"Ordinary" man and wife become agents for the security firm of the law office of which the husband is a partner when a fellow lawyer ends up in dire straits in Gaddafi's Libya (pre-2011 assassination). Some interesting, unpredictable twists and turns along the way. and the back story for the primary protagonist is compelling. Great depiction of successful, "long-term" (15 year) marriage and positive female role models. Action puts the reader in the setting. Description of what happens to people in solitary confinement, and specifically the Gibbons law case, add to the apprehension. Good read, a little gruesome.

Once again, Grisham has written an exciting book that is impossible to put down.
His story is fast-paced, exciting and gripping. Yet, as a run-up to "The Firm," I would have found this story even more appealing if I had prior knowledge of what had happened in that story. As a standalone, the book was not as powerful as it might have been..
Yet, who can resist a Grisham novel? Not me--

Mitch McDeere and his wife Abby, once on the run from the Mob and a company of corrupt lawyers, have lived a safe and profitable life in New York, working for a successful legal corporation in recent years. The family has grown with the addition of twin sons. Called on to represent a construction company, hired to build a bridge in Libya and now suing President Quaddafi for payment and convinced that it is a straightforward assignment which he will share with a London-based lawyer from his firm, he agrees to go. When Giovanna, his partner, is kidnapped by a brutal gang of terrorists, the ransom is exorbitant and he must work with representatives of Italy, England, Libya and the U.S. to find the money to rescue her as horrific films of assassinations of her guards and attempted rescuers are flashed on the Internet. Will world leaders and the corporate world have compassion for one lawyer? Or will they think only of the tremendous loss of money trying to save her? John Grisham takes a cold-blooded, calculating plot and humanizes it by sharing the involvement of Mitch’s wife and children in the situation when we see how much this unknown group knows about the past history of this man and how far-spread its evil power spreads. I wonder if a sequel is in the works.

I love John Grisham books and “The Exchange” did not disappoint ! A fast paced, sit on the edge of your seat, holding your breath read!

I love Grisham's legal thrillers and; his character-driven novels. Since this book is billed as a sequel to The Firm, I was expecting another legal thriller. Not so. This book is more like an international crime drama--not my favorite type of read--but Grisham does a good job switching genres.

It's 2005 and fifteen years after Mitch McDeere and his wife Abby fled Memphis after exposing the corrupt practices of the Bendini law firm. They are now in New York where Mitch is a partner in the largest legal firm in the world and Abby is a cookbook editor; they now have twin boys, When Mitch's former mentor in Rome, Luca Sandroni, is diagnosed with cancer, he asks Mitch to take over a high profile case against Libya and dictator Muammar Gaddafi. During a supposedly safe trip to Libya, things go horribly wrong and suddenly Mitch, his family, and colleagues are in danger. Mitch once again teams up with Abby to try and outwit his adversaries.

First off, it is not necessary to have read The Firm to enjoy this book--Grisham does a good job of summing up the events from that book so feel free to jump right in. I liked the character updates and seeing that Mitch and Abby had flourished after their Memphis misadventures. I did think the book was a little slow getting to the main plot but once it got there, things picked up and the action was breakneck. In typical Grisham style, the plot was intricate with many moving parts and characters. Overall, I think this is a good book but as I said, this is not one of my favorite genres, and saying it is a sequel to The Firm is a bit misleading: it's not another legal thriller.

Thank you, NetGalley and Doubleday for an advance copy to review in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is October 17, 2023.

I was lucky enough to grab this to read when it was made available to the first 200 readers. I had been planing on rereading The Firm before this one came out but i needn’t have worried. Other than the reintroduction of the main characters and refreshing my mind about the storyline this is a stand alone book. I really enjoyed it. I had a moments doubt about how he got away with stealing all that money and how nobody was still looking for him. But.It's a book. Stranger things have happened. Definitely recommend.

Wow, what an adventure. This book kept me on edge and at times I was holding my breath. It was so cool to catch up with Mitch and Abby. So good!

This had very high stakes compared to The Firm but also a lot of descriptions of fancy expensive lawyer meetings and the prose wasn't very evocative. Also the antagonists seemed to have some capabilities that didn't seem very realistic to me and their whole plot was never quite really described.

I liked the initial book and this definitely didn't feel like a continuation of it despite having two of the main characters. This felt like a book that lacked character development and had an uninspired plot. Just mediocre but familiar.

This book was an exciting ride.
Mitch is a powerful attorney who had a rather "rough patch" in his career fifteen years prior. He was able to turn things around and create a great life for himself, his wife, Abby, and twin boys. When one of his mentor's calls and asks him for a favor he doesn't hesitate to say yes, even if it requires him going into the dessert of Libya. But, things turn bad quickly, and Mitch and Abby are racing against time to save a fellow lawyer, while keeping their family safe.
Great characters, very well developed. The plot was filled with intrigue, mystery, and action. My reason for not giving it 5 stars was the ending. It was very abrupt and not in pace with the rest of the book. I wanted more.
Overall an awesome read from John Grisham.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I have a long history with Grisham’s “The Firm.” I had graduated from college and wanted to be a writer. The job market was limited, and I was considering paralegal or law school. I came across the novel at my local library and fell in love with both the genre of legal thrillers and John Grisham’s writing. (“A Time to Kill” and its sequels are my favorite of his work).

