I suppose John Grisham is certainly entitled to write a plot that is far different from his typical courtroom books. I'm sure people will like The Exchange. I, however, was very disappointed. I love Grisham's courtroom novels, and I sure loved The Firm. But this book is totally different as it concerns a kidnapping and ransom claim in the Middle East. Mitch McDeere and his wife Abby, from The Firm, are now fifteen years older and living in Manhattan where Mitch is a lawyer in a huge law firm and Abby is publishing cookbooks. They have two boys.

The first part of the plot involves a case in Memphis, former home of Bendini, Lambert and Locke, the law firm in The Firm that had lawyers who are now mostly in prison thanks to Mitch's whistleblowing. Why Grisham sent Mitch to Memphis for a case that goes nowhere, I'm not sure. Maybe he just wanted a connection to the first book. It had nothing to do with the main plot. Either that, or I missed the connection.

The rest of the book is about a colleague and friend of Mitch's who is kidnapped in the Middle East. A huge ransom is extorted from Mitch's new law firm, and the clock is running on raising the money so the associate can be freed. Even though the law firm is the biggest in the world, they have trouble raising the money for the ransom. I find that pretty difficult to believe. There's a personal connection between the woman's family and Mitch and Abby. I didn't find myself emotionally connected to this situation, and because of that, the book didn't resonate with me.

I appreciate NetGalley and Doubleday for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Mitch and Abby are on a worldwide adventure full of suspense. Mitch has settled into his job as a partner in the largest law firm in the world. When a Italian friend asks him to take over a case, he thinks it will be very simple. It is anything but simple when one of the associates is taken captive and held for ransom for over 40 days. Mitch is trying to gather the money to get her free when Abby is pulled into the mix, and they have to hide their children until it is over. Mitch had wanted just a little excitement in his life, but this is too much. They keep finding videos of other people being beheaded and hung by the kidnappers and they are very fearful their associate will be next if they don't get enough money. Can Mitch do it and keep his family safe?

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
John Grisham has brought back one of my favorite characters in The Exchange: After the Firm. As a fan, I have pondered what would have become of Mitch McDeere from the ‘90s legal thriller The Firm. I was very excited to learn that I didn’t have to wonder anymore about what happened after he and his wife Abby fled from Memphis and the culprits chasing after them. In his latest novel, Grisham brings his readers up to date on their lives.
The story opens fifteen years after Mitch became an FBI informant on his criminal employer Bendini, Lambert & Locke. Following the fallout of his actions he and Abby escape have escaped to parts unknown until now. Mitch and Abby reside in New York City and he is an attorney at one of the world’s largest international law firms. When he is asked to represent a client in Libya he finds himself caught up in a situation he never anticipated. After a lawyer who also happens to be the daughter of one of his Italian law partners is kidnapped Mitch becomes heavily involved in negotiating her release. Negotiations for his client’s case and with the kidnappers become more complicated moment by moment as he travels throughout the world to meet the mystery kidnappers' demands and simultaneously protect his family from harm. The stakes get higher when he and his law firm are unable to meet their demands. The who, what, when, and how are what makes this story so suspenseful.
In this story, Grisham pays more attention to the sequence of action than character development. This may disappoint some readers, but the story’s flow was just right for the drama to take place. I hope that this book will be optioned for movie rights because fans of The Firm deserve to see this in living color.

John Grisham can still spin a tight mystery and with some familiar characters this one was fun to read. Not exactly a sequel to The Firm, but it does reintroduce Mitch and Abby McDeere, fifteen years after we last saw them. This novel takes us to Rome, to the Middle East, and Manhattan. You won’t be able to put it down!

For fans of The Firm, I have good news. Abby and Mitch McDeere are back in John Grisham’s newest novel, The Exchange. Mitch is called into service, but before the job even begins, the senior partner’s daughter is taken hostage for ransom. Now Abby and Mitch must save her. There are some nasty beheadings, each one raising the stakes for the safe return of his associate. This ticking of the clock has him hopping from New York to Libya and spots in between. The tension if thick. It’s a nailbiter, and I couldn’t put it down.

I loved every minute of this realistic story. Recent politics and delicate negotiations are woven into the tale which adds credibility to every turn of the plot. I was especially pleased to see Abby have a more involved role in the story. It’s true Grisham with great writing and a fast-paced narrative. This one will hit the top. 5 stars from me.

Publishes October 17, 2023.

Title: The Exchange
Series: The Firm #2
Author: John Grisham
Publisher: Doubleday Books
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Pub Date: October 17, 2023
My Rating: 3.6 rounded up as I love this author
Pages: 352

Aww I am a big John Grisham fan! This is my thirty- ninth novel!
Yes like so many readers I did read "The Firm" many years ago.

