This is a continuation of the story of Mitch and Abby McDeere, 15 years after they fled from Memphis at the end of The Firm. Mitch is now working for the biggest law firm in the world, Scully and Pershing. It's a high pressure job, working for international companies involved in lawsuits. His boss asks him to go to Libya where there's a large lawsuit by Lannak, a Turkish builder against Colonel Gaddafi's government who had commissioned a bridge built in the dessert. The head of the Italian office of Scully advised Mitch it would be safe to go to Libya, and even asked his daughter, a lawyer in the London office, to go with him. The lawsuit is huge and it's a big case for Scully. Mitch agrees to go and he and Giovanna travel to Tripoli. They plan to travel six hours out to see the bridge, but Mitch wakes in the night with food poisoning and ends up in hospital, too ill to travel. Giovanna will go without him, along with a crew of body guards and drivers. Unfortunately, it's a setup. The body guards are captured and murdered and Giovanna is taken hostage.

Mitch returns to New York when he is well again and the process of retrieving Giovanna begins. It's a long and complicated story with a lot of new characters introduced and there's lots of travel ahead. It was hard to remember who was who, and I searched for names several times to find out who they were. But it was an interesting read, how the wealthy live.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of this novel.

Mitch McDeere is back in the follow up to The Firm.
Taking over a case for a friend, Mitch finds himself out of the country. When a coworker gets kidnapped, he will go to get lengths to get her back

I received a copy of this the book..
This is the first John Grisham book that I have ever read.
Mitch and Abby McDeere are great characters.
The book is full of intrigue and plot twists...
Definitely worth the time to read

John Grisham is a powerhouse author, lawyer, and former member of Congress that is a role model and inspiration to so many - so of course, as a lawyer and avid reader I was so happy to get an ARC of his new novel, The Exchange: After the Firm.

Let’s recap, published in 1991, The Firm follows Mitch McDeere as a new lawyer at Bendini, Lambert and Locke, married to his HS Sweetheart Abby, living in Memphis. Have you ever heard that if something is too good to be true, it probably is? Well, in essence as a lawyer at this law firm – that is the novel! A lot of money, nice benefits – oh, and lies, coverups, and the mob. Mitch barely gets out of there alive while others are not so lucky or just go missing . . . and 51 employees get indicted by the FBI, and goes on the run in hiding with money he stole from the firm in the Caymans.

15 years later, Mitch and Abby are out of hiding - Mitch is in a new firm in New York and Anny is a cookbook editor - with twin boys. Life has moved on, but they still look over their shoulders hoping they have out-run their past. Now, when a dying law partner in the Rome’s office (Luca) asks Mitch for a favor – taking over a big client with a contract dispute worth approximately 400 million in Libya – including to include his attorney daughter from the London office, Mitch of course is up for the job and travel opportunities. But when everything that could possibly go wrong, does, in another country with terrorists, ransoms, and killings – and Mitch is front and center – Abby and Mitch will have a lot at stake and literally could be risking it all.

I have so many good things to say about Grisham, his writing style, his characters and storylines, the scenery used – and of course his knowledge of the law. Of course, this story is fiction and over the top with the interplay between lawyers, law firms, government officials, etc. but it is an action-packed legal thriller that is entertaining, riveting and intriguing.

My main negatives were that I was left wondering exactly who the bad guys really were, and while I understand the ending (I have made some drastic law choices), I wish there was more to the ending – more depth, substance, explanation - not this nonstop novel where you rushed to the ending, only for it to basically, well, end in an anticlimactic way. I also wish there was some courtroom drama besides an overall unnecessary trip back to a courtroom in Memphis.

As a lawyer I understand the pressure and the long hours – but when will I get to take advantage of a private jet and expensing travel plans?!? This book will hold your attention from start to finish in a way that Grisham is a pro at, but IMO it was not really a sequel besides the characters being the same (I don’t think it lives up to The Firm with all the suspense that novel brought us). A great read, a wonderful escape all over the globe, but not my favorite by Grisham. And even though I’m “only” giving it 4 stars, I do think all Grisham fans will love it and would recommend buying it when it comes out in a couple of weeks!

Thank you to NetGalley for this great read! All opinions are my own!

Thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday for an advanced copy of the book to review before publication. I was both excited and concerned about reviewing what was sure to be another best seller before the masses.

Concerned because it had been at least two decades since I read The Firm, and would I remember enough to make sense of a sequel? Excited because The Firm was one of Grisham's most popular books, with good reason, it was highly entertaining and I was hoping for the same pulse pounding intelligent story.

