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The Firm / The Pelican Brief
The Firm
Mitchell McDeere, raised in the coal-mining region of rural Kentucky, has worked hard to get where he is: third in his class at Harvard Law. He's young. He's bright. He's ambitious. Mitch could have the pick of the big firms in New York and Chicago, but he's chosen the Memphis tax firm of Bendini, Lambert & Locke. They're selective. They pay outrageous salaries. They have a turnover rate of zero. And Mitch is about to find out why.Several events fuel Mitch's growing suspicions: two of the partners die in a suspicious diving accident off Grand Cayman; the senior partners seem unduly proud of the fact that no one has ever resigned; and security measures at the office are, even for a company with billionaire clients, more than a little extreme. Then Mitch makes an explosive discovery: The firm is owned and operated by the most powerful organized crime family in Chicago. Even as Mitch discovers the truth, he finds himself caught between the FBI, who wants an informant inside the firm, and the firm itself, which will make him a very rich man—or a very dead one.
The Pelican Brief
In suburban Georgetown a killer's Reeboks whisper on the front floor of a posh home... In a seedy D.C. porno house a patron is swiftly garroted to death... The next day America learns that two of its Supreme Court justices have been assassinated. And in New Orleans, a young law student prepares a legal brief... To Darby Shaw it was no more than a legal shot in the dark, a brilliant guess. To the Washington establishment it was political dynamite. Suddenly Darby is witness to a murder -- a murder intended for her. Going underground, she finds there is only one person she can trust -- an ambitious reporter after a newsbreak hotter than Watergate -- to help her piece together the deadly puzzle. Somewhere between the bayous of Louisiana and the White House's inner sanctums, a violent cover-up is being engineered. For somone has read Darby's brief. Someone who will stop at nothing to destroy the evidence of an unthinkable crime.
Mitchell McDeere, raised in the coal-mining region of rural Kentucky, has worked hard to get where he is: third in his class at Harvard Law. He's young. He's bright. He's ambitious. Mitch could have the pick of the big firms in New York and Chicago, but he's chosen the Memphis tax firm of Bendini, Lambert & Locke. They're selective. They pay outrageous salaries. They have a turnover rate of zero. And Mitch is about to find out why.Several events fuel Mitch's growing suspicions: two of the partners die in a suspicious diving accident off Grand Cayman; the senior partners seem unduly proud of the fact that no one has ever resigned; and security measures at the office are, even for a company with billionaire clients, more than a little extreme. Then Mitch makes an explosive discovery: The firm is owned and operated by the most powerful organized crime family in Chicago. Even as Mitch discovers the truth, he finds himself caught between the FBI, who wants an informant inside the firm, and the firm itself, which will make him a very rich man—or a very dead one.
The Pelican Brief
In suburban Georgetown a killer's Reeboks whisper on the front floor of a posh home... In a seedy D.C. porno house a patron is swiftly garroted to death... The next day America learns that two of its Supreme Court justices have been assassinated. And in New Orleans, a young law student prepares a legal brief... To Darby Shaw it was no more than a legal shot in the dark, a brilliant guess. To the Washington establishment it was political dynamite. Suddenly Darby is witness to a murder -- a murder intended for her. Going underground, she finds there is only one person she can trust -- an ambitious reporter after a newsbreak hotter than Watergate -- to help her piece together the deadly puzzle. Somewhere between the bayous of Louisiana and the White House's inner sanctums, a violent cover-up is being engineered. For somone has read Darby's brief. Someone who will stop at nothing to destroy the evidence of an unthinkable crime.
862 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
17 people are currently reading
932 people want to read
About the author
John Grisham
482 books89.4k followersJohn Grisham is the author of more than fifty consecutive #1 bestsellers, which have been translated into nearly fifty languages. His recent books include Framed, Camino Ghosts and The Exchange: After the Firm.
Grisham is a two-time winner of the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction and was honored with the Library of Congress Creative Achievement Award for Fiction.
When he's not writing, Grisham serves on the board of directors of the Innocence Project and of Centurion Ministries, two national organizations dedicated to exonerating those who have been wrongfully convicted. Much of his fiction explores deep-seated problems in our criminal justice system.
John lives on a farm in central Virginia.
Grisham is a two-time winner of the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction and was honored with the Library of Congress Creative Achievement Award for Fiction.
When he's not writing, Grisham serves on the board of directors of the Innocence Project and of Centurion Ministries, two national organizations dedicated to exonerating those who have been wrongfully convicted. Much of his fiction explores deep-seated problems in our criminal justice system.
John lives on a farm in central Virginia.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 8, 2013
The pelican brief is by far the most paced of John's books that i have read and i have read a few.Here he cut down on the legalese to unfold an edge of your seat page turner.He told the story of Darby Shaw; a law student who was too intelligent for her own good. She pieced together an unbelievable theory that trampled on many powerful feet just for the fun of it. This led to a series of murders and Darby found herself in a battle for her life. A definite must read! tosinjohnson.com
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December 31, 2008Good Stuff...better than the Tom Cruise movie. He sucks.
March 27, 2025
Goodreads Review, ‘The Pelican Brief’ by John Grisham.
