The Exchange, John Grisham’s sequel to The Firm, was a long time coming. The two books’ publication dates are separated by thirty-two years! Mitch and Abby McDeere are back, but it’s fifteen years after his Memphis law firm Bendini, Lambert, and Locke collapsed. The couple now lives in Manhattan, where Mitch is a partner at Scully and Pershing, the largest gaggle of attorneys in the world.

Mitch is called to Rome to visit one of his elder partners there, setting in place a series of events that endangers Mitch, Abby, and his colleagues and their families. Sound familiar? Only the location has changed!

Mitch does take a sentimental trip back to Memphis, where he reunites with one of his partners from his days there. I’ll just say it doesn’t go swimmingly. He also makes a trip to, of course, Grand Cayman, allowing Grisham to give you an update on Mitch’s brother, who’s now free from his days in prison.

I waited months for this book to launch, and then more months in the library queue (support your local library, if you don’t already!). Was it worth it? Yes, but The Exchange is not The Firm. The latter skyrocketed Grisham to international fame in the world of fiction, and it was then that readers went back and discovered his initially-neglected first novel, A Time to Kill. Asking for the sequel to be as riveting as the original is like expecting da Vinci to have painted another gal of fame equal to that of Mona Lisa!

That said, if you loved The Firm, it’s worth your time to dive into The Exchange. Enjoy!