Mitch McDeere is just graduating from Harvard Law School when this book begins. He graduates 3rd in his class and has received offers from several law firms in New York. He visits a 40-lawyer law firm in Memphis. There he is made a vastly more lucrative offer which assists with studying for the bar exam, shortens the time to partner, provides a BMW, and help with locating and purchasing a house. He and his wife, Abby, decide to take that offer. The day he begins, two of the firm's lawyers are killed in a diving accident. The law firm does primary tax law, which is Mitch's interest also. When he begins, he works on Avery Tolar's, one of the partners, client load and immediately turns in many billable hours. He works from 5:30 am until very late at night. Wife Abby is not happy with this. She gets a job as a teacher at a private school in Memphis. The firm is very controlling, bugging his home, his telephones, his office and phones, and even his car. One lunchtime he is approached by Wayne Tarrance, an FBI man, telling him to be careful because they are listening to everything he says and does. Tarrance wants him to help bring down a crime family from Chicago, the Morolto family, who are the real owners of The Firm in Memphis. He is befriended by Lamar Quinn, another lawyer at the firm. He and Abby become friends with the Quinn family. When Mitch begins to suspect that no one leaves this firm without dying and suspects the multiple deaths were not accidents or suicide, he starts investigating. Unfortunately, the investigator, Eddie Lomax, he hires is killed, but he hires Tammy Hemphill, the investigator's secretary, to help collect the evidence needed for the FBI to bring down this crime family. He makes a deal for 2 million dollars and the freedom of his brother, Ray McDeers, who has 7 years left on a term for murder. The rest of the book tells about how Mitch and Abby collect the evidence and run for their lives. ( )

Loved the plot loved the writing. But had to take a star away for the pace. There were just too many chapters that seemed to drag out between Mitch and Abby. ( )

I had read this novel way back in the mid-1990s, much before I was on Goodreads. The release of the sequel prompted me to pick it up again (paired with the audiobook this time). One of my favorites from John Grisham, I enjoyed it this time as much as I did over twenty-five years ago. The only difference is that this time, I could visualize the setting having visited Memphis, The Peabody (loved those ducks!) and The Rendezvous (the food is delicious!). It was fun to be able to relate to those experiences!

Mitch McDeere, fresh out of Harvard Law School passes up the opportunity to work on Wall Street for a small firm in Memphis, Bendini, Lambert & Locke, with an enviable salary, benefits, and ample opportunity for growth. Mitch promptly packs up and moves to Memphis with his wife Abby. Little did he know then that The Firm was being covertly investigated by the FBI for financial crimes and links to the mob and he would be right in the middle of it all, endangering his career and his life. The narrative follows Mitch as he looks for a way out before it is too late.

The Firm by John Grisham is surely one of his best works and one that has stood the test of time. Despite this being a second reading, I was immersed in the story until the very end. Well-thought-out characters, consistent pacing, a gripping plot, and Grisham’s masterful storytelling – what more could we ask for? Could not recommend this novel enough!

I paired my reading with the audio narration by Scott Brick which made for an entertaining immersion reading experience! ( )

The legal firm in this book is a horrible place. I only wanted the lead character to find a way out, but it took too long to be very enjoyable. This is one of the volumes that made me suspicious of any long book. ( )

Of all Grisham's novels, The Firm is one of his best. Engaging, evocative and filled with surprises, it takes the reader on a journey into the 'dark' world of a law firm immersed in illegitimate enterprise, aka paradox. I read this book when it first came out, so memory of details isn't spot on. That said, the film adaptation has been one of my favorites, Tom Cruise aside :) Regardless, I'm a fan of Grisham's storytelling, his remarkable knowledge of law, trials, and all things associated. ( )