I was surprised when I discovered Grisham was writing a sequel to “The Firm.” What happened to Mitch and his wife, Abby after they exposed the crimes of Mitch’s law firm and went on the run. This novel answers that question—Mitch and Abby traveled, spending a chunk of time in Italy, before settling down in New York. Mitch returned to the practice of law, Abby began editing cookbooks, and they had twin sons. So, they live happily ever after, right?

Of course, not. Mitch is working in an internationally renowned firm and by persuasion of one of the managing partners, he travels to Libya because one of the firm’s clients has not been paid for the bridge they had built that apparently goes to nowhere. The associate (Giovanna) he travels with (daughter of a close Italian friend and senior partner, Luca) is kidnapped and the unidentified people who have her are requesting 100 million dollars for her return.

I thought the main premise was a little weak—maybe because so many scenes were dedicated to trying to raise money while Mitch and Abby longed to return to “the simple life.” There were way too many characters—and it was hard to keep track of who was who and what country each person was from. While a major portion of the novel is told from Mitch’s POV, I felt as if I did not get to know him any better from the young associate we were introduced to in “The Firm.” Abby, who plays a huge part in the high jinks, comes across as a two-dimensional character and the reader doesn’t even know who Giovanna is to care about what might happen to her.

I think it would have been a much more interesting story to read about Mitch and Abby’s moments on the run and how it might have changed them. Mitch is clearly meant to be the hero of this novel, though in many scenes, he is simply observing scenes and not himself involved. (It is very difficult imagining this novel becoming a movie, especially were Tom Cruise to return to the role of Mitch). How many meetings could one viewer watch?

I understand Grisham’s desire to write this book, but I think a better story could have been told (and still be told).

Three stars.

Thank you the John Grisham, NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel.

I enjoyed this sequel to The Firm. It started with a detailed description of where the McDeere family was now and what happened over the years after Mitch and Abby disappearred. They are now in NYC with a set of young twin boys. They both have successful careers. Mitch with a big law international law firm and Abby as a cookbook publisher.
After being pulled into a lawsuit against Libya with one of the firm's biggest clients, things start to move fast. Soon Mitch and Abby are pulled into a dangerous tangle with international terrorists. This part kept me reading until the end to find out what happens. Nice to have one of John Grisham's favorite character couples back in print. A firm
4-Star read!

Well, the ending wasn't a direction I'd have foreseen (nor chosen, for that matter), but getting there was quite a trip in this, the follow-up to the author's super-popular 2010 book The Firm. It was good to see what Mitch McDeere and his wife, Abby, have been up to since they narrowly escaped with their lives after he turned informant against his old law firm and its ties to organized crime.

And that, I suppose, is the biggest issue I have with this book. Somehow, I just can't see powers-that-are looking the other way when they know a man stole, and is hiding, a huge amount of money - even if it once belonged to the mob and the guy who stole it is a hero of sorts. But apparently, $10 million somehow got lost in the shuffle (we all know one hand of the government rarely knows what the other is doing, but still...) I, on the other hand, am not quite so forgiving; the money wasn't Mitch's to keep.

But mine is also not to reason why, and besides, the rest of the story is interesting, timely and held my attention throughout. And this is now, not then; Mitch is a successful and valued partner at the auspicious law firm of Scully & Pershing at the ripe old age of 41. Abby is a senior editor who honchos cookbook creation and publishing, and together they have twin sons Clark and Carter. Smooth sailing, yes? Well, that's about to change; his boss asks (read: demands) that he go to Rome to see Luca Sandroni, the head of a partner firm. One of Luca's best clients, it seems, is being cheated out of payment for building an ill-fated bridge in Libya and needs a hot-shot attorney like Mitch to argue the case in front of an arbitration board in Geneva. Mitch was actually looking forward to representing Luca's client, right down to personally visiting the bridge; that went south when Luca's daughter Giovanna - who accompanied Mitch to the bridge - is kidnapped. Subsequently, the kidnappers demand an ungodly sum for her safe return - choosing a reluctant Abby as the go-between.

And that's just the beginning; the rest of the story, of course, deals with trying to find Giovanna [alive] with help from sources who won't be discovered by the kidnappers and coming up with $100 million in a very short time, mostly from sources who outwardly, at least, refuse to pay ransom under any circumstances. While there's no courtroom drama, it's pretty heady stuff - all well laid out with a few potshots at some of the people, institutions and issues who (IMHO) well deserve them as well as intriguing groundwork for (I hope) another sequel. All told, well done - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

The Exchange is the long-awaited sequel to the blockbuster hit novel and movie, The Firm. Readers reunite with Mitch and Abby McDeere to learn what happened after they fled Memphis fifteen years earlier. This reviewer was excited to discover the answers, and gladly accepted the invitation to read an advance copy of the book. Who could say no to Doubleday, Grisham and the McDeeres? Not me.

