The Partner/All God's Children/Medusa's Child/Only Son

by John Grisham

A man will do almost anything for ninety million dollars. So will its rightful owners. They found him in a small town in Brazil. He had a new name, Danilo Silva, and his appearance had been changed by plastic surgery. The search had taken four years. They'd chased him around the world, always just missing him. It had cost their clients $3.5 million. But so far none of them had complained.

The man they were about to kidnap had not always been called Danilo Silva. Before he had had another life, a life which ended in a car crash in February 1992. His gravestone lay in a cemetery in Biloxi, Mississippi. His name before his death was Patrick S. Lanigan. He had been a partner at an up-and-coming law firm. He had a pretty wife, a young daughter, and a bright future. Six weeks after his death, $90 million disappeared from the law firm.

It was then that his partners knew he was still alive. And the chase was on

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Legal Thriller, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Legal

575 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1997

About the author

John 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.

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Every decision seemed to be layered with irony." (2.5 stars)

THE PARTNER…a fun book. Not very realistic, but it piles on the fun reveals, and the “hero” of the story is a white-collar criminal. Maybe even a Robin Hood, so you can’t get too worked up about his getting away with a crime. And does he really get away with it?
The plot is simple, Patrick Lanigan is a lawyer on the Gulf Coast who fakes his own death, and then steals 90 million dollars from his former law firm, three weeks after he is supposedly buried. Naturally, the folks who lost 90 million bucks go looking for it, and Patrick. The text begins with them finding him.
The enjoyment of this story is that as the novel progresses, we realize that Patrick is one step ahead of pretty much everyone he encounters. And that makes for easy delightful reading. Especially since the folks he is mainly ahead of the game with are either criminals or the government. And both of those entities do very unethical things in this story, so the reader cheers as David keeps nipping Goliath in the shins.
There is not a lot to say about THE PARTNER. It is a legal thriller with pleasing (although not unexpected) twists. As far as books in that vein go it is a fine effort. The ending irritated me, but only because it was what I suspected might happen, and I did not want it to. However, in a cosmic justice sense, and in the world of human behavior it is probably perfectly appropriate.
If you are looking for diversions, this text can provide it.

[Kym Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, John Grisham has done it again. Talk about partners in crime on so many levels! I was shaking my head in utter surprise and disbelief through each chapter. Grisham did not disappoint.

Patrick Lanigan (a.k.a. Danilo Silva) has embezzled from his partners at the law firm he worked at. He cleverly faked his death, got plastic surgery and got lost in in another country, living frugally while spreading the stolen money in offshore accounts that could not be tracked. Now, based on a credible tip, he's the one who has been tracked down and caught by some bounty hunters. They tortured him until the FBI got involved and took over the investigation.

Now, who you may think is innocent and a victim throughout this story turned out to be guilty. The very person you thought was guilty was actually the person who is instrumental in putting a lot of people away on corruption charges, including former partners at his law firm and a U.S. Senator. Oh what a tangled web this story weaves.

Lanigan hired Eva Miranda (a.k.a. Leah Pires)a lawyer who he later fell in love with. He investigated his firm who was about to give him the shaft. There were so many money hungry backstabbing players in this game and Patrick had the evidence to back everything up. His plan was executed almost flawlessly. He had everything planned to the "T." Eva was on every detail of the plan and was the only person at the time to know where the money was distributed in which banks around the world.

After the charges were dropped, by Patrick's design of course, as Sandy (Patrick's attorney) was driving him to the freedom he planned, Sandy said something was gnawing at him. It was about something the bounty hunter, Jack Stephano asked him. Sandy said to Patrick that Stephano asked point-blank if Eva was his Judas, because something didn't add up. Of course, Patrick denied it. Once Patrick reached the Villa Gallici in Aix, where he was to meet Eva, he found out that she indeed was his Judas.

[Chad in the ATL · Rating 3 out of 5]

Former lawyer Patrick Lanigan turned thief - a thief to the tune of $90 million - stolen from his law firm after faking his own death. Now four years later, he lives a quiet life in a small town in Brazil. He speaks the language. His appearance is different. He completely blends in. They found him anyway. Dragged back and handed over to the FBI, it is an open and shut case. But even as he goes to trial, Patrick isn't out of tricks just yet. If he can pit everyone against everyone else, he might just find a way back out.