I need not have been concerned, though. The Exchange references the crimes of the past, the main characters of Mitch and Abby are settled into a new life and were able to start over. I enjoyed these characters and those of their family and new circle in NYC. I did not feel behind despite the years passing and forgotten details. Reading or remembering The Firm is not necessary for this "sequel". Sequel only in the sense that this takes place after The Firm with the same main characters.

This book is very fast paced and it has enjoyable and meaningful characters of Jack and Luca, two senior partners of Mitch's new firm. However, there were other sub-characters I wish I knew more about. The plot is fast, exciting, and at times gruesome. However, it is not a typical courtroom-solve-a-case story from John Grisham, but more of a terrorist novel I would compare to Nelson DeMille. A fantastic author in his own right, but is this misleading to Grisham fans? There were plot points glossed over and made fuzzy just to keep the story going in the right direction. At times this book was pulse pounding, but then would loose its luster for a few pages and then go right back tension and time pressure. After 400 pages of set up and anxiety, boom, it abruptly ended, and leaves you a little bit of feeling of "Now What?" Will there be another sequel? There were quite a few things not wrapped up, or settled so quickly the details aren't clear, so you are left with a bit of unfinished feeling.

My overall impression is that this book is better than the last couple that Grisham has published, it will be another best seller based on Grisham's name and its relationship to The Firm. However, his true fans will be left with a C+ feeling. Those wanting a courtroom drama will not like it. I give it 4 stars, because this is what I needed right now, but as far as what my expectations were and the storyline, it falls short.

Thanks @netgalley and @doubledayca for the ARC of @johngrisham’s newest book. I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I was excited to see that this would be a follow-up to THE FIRM: one of my favourite books of Grisham’s. While I wondered if he needed all of the descriptions (especially earlier on in the novel), most of the book was fast-paced, which I love. There were lots of characters, so reading the book in fewer sittings is recommended. This will definitely help with remembering everyone. I was eager to see how things ended, but a little disappointed in the ending too. I thought that there were still some loose ends. Still worth the read. Check this book out when it hits shelves in October. A ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read in my books! #avivaandfriendsrecos

John Grisham is back at at it with this latest installment. It's a fast paced, intriguing storyline that will draw you in and keep you there until you finish! If you're a JG fan this is a must read!

The Firm is a much loved book in the 90s,and then an excellent movie was produced staring Tom Cruise
So I was super excited to read The Exchange,expecting it to be a sequel as the title suggests, but was wholely disappointed

The Exchange takes place 15 years later and includes the same two main characters, Mitch and his
wife Abby. There is a small back story about the last 15 years but nothing in depth about the
cliffhanger the first book left..

Basically, you could read this as a standalone. There's no courtroom drama or excitement.
The characters are one dimensional. There are very few details about the kidnapped
associate, which makes it difficult to care or connect with her.

The story picks up towards the end, but all things considered, it felt anticlimactic

I think my feelings about this book are harsh because I loved the first book so much, and this "sequel " was disappointing
For those who haven't read The Firm and go In blind, I'm sure you will enjoy the story more than I did.

Thank you to netgally and Doubleday books for allowing me this ARC.

I have read all the Grisham books but this one is by far the best. Filled with suspense, side bars, complicated interactions and transactions, this well written story is filled with suspense. The story line moves along quickly and captured my attention from page one. I read it in only two sittings as I was reluctant to out it down to sleep. Well done, Grisham. A modern kidnapping across international lines, where people with some morals and ethics do survive.

Let me preface this review by saying that I have not read a lot of books by John Grisham. That being said, I really wanted to love this book, but I did not. I struggled with keeping interest. It was very monotone for me and not as exciting as I expected. There were parts of the story that made me wonder what they were even doing in the book like the death row inmate.

I did finish the book because I kept expecting it to get better. The good thing is that it did end with a resolution to at least make me feel as though it complete. Perhaps my expectations were too high, but I did not love this book.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

This was kind of a letdown for me. I was really excited to read Mitch McDeere's further adventures, but nothing about this seemed to work.

We start off in 2005 with Mitch as a high-powered lawyer in New York, which is puzzling since he left the country after stealing millions of dollars at the end of The Firm. Then the book seems to be going in an interesting direction when he gets a death penalty case in Memphis. However, that is short-lived to say the least, and suddenly Mitch is in Libya dealing with a kidnapping.

It was all too strange and disjointed for me. It felt like Grisham wrote a book about a kidnapping in Libya, and then threw Mitch McDeere in as an afterthought to bring in more readers. I felt kind of cheated. This was no real continuation of The Firm, and readers who are also expecting that will be as disappointed as I was.

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

I received an advanced readers copy from net galley in exchange for my honest review.

