| The Associate |  | Author: John Grisham
Publisher: Doubleday
List Price: $27.95
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Seller: Macs Books
Rating:  664 reviews
Sales Rank: 53,313
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1ST
Pages: 384
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 9.4 x 6.5 x 1.3
ISBN: 0385517831
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780385517836
ASIN: 0385517831
Publication Date: January 27, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
As an idealistic law student and editor-in-chief of the Yale Law Journal, Kyle McAvoy has the promise of a highly successful career in his future, although after graduation he intends to devote three years to public service before applying for employment with a prestigious firm. His plans are derailed when he is approached by the mysterious Bennie Wright, who has a videotape of a party that took place in Kyle's apartment five years earlier, when he was an undergraduate student. In it, two of Kyle's fraternity brothers, Joey Bernardo and Baxter Tate, are seen having sexual relations with Elaine Keenan, a coed who later claimed she was raped while unconscious, a charge seemingly supported by Joey asking Baxter "Is she awake?" on the tape. At the time, the incident was investigated by local police, who determined there had been no assault and declined to take further action. With the tape now in his possession, Bennie threatens to expose Kyle's secret unless he cooperates with him and his associates.
Constantly under surveillance while outdoors and living in an apartment in which he knows bugs and cameras have been hidden, Kyle slowly learns how to trick those who are trailing him into believing he is unaware of their presence. He seeks help from Joey, who has more to lose than Kyle does if the videotape is made public, and with his old friend as a somewhat unwilling accomplice, plots to outwit his blackmailer. What he doesn't anticipate is the re-emergence of Elaine, who still maintains she was raped, and Baxter, who has completed a lengthy stint in rehab and, as part of his twelve-step program, wants to make amends to the girl he raped. His admission of guilt will give Elaine the proof she needs to file charges, and with Kyle drawn into the spotlight, his position at Scully & Pershing will be jeopardized, a risk Bennie must eliminate by any means.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 664
 Padding January 29, 2009
J. Brian Watkins (San Dimas, CA United States)
262 out of 283 found this review helpful
Mr. Grisham is padding his billing sheet with The Associate, which seems almost to have been ghost-written. It reflects little of the talent behind The Partner, my favorite Grisham novel and, frankly, it made me somewhat upset to have spent 27 bucks. I would have been disappointed to buy this one in paperback. Time was that you started a Grisham novel and couldn't put it down. Had I not been stuck in an airport en route from a deposition I would not have had the patience to finish.
This book was like my sixth grade term paper; we all had them, you would count the words until you got to the end. Likewise, although there was some great potential in this story it was not realized. Sure, there were half-hearted attempts to bring other characters to life, but they were all just that, half-hearted. The ending was among the most disappointing that I have ever come across--in any genre.
Nobody learns anything. There is no character progression--just a slow moving train wreck from which nobody emerges having been enlightened. In fact, the reader feels much like our protagonist--forced to endure a journey that was expected to be something completely different and not entirely sure how to escape. Heavens, big law firms are such a deliciously evil mix of stunningly warped personalities and distorted goals that any number of excellent thrillers could be drawn from facts known to just about any lawyer.
I do hope that Mr. Grisham rediscovers the joy of telling a story--he is very good at it; however, I cannot recommend this book.
 Potential unfulfilled! February 10, 2009
rgregg (Marina Del Rey, CA)
72 out of 77 found this review helpful
John Grisham can be one heck of a novelist when he sets his mind to it. But "The Associate" comes across as a bit lazy and unfocused. This story of a young and bright law student who is the victim of a blackmail scheme just wanders for a while and then kind of plops down in the end. I will admit that I found much of the writing interesting but it seems that Grisham wants to tell the reader the difficulties and detail of working for a massive law firm without adding any suspense or proper conclusion to the tale. Maybe he plans a sequel (?) which could be fairly dynamic but this book can be summed up fairly simply.
1. Kyle wants to work in the law.
2. Bad guy threatens Kyle with video and blackmails him to steal information from major legal firm. (Who is the bad guy? You'll never know.)
3. Kyle reluctantly cooperates.
4. Lots of meetings with bad guy and hero going over dull details.
5. Kyle agonizes
6. One moment of horror when a character dies (Who killed him? You'll never know)
7. Will Kyle execute plan of bad guy?
8. Then a completely deflating climax. (Believe me, you'll be sorely disappointed.)
There is a comparison on the book jacket to "The Firm" a previous Grisham hit novel. My advice, read "The Firm". If you must read this book, wait for the paperback to be on sale at the used bookstore near you.
Disappointed January 29, 2009
avid mystery reader (south carolina)
112 out of 126 found this review helpful
I have read every one of John Grisham's books and was looking forward to this one, however, after finishing it last night, I must say I was very disappointed. The ending (which, of course, I won't give away) was very lame. He spent a lot of time on the big bad law firms abusing the associates and not enough on the real story of Kyle and who were these people who were ruining his life. I would definitely not recommend it.
Very Disappointing February 12, 2009
Adam Segel (Boston, MA)
34 out of 37 found this review helpful
I've been a longtime fan of Grisham and this novel was utterly terrible. There was no connection with the characters, it dragged on and on with no point, and then ended so spectacularly badly that I was searching for a missing page or something, unable to believe that was the end.
He has written many good books, and no doubt will again, but don't waste your time with this one.
 Same old, same old.... January 27, 2009
Dusty Sanchez
68 out of 80 found this review helpful
John Grisham has been saying that this new book is similar to The Firm. This is only true in the sense that it has a young protagonist. Does he not understand what it is that people liked about The Firm and A Time to Kill? While The Associate is fun to read and a page-turner, the characters are the same old stereotypes as in all the later Grisham books. There are no detailed descriptions of anything. I hate to say it, but I think John Grisham is wasting his talent, even being a little bit lazy.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 664
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