“Life on the run was filled with dreams, some at night during sleep, real dreams, and some when the mind was awake but drifting. Most were terrifying, the nightmares of the shadows growing bolder and larger. Others were pleasant wishes of a rosy future, free of the past. These were rare, Patrick had learned. Life on the run was life in the past. There was no closure”

The Partner is really about one lawyer twisting the entire legal system around to his will. Patrick even twists around a web of agendas - including his reasons for leaving his wife and child - in a singular effort to save his own skin. As Grisham protagonists go, Patrick Lanigan might be his least likable creation. He is most certainly a bad guy. The only reason for routing for him is because everyone else appears worse.

From a point of readability, The Partner is a page-turner that keeps a rapid pace with a great deal of action, especially early on. However, compared with the rest of Grisham's legal thrillers, this one is somewhat weak in two areas. First of all, the plot of The Partner is rather far fetched. A copious amount of bungling by an awful lot of educated people is required for this story to remotely work. It is the legal equivalent of a Rube Goldberg machine. Second - and worse - it is rather predictable, especially in the second half of the story.

While I will not go so far as to say that The Partner was a disappointment, it is not one of Grisham's better efforts. In spite of it's problems, though, it is still a good story. If you can pick up a copy at the library or the discount rack, it will give you some good entertainment. If you have never read John Grisham before, I would start with A Time To Kill or The Firm as much better representations of his abilities.

[Tarun Srikaran · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Parter by John Grisham is about a man named Patrick Lanigan who fakes his death and steals money from his business. Four years later, he is finally caught by a group of hunters who were hired by people at his old firm. He is tortured for information about the money and handed over to the FBI. Patrick Lanigan is then faced with the tough challenge of facing his ex wife who secretly hates him and old firm. He was also faced with murder which he didn't commit and it is up to his lawyer to free him from his unfortunate circumstance.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes complicated mysteries and would like to expect the unexpected.

[Cori · Rating 5 out of 5]

What intrigued me: I am pretty sure my mom gave me this book when she was cleaning out storage space.

What I liked: I was sucked into this story immediately and really related to Sandy. Just tell me everything!

I loved the ending! A complete story that leaves plenty of room to keep ruminating on these characters.

What I didn't like: N/A

Favorite quote: "'Confidentiality is crucial.'
'It always is.'
'This is different.'
Got that right. Different to the tune of ninety million bucks.'" p. 84

[Terry Misfeldt · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the opening chapter to the not-so-surprising closing John Grisham had me on the edge of my seat. Fast paced action, marvelous legal twists and turns with subtle hints of what was to come.

Patrick Lanigan had it all figured out until he didn't. Need to pass this on to the lawyers I know. Sorry I didn't take it from the shelf and read it sooner. Fascinating and well-crafted legal fiction piece of writing.

Well done, Mr. Grisham!

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost gave this story five stars. I was thoroughly riveted from the first page to the last. Creative characters, crafty law, twists and turns, and a surprise ending that made me laugh. But it was a subdued laugh. Yes, justice was served, equity maintained, but it wasn't as happy as I'd hoped. One ambiguity left open to make the reader wonder: who were "They"?

[Brad C · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd rate this between 2.5 -3.0 stars. I'm a fan of Grisham's writing and have read quite a few of his books, but this was not one of his better ones. Patrick is one of the most unlikable protagonists I have ever encountered.

[Demi Spelbos · Rating 2 out of 5]

Standard DNF rating.
Couldn't keep my attention to it because the story just wasn't interesting to me. Not my type of book.

[Malachi Antal · Rating 3 out of 5]

—The Partner—

Inherited book from late grandmother along with other largesse like Red Square. Patrick is thoroughly unlikeable character, for me, whilst Benny Aricia has a bone to chew. Benny is a classic heel in hardboiled noir tradition p. 123, ‘Once, two days ago on a flight to Florida, he had listened to it with earphones as he sipped a drink in first class and smiled at the blood-curdling sounds of a man begging for mercy. But the smiles were rare for Benny these days.’