It is fifteen years since Mitch and Abby McDeere exposed the crimes of a Memphis law firm.
They now have twin two sons Clark and Carter and are living in Manhattan; where Mitch now 41 has moved up the ranks and is an international lawyer and a partner at the largest law firm in the world and Abby is a cookbook editor.
During a trip to Libya, Mitch and Giovanna his associate (who is the daughter of Luca a partner –who is dying of pancreatic cancer), is kidnapped and a ransom is demanded. Mitch goes into action and is trying to and secure funds to pay the terrorist kidnappers.
As mentioned I am a Grisham fan-however when I read the so-so reviews from readers I follow and trust, I went into this with a low expectation.

The second half was definitely better and I was pleased that Abby had a bigger role. I also enjoyed when the boys Clark and Carter were included. .

The globetrotting was kind of fun to read and I have to admit it turned out better than I anticipated.

Want to thank NetGalley and Doubleday Books this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for October 17, 2023.

I enjoyed revisiting Mitch and Abby; having recently watched The Firm, it was easy to visualize the scenes mentioned in The Exchange. Although both characters have matured, their essences were still palpable. The story moved quickly - I found myself reading past my bedtime, too interested in what was going to happen next. I would definitely recommend The Exchange.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. To put it in perspective, John Grisham is my favorite author and The Firm is the first « adult book » I read! It’s safe to say that learning that the McDeere’s were back excited me is an understatement.

So the last time we saw Mitch and Abby was, in the book time, 15 years earlier. They’ve just escaped the mob and drinking punch in the Cayman Islands and honestly we could not hope for more for them. 15 years later, they had twins and are living in a fancy apartment (I want this kitchen!) in New York. Abby is a well known cookbook editor and Mitch is now a partner in another staple of Grisham world, the Scully law firm. And the whole story revolves around the kidnapping of a young associate of the law firm and her exchange, thus the title, against a big chunk of cash.

It’s so good to see Mitch and Abby again, it’s worth a star by itself! Even if they are less likable than in The Firm, their moral compasses are still intact! We also learn a little about the aftermath of the events of The Firm! The twins two week’s adventure in a distant billionaire lodge and the said billionaire entourage is one of the shining part of the story as is the slow burn patching up of the the relation between Mitch and his in-laws.

But I have to say I am a little disappointed. A non John Grisham fan that reads it as a standalone, which is totally possible, would probably give it less praise than me. Because the main problem is the story itself. This is not a courtroom drama and more of a spy thriller. And we’ve seen better from Grisham. The ending is leaving the reader on his appetite for more closure. As an avid fan of The Firm, I would have appreciate to have more news of the characters we met 30 years ago. No news of Tammy or Tarrance for example. Briefly were mentioned Ray and Abanks but none show up but for a moment only Lamar.

All in all, it’s a good and enjoyable book but if you haven’t read The Firm yet, go read it!

It's been forever since I read a Grisham and it was just what I expected. Mild thriller with some lawyerliness and intrigue and a very-end-of-the-book resolution. It was nice that I didn't have to remember The Firm in order to understand this follow-up. Grisham provides enough details throughout the book to catch the reader up on what's important. An entertaining read that deserves its slightly better than average 3 stars.

.The Exchange is a sequel to John Grisham's The Firm. This book takes us fifteen years in the future, and we find out what Mitch and Abby have been up to since they fled Memphis with just the clothes on their backs. We also get caught up in Mitch's latest case that literally takes him around the globe. And Abby, though, no fault of her own gets sucked into a vital position to help save someone's life. I hate to admit it. Shame on me. I didn't read The Firm. I KNOW! I saw the movie several times, though, and loved it. Being a born and bred Memphian, I am so proud of a fellow midsoutherner. Mr. Grisham has made quite the name for himself with his writing of legal thrillers. And from this book, I can see just why. I enjoyed it and recommend it.
*I was given a copy of this by Doubleday Publishers, and this is my honest opinion.

I received an ARC through "NetGalley" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Tje story continues the story of Mitch and Abby McDeere who escaped Memphis in the book "The Firm". They are now residing in Manhattan where Mitch is a partner in the Scully & Pershing law firm. Mitch is asked to assist on a case in Memphis related to a prisoner sentenced to death. Mitch has already worked on two and isn't interested but agrees to do it. When meeting with the lawyer who had been handling it, he discovered that the prisoner had committed suicide.

Upon returning to his office in Manhattan, her received later another assignment. He is being told to go to Rome and assist with a case in Libya. The Scully firm in Rome has specifically asked for him. Luca who runs the office in Rome, wants his help with a Turkish construction company collecting money due from the Libyan government for completion of a project. Mitch then prepares to go to Libya , but first he flies back to NY.

After a short stay in NY, he is on a flight for 30 hours getting to Tripoli where is is to meet up with his team, Giovanna a Scully associate and luca's daughter in addition to Samir, a friend of Luca and srcurity consultant. Later that day Mitch met the bodyguards who would accompany him, Giovanna and Samir to the construction project. That night after dinner, Mitch came down with food poisoning and was taken to the hospital. Mitch was in no shape for the trip, but Giovanna said she would go. On the trip to the construction site, things did not go well. As a result, Mitch had a lot more to do instead of just trying to collect funds.

