Anyone who has read a book by John Grisham knows his style within the first 50 pages. Tense, legal-based stories with a main character being subjected to all the drama that comes with being associated with the law. The Associate is no different.
Young and promising lawyer-to-be Kyle McAvoy, has the world at his feet. Soon to be set out into the world as a graduate with plenty of smarts and qualifications behind him. However, his dreams of becoming a defender of the poor and helpless are soon shattered, when an event from his past comes back to haunt him. A video from a college party he threw emerges, whereby a possible rape took part and it shows him and his friends. Now, a dangerous group of people are blackmailing him to join a particular law firm, in order to steal information and secrets which they can then use for their own ends. Kyle must now become an undercover associate in the big bad city of New York, where he will barely sleep, going through all the trappings of life as a rookie lawyer in a massive firm, whilst also leading a secret life.
The premise of this book is good, and the twists and turns do well to make it a page-turner. The problem comes from not having many pages to turn! Less than 400 pages, I went through this novel rapidly, and found myself unsatisfied by the end. It plays out like a film, moving from scene to scene without much character development, instead focusing on the action.
If you like Grisham, which I most certainly do, there are much better examples of his work out there. This is a half-hearted attempt, which will entertain you for a while, leave you cold. Instead, try A Time To Kill, The Chamber, or most definitely The Firm.
No comments:
Post a Comment