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The Associate (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: law frm, third foor, cofee shop, Scully Pershing, New York, Brother Manny (more...)
2.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (542 customer reviews)

List Price: $27.95
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  Hardcover, January 26, 2009 $18.45 $2.98 $0.01
  Paperback, Large Print $18.45 $16.12 $14.76
  Mass Market Paperback, September 21, 2009 $9.99 $2.88 $2.22
  Audio, CD, Abridged, Audiobook $23.00 $4.93 $4.55
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Vintage Grisham
Read the first chapter of The Associate, John Grisham's new legal thriller. Visit Amazon's John Grisham Page.

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Bestseller Grisham's contemporary legal thriller offers an action-and-suspense plot reminiscent of that of his breakout book, 1991's The Firm, in contrast to 2008's didactic The Appeal, which served as a platform for his concerns about the corrupting effects of judicial elections. Kyle McAvoy, a callow Yale Law School student, dreams of a public service gig on graduation, until shadowy figures blackmail him with a videotape that could revive a five-year-old rape accusation. Instead of helping those in need, McAvoy accepts a position at a huge Wall Street firm, Scully & Pershing, whose clients include a military contractor enmeshed in a $800 billion lawsuit concerning a newly-designed aircraft. McAvoy can avoid exposure of his past if he feeds his new masters inside information on the case. Readers should be prepared for some predictable twists, an ending with some unwarranted ambiguity and some unconvincing details (the idea that a secret file room in a high stakes litigation case would be closed from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. every night stretches credulity to the breaking point). Still, Grisham devotees should be satisfied, even if this is one of his lesser works.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


From Bookmarks Magazine

Critics agree with Entertainment Weeklythat The Associate"is vintage Grisham, for better or worse, made timely with its sorry portrait of what passes for everyday ethics on Wall Street." Like his previous novels, The Associateis heavy on readability, predictability, and pace, and lighter on character development, scene setting, and style—no surprises here. Fans of Grisham cited masterfully drawn characters and page-turning subplots, but less enthusiastic reviewers faulted stock villains, a rather mysterious Kyle, and implausible storylines. Timeeven claimed that unlike Michael Crichton or Scott Turow, who "wrestle with actual issues," Grisham deals with, well, nothing. Still, you know what you're getting into with The Associate, for better or for worse.
Copyright 2009 Bookmarks Publishing LLC

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 384 pages
  • Publisher: Doubleday; First Edition edition (January 27, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0385517831
  • ISBN-13: 978-0385517836
  • Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 2.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (542 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,123 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

    #3 in  Books > Mystery & Thrillers > Authors, A-Z > ( G ) > Grisham, John
    #17 in  Books > Mystery & Thrillers > Thrillers > Legal

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Customer Reviews

542 Reviews
5 star:
 (59)
4 star:
 (59)
3 star:
 (109)
2 star:
 (150)
1 star:
 (165)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
2.4 out of 5 stars (542 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
198 of 217 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars Padding, January 28, 2009
By J. Brian Watkins (San Dimas, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)      
Mr. Grisham is padding his billing sheet with The Associate, which seems almost to have been ghost-written. It reflects little of the talent behind The Partner, my favorite Grisham novel and, frankly, it made me somewhat upset to have spent 27 bucks. I would have been disappointed to buy this one in paperback. Time was that you started a Grisham novel and couldn't put it down. Had I not been stuck in an airport en route from a deposition I would not have had the patience to finish.

This book was like my sixth grade term paper; we all had them, you would count the words until you got to the end. Likewise, although there was some great potential in this story it was not realized. Sure, there were half-hearted attempts to bring other characters to life, but they were all just that, half-hearted. The ending was among the most disappointing that I have ever come across--in any genre.

Nobody learns anything. There is no character progression--just a slow moving train wreck from which nobody emerges having been enlightened. In fact, the reader feels much like our protagonist--forced to endure a journey that was expected to be something completely different and not entirely sure how to escape. Heavens, big law firms are such a deliciously evil mix of stunningly warped personalities and distorted goals that any number of excellent thrillers could be drawn from facts known to just about any lawyer.

