I haven't read a John Grisham book since I was in Junior High, but I enjoyed them then, so I was expecting a lot from The Rainmaker. On some level, it delivered, but it was a mixed bag. The problem is the book concentrates on the life of the main character Rudy Baylor much more than the legal drama side of the novel, in contrast to what I remember about Grisham's other books. The first two hundred pages drag on as the character deals with personal issues I found difficult to care about. When we finally see Rudy Baylor sue the villain of the story, insurance titan Great Benefit, the book changes completely. It is a page-turner and you can't put it down.

There are some great moments, some of the best court room drama Grisham has written. But because of the lackluster beginning, it's hard to fully endorse this book. ( )

If ever there were a more poignant book for the times, I don't know that it would be. This is a well-crafted, eye-opening veiw of the insurance industry that should be mandatory reading. ( )

This is a great book to read. Its story is captivating and makes you want to read more about the key characters. Once halfway through the book all you want to know is the ending and have to read the rest as soon as possible. ( )

This is my favorite Grisham novel, and in my opinion the last good novel he ever wrote. Everything afterwords seems to be formula writing.

Highly recommended. ( )

I loved this book, finally, the insurance company gets its due. I also loved the movie . ( )