Loved getting back into John Grisham. This book made me remember why I had so enjoyed those early novels like The Firm and The Pelican Brief!

I’m impressed that we got a sequel well after the first book! I found this to be a bit drawn out, but yet faster than the first book. It was all over the place and I had a difficult time believing the chaos of the story. It made me realize that maybe I didn’t care about what happened next to the characters from The Firm, after all.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review "The Exchange" by John Grisham.
It has been many years since "The Firm" was published, and many years since I read the book. Mitch McDeere is back and thrown into another suspenseful situation where lives are at stake and the players aren't pulling any punches.
Brought in to work on an international lawsuit between a Greek construction company and the Libyan government, Mitch makes the fateful decision to visit the site; which leads to kidnapping and murder.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one; the writing was taut and the action non-stop. Even if you don't recall "The Firm" there are character reminiscences to remind the reader.
But you don't have to have any prior experience with those events to enjoy this one.

I really enjoyed this. Only slightly related to The Firm - the same main character and some references to the story from The Firm but you wouldn't need to read that first.

It was an interesting thriller that kept me engaged to the end. Mitch works for the largest law firm in the world. While on a business trip, a colleague is kidnapped and Mitch is pulled into a desperate race to save her. With trips all over the world connecting with security consultants, politicians, lawyers and others trying to save the colleague.

Overall an interesting, fast paced read.

It was great to revisit Mitch McDeere and his family after all these years. This was a great read, with characters dealing with current world issues. But like in the Firm at the base is greed.

Ugh! Another meeting! Meetings in this country. Meetings in that country. Meetings in this hotel. Meetings in that office building, jet, conference room, etc. You get the picture. Plan after failing plan. Alas, this story dragged on way too long. About halfway through the book, I didn’t care if the hundred million dollars was raised or not; I didn’t care if Giovanna was rescued or not. I lost interest. But then, with about 10% left to read, the story picked up. Did I like the ending? I’m not sure. Maybe. Not exactly. You’ll have to decide for yourself.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Exchange. Sadly, however, it was not an enjoyable read.

The Exchange is the story of Mitch and Abby McDeere after they fled Memphis and The Firm. They bummed around the world for several years. Then settled in New York where Mitch was hired by one of the largest law firms in the world. Abby is settled in as a cookbook editor. They have twin sons. Life is good, until it isn’t. An associate of Scully & Pershing is kidnapped in Libia. She is the daughter of a partner. Mitch was supposed to be with her on the trip but was taken ill and spent time in a hospital in Libia instead. The storyline boils down to will they be able to meet the kidnapper’s demands and free Giovanna before time runs out on the ransom demands. The book consists of bloody murders, meetings and Mitch on a lot of airplanes. Grisham books are usually a quick read for me. I struggled with this one because it was so repetitive. Mitch had a meeting. No that person won’t help with the ransom money. Another meeting to decide what to do next. A meeting with whomever they came up with this time. It wasn’t the book for me. I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving a review voluntarily.

I was really excited for this one as I love JG!

This one has great heist vibes & held true to the fast paced heart quickened of the first. I feel the entire story was very realistic & loved all the legal stuff throughout. I enjoyed Mitch & Abby's characters & how they were involved at the perfect times. There was a lot of moving parts that had me hooked throughout it was hard to put it down!

Mitch is back! 15 years later and at a different point in his life of being settled down, Mitch is once again drawn in by a friend on a case that is more than meets the eye. As Mitch goes to inspect 'the bridge to nowhere', events unfold, his lawyer partner has been kidnapped, and all of a sudden Mitch is on the run for a life, Giovanni's life. As Giovanni is kept hidden away, Mitch has to use his critical thinking skills to stay ahead of the kidnappers and bring along friends and countries in negotiating for Giovanni's life. I personally was hoping for more of a courtroom drama, but this is still classic Grisham. Go Mitch!
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion*

I have read many John Grisham books, so I was excited when I got this uncorrected proof from NetGalley for a preview read, but I was VERY disappointed in this sequel to The Firm. Mitch McDeere would've been better off following his original plan and abandoning the law, and Grisham would've been wise to not try to follow-up on the McDeere's story. Honestly, if I hadn't felt an obligation to finish this book because I'd been chosen to review it, I would've quit long before the story finally got interesting at about 55% through.

