Special thanks to NetGalley and the author for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: October 17, 2023
“The Exchange” is John Grisham’s latest legal thriller, set fifteen years after “The Firm”, featuring the same protagonists, Mitch and Abby McDeere. Now, Mitch and Abby have started a new life with their twin boys, after escaping the mob and the catastrophic destruction of Mitch’s former Memphis law firm. Mitch is a successful attorney at one of the largest firms in the world and Abby is a cookbook editor and it isn’t until Mitch gets a call from a colleague in Rome, asking for a favour, that their protected world is once again thrown into chaos.
It has been many years since I read “The Firm”, so it wasn’t fresh in my mind. I vaguely remember the main characters, and the high points of the plot, but I don’t have enough recollection to speak to how much of a sequel this book actually is. Needless to say, I was able to enjoy this novel without having to have “The Firm” fresh in my mind.
This novel takes place all over the world; from Mitch and Abby’s home in New York, to Rome, Morrocco and Libya, so it definitely offers its fair share of exotic locales. Mitch works with his law firm to save Giovanna, a young up-and-coming lawyer who has been taken captive in Libya, and there’s a fair amount of tension and suspense. Of course, there’s a legal case at its core, so those looking for Grisham’s traditional legal storylines won’t be disappointed, but this time it’s an international case, which leads to Mitch’s ever-increasing frequent flyer miles.
I like the relationship between Mitch and Abby, and I became more engaged with this novel as it went on. I’m a sucker for non-traditional settings, and Libya and Morrocco are about as non-traditional as you can get. The ending played out the way I hoped it would and it was conclusive enough that readers won’t be left hanging for another fifteen years.
Grisham is a writing legend for a reason, and “The Exchange” is creative, sleek and modern. Whether it can be exclusively called a ‘sequel’ is up for debate, but it can definitely be read as a stand-alone, so readers can jump into this one without having to re-read “The Firm”.

John Grisham is an excellent storyteller and his latest book “The Exchange” is no exception. We once again meet up with Mitch and Abby McDeere in New York City. The Exchange takes us to Italy, England, Libya, Turkey and Grand Cayman as Mitch fights against time to save a legal associate. Quick and easy read I couldn’t put down.

I highly recommend this book!

Mitch McDeere is a partner in NY law firm Scully & Perishing, the largest firm in the world. As their high profile specialist he & his wife Abby have travelled the globe. Giovanna, a young lawyer is kidnapped while on assignment with Mitch. Her fate in captivity hinges on Mitch's ability to gather the $100Million ransom. Abby is dragged into delivery of the ransom making it extra personal to Mitch.

High tension suspense, thriller, action only John Grisham can make look easy to create made this a must read now experience.

The Firm is one of my favorite Grisham novels, and so, I was thrilled to see that we were once again entering the world of Mitch McDeere. In The Exchange, it's been fifteen years since we last saw Mitch and Abby, and they're now living in New York and working for a large, global law firm.

Many of Grisham's recent novels have leaned away from the legal thriller elements he was initially so well known for. So, I was curious to see where The Exchange (a sequel to one of his most famous legal thrillers) would take us. I felt momentarily concerned in the opening few chapters, as the plot felt very similar to past work. However, the book then took a massive detour, and instead of a death row case, Mitch spends the rest of 350 pages bouncing around between Libya, Rome, England, and the States to help release a kidnapped lawyer.

While there's no real courtroom drama within this story, I loved how Grisham once again set the story within an impressively large law firm (which feels reminiscent of his early work), yet, managed to give us a brand new type of story.

When Mitch's co-worker is kidnapped, Mitch takes it upon himself to help collect the necessary payment for the ransom demand. The writing is typical Grisham, and while I wouldn't classify this book as "fast-paced" as a long-time fan of the author, I thoroughly enjoyed being immersed in this world again.

Grisham will always be an auto-buy author for me, and this book didn't disappoint.

Thanks to the publisher for this gifted e-copy.

