It Is A Great Story, But Not A Great Undertaking

I listen to every book Grisham wrote over and over again. At my age, I can safely hide my own Easter eggs, so my favorite books become new again in 7 or 8 months. Every Grisham book except this one. Scott Brick's narration style just does not sit well with me. His voice lilts like a Sunday School teacher's in a class of 6 year olds. Is he singing or narrating? However, other Grisham narrators like Michael Beck and Frank Muller are without peer, so I am jaded. Not about the talent, rather the story, you might say? Not so in audio books. Narration makes ALL the difference. I guess Ed Herrmann can't read 'em all, and John Boutsikakis, perhaps the best ever, left us way too early. Brick had the deck stacked against him before I hit play button. I am forever spoiled by favorite talent that I have come to enjoy immensely.

The movie was very good, and departs from the novel more than most scripts do. I liked the book just fine, but not better in this case. When I read, or the one time I listened, I saw in my mind Cruise & Brimley and the others. The story transports the reader very well, and the addition of side trips like McDeere's brother Ray, and the PI Eddie Lomax really enrich the plot. The reader FEELS the gradual swing of the pendulum as Mitch McDeere goes from exuberant new hire at the Firm, to a realization that all is not as it was represented to him, to fugitive from both the law and the mob. The action never ebbs, the story never bogs down, and the reader finds himself hanging on for dear life and loving every minute of it. The one somewhat less than believable character is Mitch's wife Abby. Her inner resolve and strength seemed to evolve from out of nowhere.

It is a good read, and the movie is very good, which is a rare thing in the inevitable "translation" give and take, but in audio it is not up to par. Still, I must recommend the book rather than the audio. Grisham’s “The Testament” is my all time favorite and listened to often.

45 people found this helpful

The Firm is a CLASSIC!!!

I read The Firm in the 90's. it's always stuck with me, even the the movie wasn't very good. I decided to listen to the book that I read in 2 days 15 years ago, and I was hooked. I would sit in my car listening, take my Zune around and listen, it's just fantastic.

23 people found this helpful

Could have wrapped it up in about half the time

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend it if you have a lot of time and patience to listen to the whole thing.

Would you ever listen to anything by John Grisham again?

Yes. Excellent writing.

Have you listened to any of Scott Brick’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Not really.

Any additional comments?

It was a little too predictable. About halfway through the book, I had it all figured out and was ready for it to be over. But... it's a million times better than the movie.

10 people found this helpful

One of the best thrillers ever!

After reading this addictive mystery-thriller many years ago, I decided to revisit this story through the audiobook. This audiobook was amazing. Great reading. Riveting plot. Mitch McDeere, a Harvard law School star, takes a too-good-to-be-true job with a law firm in Memphis. Questions arise as the body count builds, and Mitch and his wife need to figure out what's going on and how to stay alive. Unlike so many thrillers these days, there is one plot, and it is strong enough to keep me glued to this story from start to end. I've read or listened to hundreds of books of this genre, and this is in a small handful of the most fun and very best. It is up there with Finder's "Paranoia" and Baldacci's" Absolute Power." If you are looking for the best escape-reading thriller, listen to or read "The Firm." I won't say more. I don't want to be a spoiler. If you haven't read or listened to "The Firm," do it!

30 people found this helpful

30 years later you’d be hard put to find a better thriller

This has it all. Intrigue, suspense, action, drama. Forget the movie. Here’s a story that will just keep you going. So I’ll put it away for a while and when I need a truly good story I’ll break it out.

John Grisham is a master story teller. I feel like I know these characters; Mitch, Abby, Lamar, Terrance, Avery, the girl from Nashville. They are all like friends. Even Devasher... he might be a slime ball but I know him.

Think I’ll head to rendezvous for some ribs, then south to the emerald coast.

8 people found this helpful

Not a Grisham fan - this definitely an exception

Where does The Firm rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Out of a couple of dozen I've listened to on Audible and as an avid reader all my 83 years it is a 8
Remember that I was not a Grisham fan. I chose to listen because Scott Brick is an exceptional narrator and I have chosen other novels because he has been the narrator.I never saw the movie but remember that it was a great hit at the time of its release.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The plot did keep me wanting to listen and not put the book down but near the denoument it started to weaken and become more implausible. I found the ending trite after all the excitement and excellent building of suspense. But as we all know reading is very subjective and another reader/listener may feel entirely different about my last statement. Mr Brick made it sound almost plausible with his excellent reading but I felt that the writer was struggling to please his audience.

Have you listened to any of Scott Brick’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

As I have said earlier I have chosen to read an authour who is new to me or who I have not been to excited about simply because Scott Brick was the narrator. Sufficeth to say he is superb as always and I rate him #1 amongst his field.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not particularly but as said before it held my attention while I was listening.

Any additional comments?

My favourite authours are David Baldacci, Stuart Woods, and Jeffrey Deavers Lincoln Rhimes series.
I had not seen the film The Firm and will not spoil my enjoyment of the book by seeking it out now. The only book I ever read and the movie industry didn't foul it up in some way was The Hunt for Red October!

12 people found this helpful

Good Grisham Tale

As most fans know, John Grisham writes about 3 or 4 stock stories over and over again with only slight variants. If you like them (and I do) this is OK. I don't know how Grisham does it, but even though you know exactly what's going to happen as soon as you finish the first chapter, you still hang on as if you didn't to the very end. The Firm is 100% vintage Grisham and a real page-turner. Scott Brick is one of the best readers in the business IMHO.

12 people found this helpful

Excellent Audio Book and Story!

If you could sum up The Firm in three words, what would they be?

Realistic, Suspense and Scary. This book has all three and is highly enjoyable.

What other book might you compare The Firm to and why?

Comparable to "The Chamber" also by John Grisham. Fast becoming one of my favorite authors!

Which character – as performed by Scott Brick – was your favorite?

The main character.. brilliant stuff

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely. Extremely hard to put down and stop listening to. Many a night I would be up until 2 or 3 in the morning listening to this book because I found it so interesting it didn't help me get to sleep - quite the opposite in fact.

Any additional comments?

Grisham is a brilliant author and I love his books. Highly recommended!

8 people found this helpful

Still love it!

I'm not much of a Grisham fan -- not of the legal thrillers, anyway. But several of his stand-alone books (A Painted Cabin, The Girl Who Loved Tom Jones, etc etc) are some of the finest fiction being written today. Clearly he is one of our most gifted writers working today. So what to do about The Firm -- which is classified, anyway, as a legal thriller. Yes or no?

I'd read it years ago, with pretty much an "eh", response, although it never would have occurred to me to quit reading. But listen to it? After all these years? Oh, sure. Why not?

I'm glad I did. It's wonderful as an audiobook, in spite of Scott Brick, who adopts a rather strange tone for this narration. But listening to it all make it all come alive again, with all the twists and turns, the three-deep deceptions, the unexpected things that worked, to bring about the ultimate result -- and the things that didn't work.

It's a great book. Full stop. And I know I'll listen to this one again. Best use of 17 hours I can think of....

6 people found this helpful

The classic novel that got Grisham noticed.

A classic no doubt, though I've heard the film is better than the book, and that might be true. Haven't seen the film version yet. Scott Brick is amazing as always. One of my favorite narrators, though others disagree, but that's their opinion.

1 person found this helpful