The Brethren

This was a surprisingly dull book with a predictable plot that unfolded over many pages. Thankfully, the CIA shenanigans kept me entertained and Teddy Maynard quickly became my favourite character. I'm also uncomfortable by the patently immoral ending: this is the second of Grisham's that I've read where ethics are sacrificed for the story. In this case, I was not entertained.
I will say, though, it's amazing that the book was published before 9/11. Grisham certainly has the pulse on current events and all but predicted the terrible attacks. In this sense, it is a fascinating read of politics and backroom manipulations.

Surprisingly (for a Grisham novel), this was poorly plotted with too many implausible scenarios to carry the theme forward (a closet gay as a presidential candidate, jailed judges running a scam). The detailed path of an unknown candidate for President (USA), could have been a lot more succinct. Surely all those 'romp to success' campaign stops didn't need such detail. Then there was a layer of idiocy in having a top-of-the-line jet airplane catch fire ~ so ridiculously contrived to create a reveal. And why make out that the main character (Aaron Lake) was suddenly so inept?

On the plus side, some of the characterizations were excellent. Grisham brought the lawyer, Trevor Carson, to life in showing what an an unlikable idiot he was, show more thoroughly inept and motivated by greed. The prison situation was rather amusing, though the judges were somewhat cardboard characters. Less said about the flat-lined dénouement, the better. show less

Three incarcerated judges conceive of a money-making scam they are able to run from federal prison: enticing closeted gay men to write to the fictional "Ricky" and "Percy" and then extort money by threatening to expose their predilections. Meanwhile, Aaron Lake is a senator selected by the CIA to run for President on a platform of doubling the defense budget (this was clearly written prior to the 2000 elections). The intersection of these two stories is entertaining as well as suspenseful as the CIA is expending a multitude of resources surveilling three bumbling elderly felons trying to figure out what they know and attempting to contain the fallout.

Having read (and/or listened to) an astonishing 36 of John Grisham's novels, I can't be surprised that among them would be some that don't warrant the 3.5 to 4.5 stars that I usually award to his work. In abridged audio format, I found "The Brethren" to be somewhat disappointing. At 6 hours in listening duration, it wasn't long enough for me to find it absorbing, but meanwhile, the plot didn't intrigue me enough to want more. The novel features a trio of incarcerated former judges who spend their jail time seeking to blackmail wealthy, closeted gay men that they entrap through magazine ads. The get into real trouble in trying to ensnare Congressman Anthony Lake, who turns out to be a CIA puppet that the agency is promoting for the US show more Presidency. The CIA director is appalled by the reduction in military spending and hopes to install Lake as president. His plans include instigation of terrorist attacks and the collection of heavy financial support from weapons manufacturers who will gain enormous profits from Lake's election. The two plots didn't mesh well, at least in the abridged audio version, and the story never quite engaged my belief and interest. In addition, none of the characters was likeable or admirable, and actions of the blackmailing trio of incarcerated judges was especially odious. Further, the ending was something of a dud, as if the author tired of the story. I may try the written version sometime to see if I've judged the work fairly. show less

I love a Grisham novel. His characters are flawed and well drawn. The pace is always tight and the ending credible. And who wouldn't believe the CIA couldn't manipulate the country into voting in a President of their choosing!

Grisham has to be one of the most cynical authors writing legal fiction today. Everyone is corrupt, thinking only of himself, and money rules.

The "Brethren" are three ex-judges who have been incarcerated in a minimum security federal prison for a variety of avaricious crimes. While in prison, they procure the services of Trevor, a greedy little lawyer who agrees to act as the go-between in a dirty scheme to extort money from gay men who are fearful of being outed. Trevor bribes the prison guards to look the other way while he "smuggles" in forbidden documents and deposits their ill-begotten proceeds in an off-shore bank account. It's all very sordid.

A subplot, that becomes mixed with the affairs of the Brethren concerns Teddy Maynard, show more director of the CIA, who, appalled by the fall of communism and the concomitant reduction in military spending, conspires to find a candidate of suitable malleability, whom he can groom to be the next president. Aaron Lake, handsome, widowed, a light drinker, with no political baggage, seems the perfect choice. Just to be on the safe side, though, Maynard has Lake followed everywhere. By instigating terrorist actions at the appropriate time, and collecting huge amounts of money from weapons manufacturers who stand to reap huge profits from Lake's sole campaign promise: to double the defense budget; Maynard assures that Lake soon has a commanding lead over the vice-president, the previous front runner. Maynard will stop at nothing, including orchestrating a murder, to realize his dream of controlling the president.

While following Lake, Maynard's agents discover he has a PO Box hidden away. They "borrow" the mail - notice the CIA has already been involved in several gross violations of the law, all in the name of national security - and discover to their horror that their "perfect" candidate is conducting a surreptitious correspondence with a young man looking for a wealthy male gigolo. We know that the young man, Ricky" is really the creation of the Brethren. The Brethren, always careful, learn who "AL" really is, and see a huge windfall in the making. What better extortion candidate than someone running for president. Soon they realize that there is a third party involved, a very powerful group of men, but they are determined to make the most of the situation. The ending, which I won't reveal, is less a blockbuster than a revelation of Grisham's sordid view of the world. show less

You have the three judges, who are locked away in a very low security prison in Florida. One for tax evasion, one for skimming bingo money and one for killing two hikers while driving drunk. Of the three, the only one that has any personality is the youngest, (in his fifties), Joe Roy Spicer. The other two, Finn Yarber and Hatlee Beech, play more of a supporting role. (I love the names!) The three collectively are known as "The Brethren" by the other inmates. These guys are smart and come up with a plan to extort gay men through letter writing and magazine adds with made up names. They find out their identities and the wealthy ones, then they begin to extort money in exchange for silence. Now, remember this is a low security Prison. But show more since they are in prison, they need an outside contact. Enter Trevor Carson. Trevor is a sleezy, lazy, and drunken, lawyer, who does not seem to do much in the way of law. He's a fun character though. You'll like and pity him.

Then there is Senator Aaron Lake, and CIA Director Teddy Manyard. Early on, Teddy convinces Lake to run for President after the caucuses are settled. He tells him to preach one single message: America is dropping the ball and cutting too much money on the military. This is obviously well before the events of 9/11.

So, how do the plots combine? It really takes only a minute to figure this one out. It is outlandish, but a fun read.

I did not like the way it ended. I had my ending in my head, but it rather abruptly just ended. It was almost as if a Grisham intended to write a sequel. show less