The Exchange is a sequel to John Grisham’s The Firm. I found the first quarter of the book was too much information unrelated to the premise of the story.
This book is 15 years after Mitch and Abby stole away in the night from Memphis, Tennessee and the Bendini law/crime firm. Mitch is now a partner with the Scully International law firm. He is sent to Europe & into a legal battle representing a construction firm wanting payment from Libya‘s Gaddafi following completion of a bridge.
The story gets going when Mitch’s good friend & associate Luca’s daughter, Giovanna together with a number of their security personnel are kidnapped.
There are failed rescue attempts with all but Giovanna being killed. Giovanna is to be exchanged for the ransom.
I kept waiting for a twist or suspense right up to the end but it never evolved. Majority of the story has Mitch traveling back-and-forth between cities, sitting in restaurants, meeting with political officials trying to come up with the ransom money.
I found the story to be very dry and totally lacking any suspense. The ending was disappointing and anti-climatic. While I really enjoyed Grisham’s The Firm, sadly the same cannot be said about this book.
My thanks to Netgallery and Double-Day publishing firm for an advanced copy of this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read this book, in exchange for an honest review. This follows up on the life of Mitch and Abby, who barely survived the book, 'The Firm'. Mitch is sent overseas to handle and huge contract and gets involved in a kidnapping for ransom. This was kind of long winded to me, alot of detail we didn't need in the story. It's a good plot, and I love John Grisham legal thrillers, however this wasn't a court room battle as I had hoped. I will, however, continue to read his books.

Grisham is back with another legal thriller that marks the return of Mitch McDeere the hero of the book The Firm. (I will forever see Tom Cruise as Mitch!) I loved the book and movie, so was so happy to receive a copy of this.
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I found this read like a movie script and certainly it was a treat to be in Mitch and Abby’s world again. I liked that the first bit of the novel is a “catch up” into what they have been up to in the 15 years since leaving Memphis, and the Bendini, Lambert and Locke Law Firm. Now he is with Scully and Pershing living in Manhattan. Once again Mitch has to stay one step ahead of impending chaos and potential harm to his colleagues, family and friends. As is typical for Grisham there is a big cast of characters to keep track of which I didn’t necessarily struggle with. Less courtroom drama in this novel, and more worldwide travel made this exciting. (Libya, Italy, London, Cayman Islands)
Would love to see this made into a movie. (Of course it has to be with Tom Cruise?)
4/5

Sigh- those looking for a legal thriller should know that this isn't it. It's a workmanlike thriller which does, indeed feature Mitch and Abby McDeere and pops once into Mitch's past but.....The premise- that Mitch now a high flying partner in the largest law firm in the world takes on a case for a Turkish engineering firm against Libya which hasn't paid for a bridge built by the Turkish company. Mitch, along with Giovanna, daughter of a beloved senior partner and an associate herself, head to Libya where Mitch mercifully has a horrible case of food poisoning and thus does not head off with Giovanna on the expedition that sees her kidnapped and their guards gruesomely murdered. Most of the novel is about the search for the $100 million in ransom demanded by the bad guys with a pretty good, albeit completely unrealistic role played by Abby who is approached in a coffee shop on the Upper East Side. Mitch travels, a lot, eats, a lot, and worries. All of it is written in Grisham's distinctively awkward style (which is especially awkward in the early pages). It is a compelling thriller in its way, mostly thanks to Abby, but there are huge plot holes and unanswered questions (and it would be a spoiler to reveal them). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A different sort of Grisham.

Grisham brings us another page turning, legal thriller with The Exchange. We revisit old memories of The Firm, while Mitch is trying to build a new life for himself and his family. Grisham makes his readers feel like they know the characters personally while coming along for a wild, international ride full of suspense. No Grisham fan will be disappointed with the Exchange and will be glued to the book the entire time.

The sequel to "The Firm" is now on my list of completed books. How many stars should I give this title? It is very different from its predecessor and that is good. Here are four great things about the sequel:
🌟 Mitch and Abby are still together and find another life-and-death challenge.
🌟Abby is a cookbook editor. Lots of great food descriptions
🌟 Their twin boys Clark and Carter.
🌟The globetrotting is epic.
🌟The ending is pure Mitch McDeere.

There are some loose ends that did not get tied up in the fashion I am accustomed to from Grisham. Perhaps there will be a third book?

Thank you to Doubleday and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you DoubleDay for The Exchange! I admit I requested this because The Firm was one of my first "grown up" books back in I guess it was the 8th grade (me being me even then read it before the movie came out). So there is a fondness for The Firm and I was so delighted to read a sequel.

It's been a while since I read a John Grisham book and this one felt a little more legal technical thriller than I recall his books being but again it's been a while... I recall in the past being more drawn into characters first, plot second, and here it felt mostly plot, less character and that left me feeling a little distant from the book. I still enjoyed the story though, really think Mitch McDeere is an interesting character and perhaps this is more just not the sequel I was expecting. There is international intrigue and a sense of uncertainty that Mitch did and will make the right decisions but it is also a bit flat.