Second John Grisham book for me following The Pelican Brief read last year. H’m. The premise of American citizenry being tortured overseas is now laughable Bill of Rights habitually ignored and, violated, since false flag 11 September twin towers implosion.
Brazil to the Americans as the Costa del Sol to the Brits back in the day. Slimy Chicago private investigator apparently mightn’t’ve commissioned snatch-and-grabs in Latin America with history of denying extradition. Ramifications p. 109, “This is serious stuff, okay, Jack? These allegations are hideous, and right now the whole country is looking at those damned pictures and wondering why we tortured an American citizen.” Laughable with abomination administration extrajudicial drone strike killings of American citizenry in Yemen and, elsewhere.
P. 44 quote setup the eventual payoff in the novel or, not. ‘THE EXTRADITION ISSUE was sticky, and Hamilton Jaynes wanted no part of it. Important diplomatic strings were pulled. The Director of the FBI called the President’s Chief of Staff. The American Ambassador to Paraguay got involved. Promises and threats were made.’ ¶ ‘A suspect with cash and resolve can stifle extradition from Paraguay for years, if not forever. This suspect had no money on him, and didn’t even know what country he was in.’ ¶ ‘The Paraguayans reluctantly agreed to ignore extradition.’
Classless FBI tactics utilize snitches turned to talk preprogrammed tune the bureau tells them to say, a tale old as time. Other classless tactic of predawn raid with guns drawn for small time operator encore with FBI rubbish. Anyone looking at recent classless FBI surveil presidential candidate with writ from abomination administration in 2016 sees politicized evilness of the bureau forever bothering Italians and, others on baselessly broad, that lack depth, RICO charges to throw federal scare tactics out there.
‘He happened to be asleep at 3 A.M. when the doorbell rang [,]’ and the human garbage mightn’t’ve come full-circle.
Insight p. 41, is laughable, ‘One bruise on his body and I’ll hound you to hell.’ With style world actually works.
Classics in the shell game are accurate whatnot in the Caribbean p. 23 insight, ‘The money was currently parked in two places: a bank in Panama, and an offshore holding trust in Bermuda. Her first fax authorized the immediate transfer of the money out of Panama and into a bank in Antigua. Her second fax scattered it among three banks on Grand Cayman. The third yanked it out of Bermuda and parked it in the Bahamas.’ ¶ ‘It was almost two in Rio. The European banks were closed, so she would be forced to skip the money around the Caribbean for a few hours until the rest of the world opened.’ Tried-and-true shan’t guess if Bank of Cyprus; Gibraltar; Guernsey or Manx, next to exhaust isle banking havens. Encore p. 66 with shell firms, ‘… from the United Bank of Wales in the Bahamas, onward to a bank in Malta, then to Panama, where no one could find it.’
Grandmother had theory that more inhospitable the clime the nastier the citizenry such as perfect Mediterranean climate in California coast southland that’s why peaceful Indians when Conquistadors came. In similar vein humid subtropical isn’t pleasant p. 58 mightn’t’ve influenced, ‘The state, on the other hand, had a rich and proven history of legal executions.’ The state being Mississippi forthwith rich history of lynching.
p. 61 assess forfeiture isn’t so clean if Florida Chersonese house bought fell under Homestead act.
Vieux Marche took readership to old Mobile on the Coast p. 63 descriptor.
12% yearly interest in 1997 sounds good on p. 87 revelation.
‘Together, they studied offshore tax havens and found safe investments.’ Gem from p. 100 is nice on the shell game.