I do hope that Mr. Grisham rediscovers the joy of telling a story--he is very good at it; however, I cannot recommend this book.




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93 of 106 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed, January 29, 2009
By avid mystery reader (south carolina) - See all my reviews
I have read every one of John Grisham's books and was looking forward to this one, however, after finishing it last night, I must say I was very disappointed. The ending (which, of course, I won't give away) was very lame. He spent a lot of time on the big bad law firms abusing the associates and not enough on the real story of Kyle and who were these people who were ruining his life. I would definitely not recommend it.
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38 of 41 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars Potential unfulfilled!, February 10, 2009
By rgregg (Marina Del Rey, CA) - See all my reviews
John Grisham can be one heck of a novelist when he sets his mind to it. But "The Associate" comes across as a bit lazy and unfocused. This story of a young and bright law student who is the victim of a blackmail scheme just wanders for a while and then kind of plops down in the end. I will admit that I found much of the writing interesting but it seems that Grisham wants to tell the reader the difficulties and detail of working for a massive law firm without adding any suspense or proper conclusion to the tale. Maybe he plans a sequel (?) which could be fairly dynamic but this book can be summed up fairly simply.
1. Kyle wants to work in the law.
2. Bad guy threatens Kyle with video and blackmails him to steal information from major legal firm. (Who is the bad guy? You'll never know.)
3. Kyle reluctantly cooperates.
4. Lots of meetings with bad guy and hero going over dull details.
5. Kyle agonizes
6. One moment of horror when a character dies (Who killed him? You'll never know)
7. Will Kyle execute plan of bad guy?
8. Then a completely deflating climax. (Believe me, you'll be sorely disappointed.)
There is a comparison on the book jacket to "The Firm" a previous Grisham hit novel. My advice, read "The Firm". If you must read this book, wait for the paperback to be on sale at the used bookstore near you.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars The beginning of a series about McAvoy & McAvoy, father and son attorneys?
As usual I enjoy most books by John Grisham, and this novel is not an exception to that enjoyment. The book reminded me of the Sackett novels by the master story teller Louis... Read more
Published 18 hours ago by vilnius researcher

1.0 out of 5 stars Worst Ending Ever!!!!
I was given this book before boarding an airplane by my father in law because he just couldn't get into it after 4 chapters. Read more
Published 3 days ago by M. Sherman

2.0 out of 5 stars Drop this book like the author dropped the plot
I was enjoying reading this book, despite the implausible plot (aren't many of them implausible?), and looking forward to seeing how Grisham would unravel the mystery he sets up... Read more
Published 3 days ago by Ian Y. Lind

1.0 out of 5 stars Lame Attempt At A Story Plot
I think I have read most of John Grisham's novels, but if this is all he has left in the tank I will probably pass on the next one. Read more
Published 3 days ago by My Opinion

4.0 out of 5 stars A walk on the Moneyed side
I am surprised many found this novel very slight. I found it to be very interesting; a little slow maybe but still above just average. Read more
Published 9 days ago by David A. Spearman

3.0 out of 5 stars Grisham appears to be going on a downward curve
At a time where Grisham's fans seem to think that they have seen the best of his work, came The Associate. Read more
Published 10 days ago by C. Warner

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing effort
The Associate seems to have been written on autopilot. John Grisham has written most of this stuff before - law students deciding to chase dollars instead of change the world,... Read more
Published 12 days ago by Moonlight Graham

1.0 out of 5 stars Slightly better than the air-sick bag....
As I neared the end of "The Associate", I kept waiting for that plot twist that was going to make this book suddenly get a spark and end on a decent note. It never came. Read more
Published 12 days ago by Chris R. Hotz

2.0 out of 5 stars not bad for a first draft
this novel has many flaws and it's no wonder it is disappointing people who expect better based on Grisham's previous works. Read more
Published 13 days ago by hmmmm

3.0 out of 5 stars Realistic & Anti-Climatic
After reading more than likely six or seven of Grisham's novels, The Associate, seems to be an attempt by the author at absolute Realism, that is to say, life does not always... Read more
Published 13 days ago by C. Middleton

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