To discover what event happened while on the trip to the construction site, how the Scully law firm reacted, what role Abby played and how everything worked out in the end, then you must read this book. The ending will answer all questions.

A definite read!

I was quite excited that there was a sequel to The Firm as I really enjoyed that book. Unfortunately, the Firm was a much tighter, tenser book.

This one didn't even start until about 1/3 of the way in. Mitch is first sent to Memphis to act as legal council for a death row inmate. Problem is, he is already dead when Mitch arrived. Apparently suicide, although that is never answered. I spent the remaining 2/3 of the book wondering what that section had to do with anything. I won't give anything away by telling you absolutely nothing. I found that quite disappointing. Kind of like Chekov's smoking gun, that sat on the wall and was never used. At one point, I figured that Giovanna's kidnappers must be the DEA agents in the shootout with the death row inmate, otherwise why mention them? But I was wrong.

There also wasn't much tension in this story. Every time something tense could happen, we were told what was coming ahead of time.

There was room for an intense twist at the end, but that didn't go anywhere either.

It has been years since I've read a Grisham novel. Unfortunately, I think it will be years before I read another one.

The Exchange by John Grisham is a great thriller. Locations are all over the map and so are the many characters.

A great sequel to The Firm. Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for this ARC. Nice to catch up with Mitch and Abby and jump right into another action packed legal thriller on the international stage!

Loved The Firm when it came out and the author's earlier books. This was a disappointment. Didn't grab me at all. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

I wish we had some explanation of how Mitch ended up at the big NY firm. Other than that minor quibble, THE EXCHANGE is a worthy follow-up to THE FIRM. This novel focuses more on terrorism and an exciting client project in Libya. In other words, there's international intrigue here. I enjoyed the descriptions of other countries and Grisham continues to be a strong storyteller in terms of plot and pacing. Some parts of the story are a bit farfetched, particularly with respect to the kidnapping aspect of the plot. However, I was curious to know what would happen next and I recommend this one for fans of thrillers.

Thanks to Doubleday and Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I love John Grisham books and was thrilled to get an early copy of his newest one from Netgalley. I was not disappointed with the plot or characters…all were amazing! The story centers around the new law firm that Mitch McDeere is working for and the fact that one of its associates travels with him to Libya and is subsequently kidnapped. Giovanna is an innocent victim in a plot to get a lot of money in exchange for her life. The plot was moderately paced with a few twists. Many, but not all of the characters were likable, and the cruel behavior of the kidnappers seemed to be ripped from former headlines during the regime of Ghaddafi. I enjoyed the story, cringed at the graphic details of deaths and was thoroughly invested in finding out the final outcome. The conclusion was satisfying but it did not answer all of my burning questions. Perhaps that is something to be discussed at length during a book group. Nevertheless, this novel answers some questions about the McDeeres after they left THE FIRM, so that was intriguing. All in all, a good read and worth the time spent within its compelling pages.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Confession-I tend to pick up Grisham’s books mainly because I grew up near Memphis. The Firm was one of the first books I read by him and I was so excited to catch up with the characters again!
It felt like a little bit of a slow start, but maybe that’s just because it’s outside my usual genre (cutesy romcoms)
But it’s John Grisham, you won’t be disappointed!

I have always enjoyed a good John Grisham legal thriller. The Exchange did not disappoint, although it did diverge quite a bit from his standard format. Lawyer, Mitch McDeere is from the south but he escaped from Memphis in a book published years ago and now resides in New York City with his wife Abby and their two boys.

Mitch has clients all of the world and he currently is being called in to help with a Turkish construction company suing Libya for non-payment. Mitch plans to travel to Libya, being promised that he is safe, He travels with a young associate who is the daughter of the Managing partner in Rome, a good friend. Mitch gets food poisoning and is unable to inspect the bridge under dispute, Giavanna, the associate is kidnapped and after weeks of tension a ransom request comes through that is extremely large.

With the amount of jet-setting around the world that Mitch does, often on private jets, gives it a different feel than the down home lawyers Grisham usually portrays. There is a lot of behind the scenes negotiating to get the money for the ransom.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I feel like everyone has read, or more likely, watched The Firm. I also feel like most avid readers have read at least one John Grisham book, and I do not know a single person who does NOT like his books. When I saw he had a new book, I was thrilled, especially when I learned it was a sequel to The Firm. The book is always better, but I am more apt to watch movies over and over again than I am to read books again. The Firm was such a spectacular book and movie that I figured the sequel could go either way - it could be a smashing success or it could be a disappointing letdown. Honestly, for me, it was more of the latter… I feel terrible saying it, because I love this author and I do love the story and the premise, but it just did not have the punch and excitement that I was hoping for. That being said, I did not hate it. I didn’t love Abby’s character, her role, or much about her, and that got in the way for me, but overall the book was interesting and I wanted to keep reading to see what would happen. That’s good in a book, right? I do think a good movie can come of it, and I am hoping there will be one. I do recommend you read it, just know it’s not quite the same thrill as The Firm.