Eva Miranda the Ipanema Brazilian bird is the most relatable character a likeable heroine. Read her Miranda Rights.
Encore on the federal governmental sham p. 104, “Think of it, Sandy. The FBI torturing a suspect, an American citizen … during a brutal torture and interrogation session somewhere in the jungles of Brazil.” Sodium thiopental is mentioned p. 26 earlier on.
The sleazeball shyster p. 134, ‘He quickly obliged, said in fact he’d do it for free, then did what most bad lawyers do when presented with a client with a story—he called a press conference at his office in Hattiesburg, ninety miles north of Biloxi [,]’ reminiscent of Avenatti representing Stormy Daniels aged porn starlet.
Insider’s information like p. 141 tellingly seems like writer’s been down that road from the good inside, “There’s an antibugging device called a DX-130, made by LoKim, a Korean electronics outfit. Costs about six hundred dollars, about the size of a portable Dictaphone. Get one, and bring it with you whenever we meet. We’ll disinfect the room and the phones before each little conference. Also, hire a reputable surveillance firm in New Orleans to check your office twice a week. It’s very expensive, but I’ll pay for it. Any questions?”
“I’m not sure I would recognize you on the street [,]” is high-class way say you look like shite.
Solicitor’s insight Mississippi one of few states p. ‘Mississippi was one of the remaining few states with the good sense to ban cameras from the courtroom,” like Oklahole.
Solicitors in swindled firm like, ‘Havarac, the son of a shrimper, was still stout and crude and not beyond a barroom brawl [,]’ is favourite shyster.
Lance Maxa is local scumbag met at pub in dirty south. Interesting bit on the multinational conglomerate Platt & Rockland delved into building nuclear submarines.
P. 165-166 mentions .12 gauge Remington shotgun when usually seen it written 12 gauge or, 12-gauge shotgun.
Two rounds of vodka on the house, the drinks, the laughs are on me p. 184.
Exercise styles women chose date the piece p. 191, ‘She, of course aerobicized two hours a day with Jane Fonda and was as thin as a model.’
No shave Movember precursor predicted accureately by the writer p. 191, ‘The beard too. He had grown it around November of 1990, said it was his deer hunting beard. Such growth was not unusual among non-rednecks and lawyers in Mississippi. The air was cool. The testosterone was up.’ The Civil War never ended for some with rallying cries in high school football matches.
Patrick in bed watching Jeopardy evokes this guy is such a bastard p. 194.
“So [,] I read a couple of underground books on how to change identities and obtain new papers. It’s not complicated. Just takes a little thought and planning.” P. 196 insight reminiscent of Paragon publishing firm such classics as Anarchist Cookbook.
Jerry-rigged bike with aluminum tubes to silence the dirt bike engine p. 202 is classic.
FBI calling 5 A.M. wakeup call is classic filth tactics p. 268, “Good morning, Jack. This is Hamilton Jaynes. Hate to call so early.”
Devil is in the details on the pittance 6% interest rate IRS pays to John Q taxpayer p. 291, “What does the IRS pay when it determines I’ve paid too much and it sends me a refund?” ¶ ‘No one could answer. “Six percent,” Sandy said. “Six lousy percent is what the government pays.”
Insight p. 342, on the usual offshore havens, ‘Another Swiss account had a balance of three million. A Canadian bank on Grand Cayman held six point five million. A money manager in Bermuda was investing over four million for them, and seven point two million was currently parked in Luxembourg, but was about to be moved.’
A backhoe funerary excavation is realistic p. 350 with shovel for little detail work.