It's hard to explain exactly why it's so disappointing. It wasn't because it was uncorrected, unless they plan to also do a whole lot of editing and revising. It was just boring. There's a lot of merely telling what happened instead of showing it. Worse, I didn't really care about the McDeeres or poor Giovanna who spends most of the book held hostage by evil terrorists--which ones? I don't remember. She seemed nice enough, and it's sad that her dying father has to go through this, but we are not given enough of a character to make us care about her plight. Maybe that's the central problem, because it is the main focus of the book--rescuing her from almost certain death and probably torture. Mitch flies back and forth around the world and back to New York and then to Abby and the kids' hideaway. I expected them to be endangered at some point. That might have added to the action, but there were only threats, never any real danger. Generally, the book has a lot of movement but no exciting action, too many characters who are so skimpily written that we really don't care what happens to them very deeply.

This might make a decent movie, but as a book, it's a fail and a huge disappointment for me.

I wanted so badly to like this book, but I found myself really struggling to finish it. I did eventually finish it but am a bit disappointed with the book. The plot didn't have a lot of thrill or suspense to it, and I just couldn't get pulled into the story as much as I'd have liked. Thanks to Netgalley, John Grisham and Doubleday Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was waiting, just like everyone else to see what was going to happen happen with Mitch and Abby after the events of The Firm. Why did it take so long for this to happen? 15 years SMH. I am glad to see that Mitch and Abby got married and have kids. HOWEVER....

-Yes, there is a kidnapping
-Yes, a very expensive ransom
-Yes, Mitch does some BADASS stuff

BUT....

Nothing really happens and there is a lack of a real plot, suspense/thrill to this.

Disapponted.

Cannot recommend this. Other books were better.

Thanks to Netgalley, John Grisham and Doubleday Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Already available.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this book. John Grisham does it again. I was really excited when I heard that this book brings back the main characters (Mitch and Abby McDeere) from The Firm, which was the first book I read by John Grisham and loved. The book is the usual fast-paced legal thriller that you come to know and expect (and love) from this author. The story moves at a great pace and keeps you guessing. It's a great "sequel"...too bad we had to wait so long. Another hit by Grisham. I'd recommend it for any Grisham fans, but also especially for any fans of The Firm!

The Exchange by John Grisham

I was quite excited to read this 'sequel' to The Firm, and I really wanted to like it, but from the very beginning the story and the writhing just fell flat. It felt like Grisham really didn't want to write this book. You hear very little about what happened to Mitch and Abby after they fled Tennessee, instead the story picks up 15 years after The Firm, where Mitch again is working for the biggest law firm in the world - what can go wrong with that? One of the young associates are kidnapped by terrorists for an outrageous ransom - and yet life goes on for Mitch, Abby and the new Firm. Dinners and meetings are held, Mitch is flying around the world several times (I'm still not quite sure why), and in the end the ransom is paid. The western hostage is freed (but all the locals are leaving empty spaces at their families' dinner tables), and Mitch is once again taking a stand by leaving the biggest law firm in New York for a smaller firm(?).

John Grisham's latest, set 15 years after Mitch and Abby McDeere's escape from Memphis, lands them in the heart of Manhattan's legal scene. Mitch, now a partner at Scully & Pershing, takes a job that whisks him off to Rome, and then into the risky terrains of Libya. The setup is classic Grisham: high stakes, international locales, and a taste for adventure. But let's be real, getting into this book was a bit of a slog. The first 100 pages felt like running a marathon in mud – tough to get through but with the promise of something better ahead.

Once the story picks up, we're thrown into a whirlwind of suspense and danger. Mitch's journey from Rome to Libya is packed with intrigue, but it's not all smooth sailing. The multiple point-of-view narration adds depth to the tale, giving us a panoramic view of the unfolding drama. The references to Mitch's past in Memphis are a nice touch, reminding us of his journey in 'The Firm'. However, the plot's initial promise of a thrilling ride somewhat fizzles as the story progresses.

