International intrigue forms the core of this new book from John Grisham.It’s a little different from his past books. Mitch McDeere is back.When I started this book I wasn’t very sure where it was headed.There were two storylines I sort of predicted but it went in a completely different direction . It’s not the typical John Grisham legal thriller.
It is a very fast paced book. Was a good read.
Thankyou Netgalley and Doubleday books for this ARC

Thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for sending me an ARC of The Exchange in exchange for an honest review. This book is going to be a #1 bestseller, but I’ll predict right now that readers will be largely disappointed, and the critics are going to try to one-up each other with zingers in savage reviews.

I first read The Firm when it came out 30+ years ago. It not only reinvigorated the legal fiction genre, but it was one of those books that broke through into super-popularity, like The Da Vinci Code or Gone Girl. So there was no chance I wasn’t going to read this sequel, but I went into The Exchange with some big questions.

First and foremost, how and why is Mitch McDeere—in 2005, fifteen years after The Firm—a partner at Scully & Pershing, the fictional largest law firm in the world? When we last saw Mitch, he had angered both the FBI and the Mob, fled the US, and most importantly, had stolen $10 million from his law firm. I know Mr. Grisham hasn’t practiced law in a very long time but … they don’t let you be a lawyer after you do those things. There’s an explanation in the book, but it’s pretty unconvincing. It’s best to just suspend your disbelief and move on.

Unfortunately, there isn’t an interesting story being told in The Exchange. Mitch is summoned to the firm’s Rome office to help with a lawsuit against the Libyan government for payment on a $400 million construction contract. While they are in Libya, one of Mitch’s associates, Giovanna, is kidnapped and held for ransom. The rest of the story is about Mitch and the firm’s efforts to pay the ransom for her safe return. In other hands, this story could have been a thrilling tale of spies and soldiers. In Mr. Grisham’s version, there are a lot of lawyers holding a lot of meetings. It’s terribly flat and fairly tedious. Mitch is often just a fly on the wall, and the kidnappers’ decision to use Abby McDeere as a go-between was absurd. There’s one moment where one character starts to wonder about the moral implications of giving terrorists upwards of $100 million simply to save the life of one woman—a fair question, given the terrorists will spend that money on more death and destruction—but after half a page the dilemma is neither resolved nor raised again.

Instead, The Exchange seems to be Mr. Grisham’s unwise attempt to engage in some revisionist history with Mitch McDeere’s character. Mitch in the The Firm is not the greatest guy. For all his genius, he gets duped into working for the Mob. He cheats on his wife and never tells her. And I’ll repeat because it’s important: he angered both the FBI and the Mob, fled the US, and stole $10 million from his law firm. There’s a mini-subplot at the very beginning about Mitch possibly working on a pro bono death penalty appeal in Memphis. There are these hints that’s there’s more to the case, but it goes absolutely nowhere. The subplot was apparently just an excuse for Mitch to have a very awkward lunch with his old co-worker Lamar, so they can sort of talk out their feelings about what happened in and after The Firm. It’s a tiny bit of closure that only Mr. Grisham needed. And like that closure, in retrospect it seems the whole book is about smoothing the edges off of Mitch’s imperfections. Now, he’s a deeply devoted husband and father, and he’s definitely had a change of heart about all of that money he stole.

And just like that, one of Mr. Grisham’s most interesting characters becomes a bland, boring corporate lawyer family guy. I think it would have been better to leave the delightfully flawed Mitch McDeere in the past, and instead focus on a new character who could have maybe tied up the dozen or so loose threads left hanging throughout this story. Not recommended.

My first indication that this was not going to be a similar experience to reading the original novel can came when I read the first 25% and realized absolutely nothing was happening. I came very close to putting the book down.

But, then, things started to pick up, and I was feeling better again. But, the John Grisham of today is clearly not the author, who wrote The Firm all those years ago. This, John Grisham really likes to take his time with everything. We get so much detail about things that absolutely don’t matter, the minutia of the McDeere's daily life, The history of building bridges in Libya, and all manner of other things. But, the way it was paced, you would get something interesting happening, and then all of a sudden things would slow way down in the second you were going to set the book down. It would speed up again.

It was incredibly uneven all the way through. And, I had to force myself to finish it, because I just kept wondering when something interesting was going to happen. And the answer is it didn’t. I got to the end of the book and got to the acknowledgments page and literally said out loud. Are you serious? That’s it? That’s the book I was waiting for?

I think I just feel like it was an exercise in futility. There was nothing about the Mitch McDeere character that felt like he had to be the one involved in this book. It just felt like they were writing it as a Mitch mcdeere follow up because that would maybe make it more successful? Yes, at the beginning, you get a little bit of closing of the loop about things that happened in the first book, but other than that, I really don’t know what the point was.