fine (̅_̅_̅(̅(̅_̅_̅_̅_̅_̅̅()ڪ fine 🚬

[John Washington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was sucked into this book in the first chapter, the main plot twist of this book I didn't see coming from a mile away. I feel Grisham built the suspense for each chapter very well. I wanted to throw my book against the wall after the last chapter, it was so good!

[Nikki Norton]

Couldn’t finish. Did t keep my interest

[84arhoadesgmail.Com · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just had a hard time getting into this one. Great idea lot but too slow for my taste.

[Heemin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Partner
by John Grisham
Mystery Fiction
468 pages


When Patrick Lannigan first died, no one expected anything else from him. Not many people expect much from a dead man. But soon after, 90 million dollars disappear right before it reaches Patrick’s old law firm and rumors start to circulate. It turns out he ran away and is found early on in the book with the help of several private detectives, millions of dollars, and later as it is revealed, the help of Patrick himself. He is captured by a group of people who are not able to find the location of the money because Patrick himself does not know; he has trusted his money with his girlfriend just in case this kind of thing happened. The FBI is alerted and they take Patrick away from the group. Once it is released that the before thought dead Patrick Lannigan was captured, he is sued by the law firm, his “widowed” wife, and the government because they believe he killed somebody in the car accident in which he died (the body found in the car had to belong to SOMEBODY). One by one, Patrick takes care of the cases with the careful planning that he has done for the past four years while he was in hiding. Eventually, the only case left is the one of capital murder. This too he has figured out to lower the cases to mutilation of a corpse. One of his friends died before and he stole the corpse to be burned in the car crash. He pays 90 million plus 3% interest to the government and is left with seven million. He returns to Brazil where he lived a happy life, and he expects to find his girlfriend, but she has disappeared. Patrick taught her the ways to blink off radar, and she has done it and disappeared with the seven million.

I enjoyed this book, it was intricate and very well showed the character of Patrick Lannigan. In this book John Grisham makes the main character somewhat of a antagonist and adds a bit of a new twist to the book. It was interesting to see what else he would pull up and bring out to show the lawyers that he was in charge of the money. There were many parts where I was laughing and appreciating the pure genius of his plans. But I also found the story slightly dull in some area, dragging along to fill up space. The ending seemed kind of odd too, I guess it should have been some dramatic turn of events but it read as kind of forced. No lead up or “traditional” ending was there, it was like reading an ordinary plot line and in two pages the book just ended. Overall, this was a great book and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to be entertained.

[Dankwa Brooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having read of eight his books I can say that John Grisham is my favorite author. I haven’t read one of his books in over 10 years and I can see not much has changed. The last book I read was his 1996 book ‘The Runaway Jury’. This one was his next book published in 1997 and it recounts the same territory of a Grisham book. One man embroiled in some huge dilemma aided by a woman surrounded by a group of shady adversaries who are out to get him. That’s pretty much half of the plots to his books except in ‘The Pelican Brief’ it was - One [wo]man embroiled in some huge dilemma aided by a man surrounded by a group of shady adversaries who are out to get [her].

I generally enjoy his books or I wouldn’t have read so many, but it was nothing that new or original in this book. The protagonist, Patrick Lanigan, was pretty much a bastard who wrapped everyone he meets around his finger. The fact that I thought he was a bastard made every “trick” he did sleazier. To be clear he wasn’t supposed to be a villain, but I didn’t find him likeable. Grisham does do a good job at keeping one of the main mysteries of if this guy is alive then WHO is buried in his grave until pretty much the end. He also overspreads the details of exactly how this guy faked his death until later in the book.

The book indeed gets off to a rocking start and the mystery is intriguing, but once you figure out what an unlikable figure Patrick is, the book spirals down from there.

Out of the eight John Grisham books I’ve read (so far), my favorites in order are:
(All links lead here to GoodReads)

1. The Client (1993) http://bit.ly/j7c6jW
2. The Pelican Brief (1992) http://bit.ly/mO0cB6
3. The Firm (1991) http://bit.ly/mchQnu
4. A Time to Kill (1989) http://bit.ly/nmnmqa
5. The Rainmaker (1995)
6. The Runaway Jury (1996)
7. The Chamber (1994)
8. The Partner (1997)

[Mario · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really quiet book for a thriller -- most of the important bits of the story are told after the fact -- but overall it's a superb mystery. Considering the limitations of the style, its amazing that Grisham was able to pull off such a tense, tight work.

I'm not a fan of the ending, but my only real problem stems from one particular plot point. I don't understand how the ex-wife could expect that the insurance company would overlook the fraud if the husband were simply killed later. They couldn't have still been paying into the policy, given that the person covered was already thought to be dead, so why would killing him after he was already widely known to be alive make the fraudulent payout acceptable? If it were only her and Lance coming up with that plan, I could put it down to stupidity, but Patrick himself sees that that killing him will be her goal, specifically so that she can "keep the money," but no one ever points out that that plan makes no sense.

Oh, well. Great book anyway. Not life-changing, certainly, but it achieves all that this type of book should.