The book had potential, especially with its gripping start and the setup of a legal thriller in exotic locales. But it misses the mark in maintaining that initial momentum. The lack of a solid climax or a satisfying resolution left me a bit underwhelmed. Despite this, Grisham's fans might still find it worth a read--just don't expect the same level of heart-racing excitement as some of his other works.

It's a 3,5 for me rounded up to a 4! Thank you to the publisher for the eARC!

This is an intense and fast-paced follow-up to the Firm. It wasn’t my favorite Grisham book in that the plot was much different with focus on an international kidnapping. There wasn’t a real “wow” moment but it was still a fun read with a lot of suspense.

What you remember about “The Firm,” John Grisham’s 1991 bestseller, and its 1993 movie adaptation may be the same thing I remember — Mitch and Abby McDeere (Tom Cruise and Jeanne Tripplehorn in Sidney Pollack’s film) running for their lives after he ratted out his mob-infested Memphis law firm.

What happened then? I had not once wondered, but Grisham clearly had. Thirty-odd years later, the popular and prolific author offers up “The Exchange: After the Firm," which picks up with Mitch and Abby in 2005 and embroils them in a desperate quest to raise $100 million to ransom a young lawyer kidnapped in Libya.

That sounds more exciting than “The Exchange” turns out to be. This is an extremely talky book, driven by exposition rather than action. Because it is so description-heavy, even an attack of food poisoning is an action highlight, and the climax is more of a shrug than a bang.

This is 2005, remember, and Gaddafi is still in power in Libya. Mitch’s law firm is suing to collect the $600 million owed to its clients over construction of a bridge in the desert — a bridge with no water in sight. (This really happened. You could look it up.)

After a young associate who happens to be the daughter of a dying Italian partner in the firm is abducted on a visit to the bridge, all stops are pulled out to ransom her. Abby is roped in. Mitch flies all over the world. On and off planes. In and out of countries. “The Exchange” can produce jet lag requiring a long nap.

The Exchange, the newest release from John Grisham, is the long-awaited, not expected follow-up to The Firm. The Firm was impactful for it’s revitalizing the legal thriller genre and maxing it’s popularity. The Exchange is an interesting follow-up with plenty of Firm references. It’s indeed satisfying to see what happened to Mitch and Abby years later after their trauma in Tennessee. However, for most people, it’s been so long since they’ve read compulsive thriller, that the the anticipation isn’t quite there and it’s a stretch to recall more than the general premise.

The Exchange starts off fairly well, but loses some momentum as the pages progress. Mitch is a New York lawyer for an international firm and travels far and wide for his career. On an impulsive, not wholly necessary trip to Libya, Mitch’s associate is taken hostage and from there the horrors and plot to ransom and return her begin.

The bulk of this story is about gathering money, making meetings, taking trips and negotiating to free the kidnapped associate. It’s mired in politics between various governments and entities, is quite complex keeping track of who is who and why we care, and is sadly, rather dull. The Exchange is a mildly entertaining story, but the conclusion is predictable, the writing is a bit stilted, and though it is nice to see these characters again, it wasn’t quite what I hoped it would be.

Thank you NetGalley and Doubleday Books, Doubleday for accepting my request to read and review The Exchange (After The Firm).

Stars 2.5. The key was in the title, after the firm. There have been too many years since The Firm. As I read I visualized, without trying, the actors from the movie. They don't age. In addition, as I read I heard the movie voices. And, again they didn't age.

The story itself was farfetched and I was bored. Afterwards I chided myself. What did I expect? Actually, I expected what I got. The problem was I didn't think before requesting about the number of years that have passed and how time has changed, but the gangster Mitch went up against have not.

It's not horrible; however, I could have used my time better.

While it’s not quite as unputdownable as The Firm was for me, I enjoyed a look at what happened to Mitch and Abby after we left them last. It’s always fun for me to enter a Grisham world. Something about his storytelling that I find comfortable.

I admit the ending was anti-climactic and overall this wasn’t my favorite, but I’ll still tune in for his next book.

So thankful to @NetGalley for the ARC and to @doubledaybooks for the finished copy. ❤️