The Exchange is John Grisham's latest that picks up with Mitch and Abbey from the Firm 15 years later. I enjoyed the first half of the book with their family life and professional life. The central kidnapping story was less compelling to me though there was one time of breathless anticipation. Sadly the ending was a bit abrupt and so it's a mixed bag for me. If you didn't read The Firm definitely read that one first. If you did read The Firm you may enjoy this too.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
3.5 stars rounding up.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance ecopy of this title. Grisham has resurrected Mitch from The Firm in this legal thriller set in a high powered NYC law firm. Mitch has been tapped to represent an international company who is suing the corrupt Libyan government. His partner is the daughter of an Italian co-worker. Mitch is poisoned in Libya, but manages to get out. His partner is kidnapped, and all of her handlers/guards are brutally murdered. The terrorist use Mitch's wife, Abby as their point person, and Mitch, Abby, and a select few others travel the globe to try to resolve this kidnapping without further bloodshed.

This title is vintage Graisham: fast-paced plot, fully-drawn characters, and an engaging writing style. I sure would love another book featuring these characters! Highly recxommend.

This was another exciting and action packed read. It was good to see the McDeere family again. I definitely look forward to reading more Grisham

Mitch McDeere, who we last met in the author’s 2nd book, The Firm, is back. Now he was a partner at the NYC headquarters of Scully and Pershing, the largest multinational law firm in the world. Luca, one of his mentors who worked in the Rome office of Scully, asked for Mitch’s help with a case. Luca’s healthy was failing so he could not continue on the case. Lannak, a large Turkish builder, had built a billion dollar bridge for Gadaffi in Libya. Once the work was completed, the Libyans refused to pay Lannak for it.
So Mitch flew to Rome to meet with Luca and go over the case. It was decided that Mitch would go to see the bridge before approaching the Libyan officials. Luca’s daughter, Giovanna, a Scully associate in the London office, accompanied Mitch to Tripoli. The morning after their first meal in Tripoli, Mitch woke up with a severe case of food poisoning. He ended up in a military hospital and Giovanna decided to go alone to see the bridge in an armored truck and several armed guards.
The truck was ambushed, the guards killed and Giovanna was taken hostage. When her captors finally made contact, they demanded $100 million for her safe return. They sent this message via a mystery woman to Abby, Mitch’s wife, on a street in NYC. The captors let Abby know that she and her twin sons were under surveillance. So Mitch and Abby sent their sons to a remote island in Maine where they would be safe with the brother of another Scully partner.
The rest of the book involves attempts to try to raise the money to insure Giovanna’s safe return. Mitch traveled between NY and London and Rome in his attempt to persuade governments to help with the ransom demands.
This book is classic Grisham with suspense and ends with a hint of a sequel in this series. I enjoyed it as I have other books by the author. There are many references to the first book in the series, The Firm, but it is not necessary to read that book to enjoy this one.
I received this ARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a big fan of John Grisham, but his latest book left me feeling underwhelmed. While I liked catching up with Mitch and Abby (from "The Firm") this caper left me uninterested and uninspired. I'm sure this book will do well commercially, it just wasn't my favorite.

It keep me reading and that was really good but I still wasn't thrilled with the continued talk, talk, about what to do next. I guess we have to have had money in our lives to know the feeling. His best book to me was the 1st couple of books (The Firm). I wanted to see how it ended but was tempted to just chapters. But good grief I was tickled to be able to read it and thank you!

If you've ever wondered what happened to Mitch and Abby McDeere after they escaped Memphis, the Mob, and the murderous partners at Bendini, Lambert, & Locke, then this is the book for you. Picking up 15 years after the events of "The Firm", "The Exchange" picks up with the McDeeres, now comfortably settled in New York City, with Mitch as a partner in an international law firm, and Abby editing cookbooks for a boutique publishing house. When Mitch is handed an international case out of the firm's Rome office, things begin to go sideways for the McDeeres in a hurry.

A gripping, suspenseful novel sure to be an enormous hit, "The Exchange" delivers a thoughtful, well researched subject with a thrilling, breakneck pace sure to delight Grisham fans new and old.

Ahhhh, Mitch and Abby McDreere are back! This book is full of action and fast paced. Although the beginning was somewhat confusing and lots of characters introduced, it does all come together nicely. I enjoyed reading about Mitch and Abby again and what their life became after Memphis. Definitely recommend, especially if you loved The Firm!

Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange of an honest review.

I wanted to love this one so bad! But it just didn’t hit the mark for me. It wasn’t that it was bad it just seemed like it didn’t flow from the other book. I kept asking what about this that happened in The Firm that wasn’t resolved and I got no answer. Mitch didn’t feel the same. All in all an ok read but I think could’ve been way better In characterization. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for read and review

Reading a sequel to John Grisham’s the Firm, was something I was very much excited about. It picks up Mitch McDeere’s life after exposing and escaping the bad guys in the Bendini firm in Memphis.
In The Exchange, the sequel to the Firm, Mitch his wife Abby, and two young sons are living an affluent life under the radar. Mitch is once again a prominent lawyer who is called upon early in the story to tackle a pro bono death penalty case. Expecting one of Grisham’s usual high drama twisting a turning legal thrillers, from the early action, the about face of the plot was surprising and disappointing. The story is neither about the death penalty nor high courtroom drama.