The Exchange is a fast paced, quick read. While it is not the best written of Grisham’s books and there was a lack of character development, I enjoyed it for what it is, a mindless legal thriller. It was a good intermezzo between reading courses of more thought provoking books in my list.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest feedback.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

'The Firm' was one of my favoritevreads and I fell in love with Mitch and Abby. I was expecting to learn more about their lives after they left the Firm, but sadly not much had seemed to happen. I also expected more from Abby and the boys.

The book seemed slow at the begging. Picked up speed in the middle and rushed at the end. Guess I just had really high expectations because 'The Firm' was so spectacular.

'The Exchange' is a good team and I recommend, but don't expect a five star plus novel.

It is full of mystery, tension and exciting twists and turns.

If you are a Grisham fan you will most definitely want tobread!

I had to have this book once I found out it was bringing back Mitch McDeere, The Firm is the book that made me fall in love with Grisham novels. This one did not disappoint. I read it in one day because. I could not STOP! First of all, Mitch will get into a case that he simply can't turn away from. We have Abby back as well (I am so glad of that)...She kind of surprised me a bit at first (didn't like her character's directions) and then I loved the turn her character took and how she developed. Well done Mr. Grisham. Mitch was just as great as you remember him. Writing reviews for a thriller is hard because you don't wish to spoil anything, I will just say if you like Grisham, you will love this. If you have not read The Firm, do that before you read this book. I have read it so many times that I didn't miss a beat, but you might need to at least read the synopsis if it has been a while since you visited the Memphis-based book. All in all, I would not change a thing about this one. It wasn't what I expected and I think that is what I loved most. Give this one a whirl.

Thirty years later, here we are learning what came of Mitch from the book, The Firm. I think it would served me better reread the book so was oriented with Mitch again. It's been a long time away from this character.

Mitch is an attorney yet he's dashing around the world trying to free his kidnapped co-worker. He's also tapping the talents of his wife, who's a cookbook editor, to help him. Yeah this a bit was terribly unbelievable since not even the law was involved.

There is zero courtroom drama, no shocking twists or betrayals rather him negotiating with bad guys.
Not sure this installment was absolutely necessary for fans of The Firm.

Thank you Doubleday books for the complimentary copy.

John Grisham never disappoints and in this fast-paced thriller he keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Mitch McDeere and his family have settled in NYC and he is working for the largest law firm in the world. He has shaken the past of what happened in Memphis (all told in The Firm). Then he becomes involved in a case against the Libyan government and things go south very quickly!

What follows is a race against time to try and come up with a $100 million ransom to save an associate who has been kidnapped by Libyan thugs.

Thank you Netgalley and Doubleday Books for the chance to read and review this book.

I enjoyed this book. I re read The Firm in preparation for this sequel and it didn’t disappoint. It was fast paced and exciting.

It was nice to catch up with Mitch and Abbie and see what they had been up to.

Grisham takes the reader on a wild ride from New York to Rome and London and more exotic locales

He examines how a twist of fate can completely change your life and not necessarily for the better.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. I expected legal thriller but this was a kidnapping case with pages and pages of fundraising and globetrotting. Slow, unfullfilling read. Fans of Grisham will be disappointed.

I was so looking forward to reading The Exchange since it was a sequel to The Firm. I have to say, The Firm is the only book I’ve ever read that I actually skipped to the back pages just to see if the primary character was still alive. I didn’t want to see what happened, I just needed to see if he made it through the craziness that coursed through the pages. So I was rather disappointed to discover that The Exchange did not have me flipping through the pages quickly. You could actually read this as a standalone because it draws very little from Mitch McDeere’s time in the earlier book. I have enjoyed Grisham’s courtroom drama books in particular. This is definitely not part of that genre. It is really more of a spy thriller and that not is one I enjoy reading.

The Exchange was just an okay read. I wanted more from Mitch and it just didn’t flow from the previous book. I am sad to be disappointed in this read. But I’ll definitely be back for future books by John Grisham.

Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

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I love John Grisham books and I thought The Exchange was one of his best novels so far. This is an intriguing legal thriller, that is gripping and suspenseful.

This sequel brings back Mitch and Abby McDeere from Grisham's previous book The Firm. It is now 15 years later but there is enough reminders to what happened in The Firm that the reader is not lost at all. Mitch and a partner's daughter (another lawyer) Giovanna travel to Libya to recover money owed to their client but things don’t go exactly as planned. There is a kidnapping, demands of a huge ransom, threats and beheadings in this multilayer story. Will Mitch and Abbey be able to get the money in the short time the kidnappers have given?

The book has so many aspects that are true to things going on in the world today that it makes for a great read. I would highly recommend this book. John Grisham spins a great mystery that was hard to put down.

Thanks NetGalley and Doubleday Books for an advanced copy of The Exchange.