[Tony Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Grisham is a brilliant writer. This is only the 2nd Grisham book I've read, and the first of his court room/crime thrillers. But even just based on this, I can tell he's freaking brilliant.
I love stories, books or movies, that have you following a few different strings and at the end you realize they were connected the whole time. It's like a puzzle, but you don't know what the final picture is until you've completed it.
I don't know if that makes sense, but it's the best way I can describe it.
Anyway, this book does that perfectly. And with it being written the way it is, 3rd person perspective I believe, it helps to keep you guessing as to how it'll end.
This book has quite a few different characters in it, and it jumps around to each of their sides of the story. But the characters are so distinct, and the writing is so good, that that never became a problem.
Now without giving anything away, I was a little disappointed by the ending but that's just me being a whiney jackass that wants things to go his way. There was nothing wrong with how the story was told.
5 stars all the way.

[Malcolm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that this book is very interesting due to the fact that a person who was hired at a law firm to do work as an associate but doesn't know that he is working for a Mob Family. Life is A Box of Chocolates!! As the time goes by the F.B.I. steps in and tells him what’s going on. So now due to the fact that he works for a Law Firm in Michigan, his life now lays down on the line. When he first accepted the position at this Law Firm he was granted a brand new BMW yet did he know that it was bugged, but not only that he was also granted with a house that was bugged as well. As time goes by and talking with the F.B.I. he starts to wonder if any of this true, so he does research and finds that the last two people that was hired before him was indeed murdered in acts to make it look like they committed suicide. As well as he knows that his life may be in danger with either choice he may choose. So he decided to take the way of helping the F.B.I. out with busting all the lawyers in the firm, as well as telling his wife the situation ‘

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man - this guy thought it all through...except, it turns out, the end. Patrick manages to fake his own death while pulling off a major heist that left his old law firm scratching their heads; find a body to use as a stand-in for his demise; ensure that his widow moves on (although she didn't really need much help from him); and secures a new life on the lam in Brazil with an amazingly beautiful and smart woman, who he trusts implicitly.

So much thought went into this novel to cover all of Patrick's steps from the moment of inception to the moment he walks free, alone and broke. I loved how the pieces of his plan were revealed to Sandy at the same time that they were revealed to the reader, and finding that Sandy's reactions to Patrick's audacity so clearly mirrored my reactions.

One of the better Grisham novels, in my opinion, which was made all the better because Patrick didn't end up with the happily-ever-after ending that a lot of Grisham's novels end with.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had been wanting to read a John Grisham book for a very long time, and I finally went to the public library (for the first time in years!) and pretty randomly picked one out. Overall, it’s like nothing I’ve been reading recently so that was refreshing and I was on the seat of my edge for much of the book.

It reminded me a lot of how I felt reading Stephen King’s It where the characters are so realistically flawed that you often don’t find yourself rooting for anyone. It took me a while to pick a side, but when I did the suspense only increased.

Although the ending left me laughing with my jaw open, I had started to get a nasty little feeling that it wold happen for a couple of chapters now. I feel like it was obvious enough though that it was Grisham’s intention.

Either way, this was pleasant and a nice change. I might read a Time to Kill since that seems to be his most popular book, but I don’t think I’ll be picking up any others.

[Katt Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would have been 5 stars had it not been for the ending. I've never read a Grisham before, and am a little reluctant to pick one up again. I absolutely loved the character and how the story unraveled. The whole thing made me think of Shawshank Redemption in some ways - in how the story unfolds, and the 'bad guy' manages to get away with it all in the end.

Except he didn't get away with it in the end. That's what bothered me. And in his brilliance, the absolute BRILLIANCE of the mind at work to put all of this plan together, he became stupid over a woman and what...never did anything with his life again afterwards? Absolutely hated that and even felt it was out of character for Patrick.

So...yeah...ruined a perfectly good book in the last chapter. I'd almost like to drop this to 3 stars now that I've vented, but I'll leave it at 4, just for the way the story unraveled.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once he was a well-liked, well-paid young partner in a thriving Mississippi law firm. Then Patrick Lanigan stole $96M from his own firm--and ran for his life. For four years, he's evaded men who were rich, powerful, and would stop at nothing to find him. Then, inevitably, on the edge of the Brazilian jungle, they finally tracked him down.