My third Grisham read of 2025 and I found this novel a little less formulaic than the previous two Grisham novels I’ve read in 2025. Again I first came to Grisham through movies and even this film again took the novel and for the most part the interpretation is pretty solid. An easy and entertaining read. Somewhat dated by style and substance but the novel engages because it tells an interesting story. Out of the three Grisham this is my favourite because it doesn’t involve law firms billing clients millions of dollars for photocopying. A great book for a journey by plane or train. Found at Denistone East Garden Library. Enjoy.
My third Grisham read of 2025 and I found this novel a little less formulaic than the previous two Grisham novels I’ve read in 2025. Again I first came to Grisham through movies and even this film again took the novel and for the most part the interpretation is pretty solid. An easy and entertaining read. Somewhat dated by style and substance but the novel engages because it tells an interesting story. Out of the three Grisham this is my favourite because it doesn’t involve law firms billing clients millions of dollars for photocopying. A great book for a journey by plane or train. Found at Denistone East Garden Library. Enjoy.
July 18, 2025
Ok so I don’t usually write reviews but I HAD to for this one. Literally stayed up until 2am reading because every chapter ended on a cliffhanger. I don’t know how he does it but Grisham just gets it. The characters felt super real and I was actually yelling at the pages at some parts lol.
Some legal stuff went over my head ngl but it didn’t matter cause the plot was wild. Twists on top of twists. The ending?? Did NOT see that coming!!
If you like thrillers or courtroom drama or just like a good story that moves fast, read this. It’s classic Grisham. He’s still got it!!
Some legal stuff went over my head ngl but it didn’t matter cause the plot was wild. Twists on top of twists. The ending?? Did NOT see that coming!!
If you like thrillers or courtroom drama or just like a good story that moves fast, read this. It’s classic Grisham. He’s still got it!!
April 12, 2019
My first John Grisham novels and I was no disappointed! The firm was a full of legal jargon in places but nothing too much to put me off and The Pelican Brief was brilliant less jargon and well paced! I enjoyed the layers to each story and the unfolding of the plot will now watch the films out of curiosity but doubt they will be anywhere near as good as the books.....film adaptations rarely are! Fantastic story writer will definitely read more.
August 19, 2019
Its a fast-paced page turner. The protaganist is a law student by the name Darby Shaw. She portrayed to a be a beautiful, hard-working student but the cliches end there. She is tough, strong and capable and throughout the story even though her life is in danger and she is grieving rare bursts of humor and life shine through her character.
Its a wonderful book!
The best i have read this week!
Its a wonderful book!
The best i have read this week!
October 30, 2023
I read the pelican brief an absolute page turner
Enormously well written legal mystery
This was the 3 rd book from John Grisham that
Made his writing career solid
I’ll do the Firm next which as I remember
Was terrific
Enormously well written legal mystery
This was the 3 rd book from John Grisham that
Made his writing career solid
I’ll do the Firm next which as I remember
Was terrific
Read
December 13, 2020Have this collection and it was my first attempt at John Grisham.
Absolutely loved them and continued to read this author thereafter.
Absolutely loved them and continued to read this author thereafter.
April 27, 2021
This is my favorite book
October 30, 2025
Good characters, storyline, action scenes and suspense. Many twists and turns that keep the reader twisting in the wind.
January 31, 2014
These first two novels showed a talent for writing that should have made Grisham a damned fine litigator in his attorney days. I would have loved to have read some of his complaints, briefs, and legal memos. They must have been fascinating. His characters are well developed and compelling, his plots are well thought out and his ability to suspend the disbelief of the reader is outstanding. He knows how to draw you in and make you a part of the story. I wish he could have kept up the pace he set for himself with these two books. He could have been the legal novel's answer to Stephen King. Since those early novels he hasn't quite been avle to capture the lightening again. Here's hoping he can do it again.
July 27, 2009
Great adventure of a lawyer. A book one would not want to miss.
October 4, 2009
The Firm
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January 26, 2010The firm, Mystery Lots of detail how a single person works with others to take the firm down.
March 19, 2010
The first book of John Grisham I read, thrilling!!
Currently reading
November 21, 2010Currently reading... will let you know
September 22, 2014
Grisham is my all time favourite after reading this book..
Read
May 2, 2012I read this years ago. It's still a good story the second time around.
June 16, 2011
turn the game around, heart-pounding.
Read
November 1, 2012I read this book before..the film...The Firm.. well nothing like reading it..
January 16, 2013
Read years ago, but great book
February 20, 2013
fav grisham
March 28, 2013
Loved saw the film enjoy!
May 13, 2013
As expected from a Grisham.. gripping.
I have a love/hate issue on the killing of characters.
mehehe. ^_^
I have a love/hate issue on the killing of characters.
mehehe. ^_^
March 25, 2016
This is a two in one.
The Firm.
So where did the nudes end up at?
The Pelican Brief.
This is what brought us to all to the master.
The Firm.
So where did the nudes end up at?
The Pelican Brief.
This is what brought us to all to the master.
August 29, 2016
Read many years ago .Great story
September 10, 2014
One word describes this book.....AMAZING!!!!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews