doubleday on May 31, 2022

Sparring Partners collects three novellas. None have courtroom scenes, so readers looking for legal thrillers rather than human interest stories will probably be disappointed.

The best entry, buried in the middle, is closer in length to a short story. “Strawberry Moon” plays to John Grisham’s strength by exposing the injustice of putting people to death. The story follows the last hours in the life of Cody Wallace, who committed a series of burglaries with his brother when they were both teens. The last burglary went south and his brother died in a shootout with the homeowners. Cody didn’t have a gun or fire a shot but he was convicted and sentenced to death for murder. Southern states love their executions, so the governor isn’t going to save Cody. The story’s last pages, as a sympathetic guard gives Cody one last look at a strawberry moon, is consistent with Grisham’s best work.

The first novella, “Homecoming,” features recurring character Jake Brigance, the protagonist of Grisham’s most celebrated novel, A Time to Kill. Jake is scratching out a living as a lawyer in Ford County, but his role in the story is to scope out the trouble that his friend Mack Stafford might face if Stafford returns to Mississippi. Stafford forged signatures and made off with client funds, crimes that might have gone undetected. He wants to reconnect with his daughters but doesn’t know whether the coast is clear. Jake and Stafford’s bombastic lawyer do the legwork that allows Stafford to meet with his older daughter. The story leaves Stafford’s future unsettled while raising interesting questions about whether Stafford should bite the bullet if that’s what it takes to keep his daughter in his life. Otherwise, the story is only mildly interesting.

The title novella is “Sparring Partners.” A St. Louis personal injury lawyer, Rusty Malloy, has lost his knack for winning large verdicts. He just lost his fifth trial in a row. His firm is in debt. Thanks to a partnership agreement that their father insisted upon before he was disbarred and sent to prison. Rusty and his brother Kirk are stuck in the practice despite their mutual hatred. Despite not being a partner, Diantha Bradshaw manages the firm and provides the only bridge between the brothers. The relationship between the brothers becomes nastier than usual when their father schemes to get out of prison early, while the brothers scheme to profit from his continuing incarceration. Only Diantha is smart enough to find a way to avoid the worst consequences of the Malloy family’s implosion.

“Sparring Partners” is notable for its inside look at how law firms owned by family members operate, how lawyers might be tempted by the dark side of money, and how cases of financial fraud are built. The plot is straightforward, holding no surprises despite its intrigue. The characters are unlikable. Even Diantha is driven by self-interest more than integrity or respect for the law. The story doesn’t evoke an emotional response, although it does have something useful to say about the ugly intersection of money, politics, and law firms.

John Grisham will never win awards for his prose style, but he has a knack for stripping a story down to its essence and keeping it moving. I’m not a huge Grisham fan — I’d rather read legal thrillers by Scott Turow or John Lescroart — but he excels at offering an insider’s perspective on the dysfunction of the legal system.

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This is actually a short collection of stories (novellas) that Grisham wrote while he was stuck home during the Covid Shutdown.
All three novellas have Grisham's traditional legal themes and urgency that almost all of his have. This was a different format than what I am used to of his. Still well written even if the stories fell a little flat

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance e galley of this book. This is a book of short stories all with a legal theme; written in true John Grisham fashion. Jake Brigance returns in the first story, along with his cast of characters from Clanton, Mississippi. I enjoyed that one the most. The last story is about a dysfunctional family law firm whose members ultimately get their comeuppance from a long-standing employee who beats them at their own game. Please, Mr. Grisham, write full novels to continue the Jake Brigance/Mack story and the Malloy Law firm!!!!

John Grisham is the king of legal thrillers, and I was excited to see a Jake Brigance novella included in this collection (he may be my favorite fictional attorney). Sparring Partners was a perfect vacation read because I could sit and read/escape an entire story in one sitting without feeling like I needed to stop what I was doing to move on. The other two stories had characters new to me but still had enough legal twists and southern charm to make it still read like Grisham. Another good thing - a strong female character in Diantha Bradshaw - will Grisham readers see her again? Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to preview #SparringPartners by John Grisham. It was a quick enjoyable read.