This book hooks you right from the first paragraph and keeps you going right to the last sentence. Patrick Lanigan faked his own death by a fiery car accident--complete with one sneaker and some charred remains left in the vehicle--and disappeared just before he stole $96M from his law firm partners. He left his Merry Widow a considerable life insurance settlement. By all accounts, he should be a criminal sent to either death, or life in prison, but it's John Grisham. Nothing is ever straightforward.

[Becky Pirkle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was thoroughly enjoying this book...until the end. I feel like Eva’s disappearance with the money came completely out of left-field. Although I’m sure it was Grisham’s attempt at a “shocking twist” of an ending, it did not have the intended effect for me because it felt like Grisham gave us nothing to foreshadow her possible disappearance. For me this ending would’ve been better received if Grisham would have perhaps hidden clues all along that Eva was not entirely loyal or possibly closed the novel from Eva’s perspective after disappearing with the money. Because of the oddly abrupt ending, I’m giving this one three stars, and I’d tentatively recommend for anyone who enjoys mystery, suspense, and thrillers.

[Dolphe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grisham has certainly earned his fame with his command of the legal thriller, but he pulls a curve ball here. In "The Partner" he offers a bit of a morality play by presenting a character who is more self centered and not quite as noble as his devoted readers might expect to find. It's a complex story which still offers some of his favorite topics: greedy corporate lawyers, evil henchmen and crooked politicians, but the supposed hero here may have more in common with them than you might expect. That can be a little disconcerting for a Grisham fan, but it's a worthy change-up for an author who does not want to become predictable.

[ReBecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book!! John keeps you wanting to know more throughout the book. When I first started reading, I had so many questions. I wanted to know what was going on and why Patrick had taken the money and run. As the book progressed questions would be answered but I would end up with questions. There were a lot of twists and turns throughout the book. Clearly Patrick had pre-planned a great deal, which you learned more about as the book evolved. The only real issue I had with the book was that I found it hard at times to keep up with all the players (there were quite a few) and I felt it could have been shortened just a tad. Otherwise, I felt it was well written and overall a good book.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started out good. I liked the main character and was on his side. It seemed I was getting through the book quickly, but there was still so much that needed to be done. Then it wrapped up quickly, which was okay. But the ending, come on. I can't stand an ending like that. Like literally the last page. And after the book was done, I kept thinking to myself, "He didn't have to do it that way. He could've done it differently without breaking so many laws." A good read, kept me going. But I left unsatisfied.

[Lois · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure how most of the reviews came up with the word "boring" for this one...it might not be my favorite of the several John Grisham books I've read, but I still enjoyed it and wasn't bored at all. I thought the story line was quite interesting, in fact, and what intrigued me was that I came to actually like the "criminal" in this one, and found myself rooting for him to come out ok in the end. Whether he did or not is a matter of opinion, but as I got close enough, I stayed up late in the night to get to the end and find out.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Danillo Silvo was the man he was when he fake his death but Patrick Lannigan was the man four years later. Patrick had a wife and a daughter, but his past caught up to him. His past of theft catches up to him,he soon finds himself in a web of lies and deceit. He is struggling to escape his past and soon he is given a sentence that would not only destroy his future,but hinder his hope for a better life under a different identity. This is an amazing book, it is full of intrigue and suspense, it had me at the edge of my seat.

[Jay Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grisham goes back in his style after the Runaway Jury. The lawyer in this case fakes his death because he has a cheating wife and he is just tired of the day to day crap lawyers put up with. Yes, most lawyers think of running away from their responsibilities to the freedom of a tropical paradise, but who doesn't. In the end, we just do our job and accept the responsibilities. The story is that this basically good guy steals 90 million dollars. He is caught. The ending is definitely not expected.

[Ayunda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, another John Grisham book... It's actually quite good, a little different with less law-things and less trial but more of the characters and storyline. I like the story and the theme and I like the way it all turn out, but the ending was so surprising. Like, what? It never occurred my mind that you know who will do you know what!
Anyway, other than the ending, I totally enjoyed the story (except some boring parts about the money and law stuff and some characters that were totally boring).