John Grisham has always been and will always be my jam- this was no different. I loved it, it was everything I’d hoped for in this continuation of the story. I did a re-read of the firm to be ready. I’ve already got the audio version pre ordered!

Not so much a legal book but more about a kidnapping. Was still a good read. The story was great and the characters were excellent.
I read The author more for the legal so this one as good as the story was fell flat for me storywise...that's on me so still giving it the stars it deserves for a well written book.

Kindle Copy from Net Galley and Doubleday.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

Fifteen years has passed since Mitch exposure of the firm as he remains a lawyer. He will be involved in another sticky situation when his previous mentor asks for a favor that will lead him on a slippery path.

For fans of the first book, it is a sequel that will have you on your seat.

Mitch and Abby McDeere, familiar to readers of John Grisham’s first best seller The Firm, return in The Exchange, a legal thriller crossed with international intrigue, kidnappings, terrorists and a bridge to nowhere. The McDeeres have done well for themselves. Mitch is a partner at an international law firm while Abby is a cookbook editor for a small press. They have twin sons and life is good until, at the urging of a partner and old friend in their Italian office, Mitch and that partner’s daughter Giovanna travel to Libya to recover a debt owed to a foreign client. Things do not go well. Within days, there are beheadings, a kidnapping, multiple threats and Mitch and Abby are at the center of an attempt to unravel a convoluted and deadly conspiracy.

Multilayered and deftly plotted, The Exchange is the talented John Grisham at his best. He vividly describes Mitch’s frustration and growing exhaustion with the mysterious negotiations. There are many locations, all described so well you can see yourself there. This thriller will keep you guessing. It’s impossible to put down! 5 stars.

Thank you to John Grisham, Doubleday Books and John Grisham for this ARC.

The Exchange welcomes back Mitch McDeere and his wife Abby some 15 years later.

Life has moved on, they have a family and Mitch is currently a very successful partner in an international law firm.

John Grisham does a good job of refreshing your memory that brings The Firm rushing back to mind.

Mitch has been asked to go to Libya and while there his associate and daughter to one of the partners is kidnapped.

The tension notches up with every page as they desperately try to meet the kidnappers demands and get to get his partner back before she is executed.

Mitch and Abby are once more in danger as the pages turn far into the night.

John Grisham is a born story teller and you will soon be captivated by The Exchange.

Thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Books, Doubleday for a pulse pounding read.

3.5 - 3.75 stars

I am a huge fan of The Firm and was so excited to get my hands on this book.

First things first. You do not need to have read The Firm to enjoy The Exchange. But if you haven't read it, I highly recommend you do b/c it's amazing.

Secondly, The Exchange is NOT a legal thriller like The Firm. It's international intrigue with a lot of time on spent on planes.

I'm honestly not even sure how I feel about the book. It did suck me in and I read it in a day but I don't think I'd read it again (I'm a huge re-reader). While the story kept me interested, I was very aware of how disappointed I was that it wasn't the book I thought it was going to be (ie - a legal thriller).

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Doubleday Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Doubleday Books!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC.

This book follows Mitch McDeere who we haven’t heard about since The Firm. Mitch takes on a client that leads to trouble for himself, colleagues and family. While I enjoyed the majority of this book, I found it to be lengthy and too politically focused. A decent legal thriller with a steady pace, but it lacked an exciting ending.

The Exchange picks up 15 years after Mitch and Abby McDeere fled the mob in The Firm. Unfortunately, after a few quiet years they find themselves in another dangerous situation.

I am a Grisham fan, and I enjoyed this story. The story had plenty of action and moved along at a comfortable pace.

It’s always fun catching up with characters from previous novels. I could not help but picture Tom Cruise and Jeanne Tripplehorn as I was reading.

Thanks to Netgalley, John Grisham and Doubleday Books for the advanced e-galley in exchange for my honest review.

Fifteen years after Mitch and Abby McDeere abscond with his Memphis law firm’s mafia-tainted records in cooperation with the Feds, they have established themselves in NYC where he’s an ace attorney with an international law firm in John Grisham’s sequel to “The Firm,” entitled “The Exchange.”. Soon Mitch is caught in a web of intrigue when he’s sent on a mission to checkout Gaddafi’s Libyan ‘desert bridge to nowhere’ financed by a Turkish engineering company that wants it’s payment. While in Libya, Mitch becomes deathly sick and his female law partner is kidnapped by terrorist extremists. The novel is a feverish race to rescue the lawyer alive while working with a conglomerate of nations in deciding if paying terrorists is good policy.

JoyReaderGirl1 graciously thanks NetGalley, Author John Grisham, and Publisher Doubleday for this advanced reader’s copy (ARC) for review.