It was easy to envision Tom Cruise in his role as Mitch while I read The Exchange, and I kept waiting for his character to run after bad guys, shoot a gun, or fly a plane. But those actions take place in his Mission Impossible and Top Gun movies and are not part of his character as a high-powered New York attorney. The Exchange features Mitch as a contract's negotiator in this international drama. The book is not an action-adventure story, but a legal thriller.

Abby McDeere enjoys a larger role in The Exchange than she had in The Firm and becomes a major player when the story unfolds. No spoilers here. You'll have to read the book to learn why. Her character is fleshed out in this second book, and I rooted for her on every page.

The Exchange wasn't a five-star read for me for a few reasons. Plot threads drop and disappear without explanation. Scenes take place with no solutions. There are few plot twists and turns. The ending, however, leads me to believe there will be a third book in the series. If The Exchange becomes a movie starring Tom Cruise, I imagine the film will be a blockbuster. Dropped plot points in the novel will be explained or deleted, and mundane conversations in restaurants between lawyers will be eliminated. The heart of the book will shine through and make movie watching worthwhile. Grisham fans will likely enjoy reuniting with the McDeeres.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for providing an ARC to read and review. This review will post to Bayside Book Reviews.com at https://baysidebookreviews.com and its Instagram page on release day. Follow us! *NetGalley Top Reviewer*

I loved The Firm and I was looking forward to catching up with Mitch and Abby. Sadly, The Exchange did not live up to my expectations. There were very few twists and turns and no edge of my seat moments.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC.

Set 15 years after the events of The Firm, we meet up again with Mitch McDeere and his wife. He's joined a Big Law firm in New York, she's a cookbook editor, and their life with two kids seems perfect. Until an assignment in Libya ends in chaos, and Mitch must try negotiate the safe return of a colleague amid international intrigue.

This picks up where The Firm left off, and unfortunately, it reads as if time has gone backwards for Grisham. The dialogue is wooden, the action flat, and the excitement non-existent. Grisham's legal thrillers at least have the ins and outs of courtrooms and legal trickery to keep things moving, but this could has essentially no courtroom drama (the only reason it seems to be using McDeere as a character is to drum up interest in the story?) And it's not even an exciting thriller - most of the action happens in various conference rooms and offices as people try to raise money for a ransom. (Grisham also seems extremely excited to let you know he knows the names of many different types of private planes and fancy hotels.) A disappointment.

First, let me thank NetGalley and Doubleday for the ARC of The Exchange. My review is given voluntarily.

We again meet Mitchell McDeere and his wife Abby, now recovered from the Bendini law firm debacle. Mitch is a partner at the largest law firm in the world. Slipping back into their lives felt as comfortable as your favorite pair of pajamas.

The plot revolves around a dangerous situation halfway around the world. I was actually worried about how it would all turn out. I don’t want to spoil any of the enjoyment for the reader, so I won’t elaborate further, but I really, really enjoyed the book and felt privileged to read it. I’ve liked the last few Grisham books a lot. This was stellar!

15 years after The Firm, Grisham brings Mitch and Abby back for another international thriller. There’s a kidnapping of a law firm associate who is also the daughter of a close friend with a hefty ransom demand that sends Mitch, his family and associates into action. Flying from New York, London, Rome to Libya and Grand Cayman, Mitch is trying to negotiate a lawsuit, and raise ransom money while trying to protect his family. It’s a race against the clock and an exciting page-turner.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

What happened to Mitch and Abby McDeere after they exposed the crimes of The Firm? This sequel picks up 15 years later, and the couple find themselves in jeopardy yet again. Mitch is a partner at the world’s biggest law firm, frequently traveling to dangerous places. A trip to Libya results in his colleague, Giovanna, being kidnapped, and a race against the clock to raise the ransom demanded.

The book was good (not great), with wheeling and dealing as the primary plot, but not the legal thriller I was expecting. Also, the plot was thin and I kept expecting a turn of events that would captivate me. The book meanders and spends a lot of time on the details of Mitch’s flights, which became tiresome. There are a lot of characters to keep track of, and some were a bit weak, including Mitch and Abby.

The ending is abrupt, and leaves many unanswered questions. Was this Grisham’s way to reintroduce us to Mitch McDeere, with another book to come? There were hints in the book, and following the threads leads me to believe Mitch and Giovanna will be back as a legal team working on death penalty cases.

Unfortunately, the book just missed the mark for me.

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As a big fan of The Firm, I was eager to read the sequel, but I was disappointed. The plot was slow and predictable, with no twists or turns to keep me engaged. The characters were underdeveloped, and their motivations unremarkable. Overall, this felt like a phoned-in attempt to capitalize on the success of the first book.