McDeere is thrust into a scenario of international intrigue in Libya. Never in the entire book was it 100% clear to me who the evil enemies were. There was a lot of traveling from country to country after the kidnapping of a high profile figure, and the attempt to broker a deal by an unlikely and not very believable third party. This was more of an international thriller than a legal thriller and left me wondering if Mitch McDeere would return in the future as a James Bond- like hero.

The Exchange was definitely a decent read although it lacked Grisham’s usual twists. Fans of Grisham’s will likely want to read this. The writing is clear, simple and a smooth fast read. Three stars for a good book from an author who has written greater books. My thanks to NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for my review.

I REALLY REALLY wanted to fall in love with this follow-up to "The Firm," (I can still picture Tom Cruise in my mind as the protagonist) but it fell flat for me. The ending was just, done. I felt antipathy throughout the book. It was a very long book with a very crappy ending. I love John Grisham, but it required more rewrites, better research and a WAY more satisfying ending.

I wanted to love this follow-up to "The Firm," but it just wasn't for me. The ending was non existent. Felt like no reward after reading a very long book. I love Grisham, but this one wasn't a hit.

In The Exchange, John Grisham skillfully revives the captivating world of his earlier hit The Firm, thrusting readers into a high-stakes legal thriller that follows the brilliant attorney Mitch McDeere fifteen years later. Set in 2005, Mitch's life has transformed as he navigates Manhattan as a partner at a global law firm. A favor for a dying mentor in Rome triggers a web of international intrigue, leading Mitch on a race against time to save a kidnapped associate and confront a sinister plot with far-reaching implications. Grisham's storytelling finesse masterfully blends nostalgia and relentless suspense, while his character-driven narrative adds depth, particularly in highlighting Abby's expanded role. While not a conventional legal thriller, The Exchange showcases Grisham's ability to craft an engaging tale that thrills, leaving readers eager for more.

Thanks to Doubleday and NetGalley for this ARC of The Exchange. I was super excited to read this book! The Firm is one of my favorite books and it was great to catch up with Mitch and Abby and see what happened to them! Overall I really enjoyed this book. It was suspenseful and action packed. Loved that Abby played a big role in this book. The ending did feel a bit rushed and left many unanswered questions. Perhaps this will not be the last we see if the McDeeres??

John Grisham's: "The Exchange" is a fitting sequel to the "The Firm". Fifteen years removed from Memphis, Mitch and Abby are living in New York with their two sons. Mitch is a partner in the largest legal firm in the world with offices everywhere and Abby is a cookbook editor. Grisham begins the book by giving the reader a taste of their current life with cooks coming to fix meals for the family that might be included in their cookbooks and the boys playing Little League baseball while attending an affluent private school.
Mitch travels to various locations in the world on behalf of clients, so it doesn't appear odd when he is asked to stand in for a cherished friend who is dying that leads the Rome office. He will be representing a Turkish Construction Company who have a $400 million bill that Libya has not paid for a bridge to nowhere. Libya is where the intrigue begins and from there, the reader spends the majority of the rest of the novel traveling from place to place with him and eventually Abby.
As a reader who adored 'The Firm", it was nice to catch up with Mitch and Abby and to see where their lives are down the road. The thriller part was international in scope, making for exotic settings. Grisham does an excellent work explaining the legal system involved in case it is not one with which the reader is familiar.
So what is my hesitation in not being more profuse in my praise. Simple. I felt like the ending was rushed and tied up in too neat a bow with a nod to 'The Firm'. I have and will continue to recommend it to readers of Grisham, especially those like me that had stepped away from his novels for a while because catching up with Mitch and Amy was worth the read..

Many thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for the free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

So what happened to Mitch and Abby after fleeing Memphis? This is that story. I really enjoyed seeing the life that they have currently with their family but I would have liked to know more about what happened in the 20 year gap. Instead, we pick up with Mitch who is a well accomplished NYC lawyer living on the upper east side and handling international cases. He takes on a case representing a Turkish construction company stiffed by the Libyan government for the bridge they built. However, things go seriously wrong.

If you love John Grisham novels, this one does not disappoint and represents all that I have come to expect when you pick them up.

Not what I was expecting but an entertaining read!

This novel revisits Mitch McDeere, Grisham's character from his first bestselling (and possibly best) novel, The Firm 15 year after the novel ends. It catches up to present time pretty quickly and gets Mitch involved in a lawsuit between a Turkish country and the Libyan government. A lawyer in his firm is kidnapped and lots of moving back and forth between Italy, Maine, NYC and London.

A little too much Libya for me and the typical lack of character development, but overall, in Grisham's vibe for sure.