John Grisham fans impatiently wait for fall each year to read the latest offering from the best-selling author. This year, he has treated readers to a summer surprise entitled “Sparring Partners.”

Rather than focusing on a single legal thriller, Grisham has crafted a collection of three short novels known as novellas. He describes the stories as “too short to be novels and too long to be short stories.”

“I wrote them for several reasons one of which is I’m still stuck at home with COVID and can’t do anything else, so I’m writing far too much, but most importantly these are stories I’ve had for a long time,” Grisham told Goodreads. “Sparring Partners” is his first collection of novellas.

Each story stands alone with separate plots and characters. While they all are well-written (as expected from Grisham), they are not equal. One is predictable, one is emotional, and one is twistedly entertaining.

“Homecoming” features Jake Brigance, a hero from several earlier Grisham novels. Jake and fellow lawyer Harry Rex have been contacted by Mack, a former lawyer who skipped town amidst rumors of embezzlement and now wants to revive dying family ties. It’s an interesting plot, but it’s one that couldn’t uphold an entire novel. In many ways, it feels like Grisham included Jake and Harry for commercial appeal. As for Mack, there’s just not there to feel one way or another about him.

“Strawberry Moon” is an emotional account of Cody Wallace’s last hours on Death Row. In typical Grisham style, it’s also a statement against the death penalty and for personal rehabilitation. Readers can’t help but feel for the young man who has run out of life-saving legal options – and time. He has no family and only one friend who he has never met in person.

The author seems to have saved the best for last. His collection wraps up with “Sparring Partners,” an entertaining story about two brothers, Kirk and Rusty Malloy, bickering over a pending inheritance – a dying family-owned law practice – and a scheming dad who won’t let go.

The father is serving time for his part in his wife’s death. His sons take over the law firm, but they don’t have the skills – or brains – to keep it alive. When they try tapping into a tobacco case settlement, they discover the depths of their dad’s greed. Waiting in the wings is the firm’s manager Diantha Bradshaw. She knows far more than the feuding family members, and she’s ready to tell all.

All in all, the collection is entertaining, but it doesn’t deliver the punch expected from Grisham’s novels. It will be interesting to see if any of the characters pop up in his future legal thrillers.

The short stories of Sparring Partners reminds me of the old days of John Grisham The Firm. One of his first novels. These are short and open ended. Meaning maybe Grisham will come back and make a complete novel of these 3 short stories. The common thread of course is that the law is complex and filled with loop holes, on the take lawyers, and many victims in the wake.

Memorable takes on the three starting with Homecoming. Where do you go to hide? In Costa Rica. Mack Stafford has been hiding in Costa Rica for several years and wants to come home after he left his family to avoid indictment. He knows the law, he knows how far the law can go. Reading this one took on a personal note for me because my daughter was detained in Costa Rica for Covind and was unable to fly home. Seems like it can be very easy to start over in Costa Rica.

Strawberry Moon with Cody Wallace on death row. His last hour and all that you think about can take a lifetime. It did not end in death but it did end with what if?

Sparring Partners is another title for sparring brothers. The brothers are somewhat controlled by their father who was the lead partner until he was indicted for 2nd degree murder. The brothers are desperate to get from under his control. The ironic thing about it is that the brothers have their own issues that their own lives are out of control. It comes to the most unlikely finishes last.

I do like me some John Grisham.

A special thank you to DoubleDay Books and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

Grisham always leaves you wanting more time with the characters. Sparring Partners is a must read! We are treated to three short stories. In Homecoming we visit Ford County and Jake Brigance and Harry Rex reunite with an old friend who could bring big trouble for them if old secrets come to light, In Strawberry Moon Cody Wallace is hours away from death and one last request before his time runs out, and finally Sparring Partners gives us a story so many can relate to, siblings that could not be more different but need each more than they realize. I hope to read more stories from these characters.

Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read and review.