Book Review - The Associate (John Grisham)

What do you expect from a John Grisham Novel? Complex maneuvering of law, legal procedures, scams behind some of the most common elections, all to the most minute details but still easy enough for a layman to understand and gripping enough to keep you glued to the book till you have finished it. Would you expect from him the same story of fresh associate being abused by long working hours, poor quality work and all the stuff that rookie writers produce after leaving either an investment bank or a wall street law firm after couple of years of abuse, basically to convince themselves and the rest of the world that they have made a right choice. This time grisham comes with same stuff with the only difference that the associate had an skeleton in his closet and was blackmailed to get the secrets of the firm he was working for. This could still make the story spellbinding and in the beginning gave some indications that this could very well be like The Firm, in which the protagonist was sharp enough to get himself out of the trouble with some really intelligent and brave tactics. Not this time though. The Protagonist Kyle did not appear to have enough intelligence and daring to come out of the predicament himself. Grisham this time has been unable to pull through any twist and turns in the tale, nor did he at any moment managed to surprise the reader. The readers would have expected unusual end from a really high IQ writer but the end comes out to be the most unfulfilling part of the book and gives an impression that what happens was the most obvious act in this situation and point out the absurdity of the whole story.

Another weak point of the story was the likability of the characters. These kind of story demands a likable protagonist, to which reader could relate and have some sympathy. Grisham has produced this kind of characters in the past whenever required, be it The Firm, The Partner or the recent The Appeal, but Kyle of The Associate is not the one, with his skewed relationship with the girlfriend, high accomplishments but lack of intelligence could not make any impact on the reader. The only character likable enough was Kyle's friend Baxter, an alcoholic who renounces alcohol and in his ascetic life is out to make up with everyone whom he has hurt, but his character is not as important to be developed further.

The verdict on this could be two stars over five. You could read this book on long train journey if nothing else is available but don't get disappointed if you meet a dead end of your anticipation in the end.