Sparring Partners

Sparring Partners

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  • Create Date:2022-05-17 08:21:39
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:John Grisham
  • ISBN:B09QT825J3
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

“Homecoming” takes us back to Ford County, the fictional setting of many of John Grisham’s unforgettable stories。 Jake Brigance is back, but he’s not in the courtroom。 He’s called upon to help an old friend, Mack Stafford, a former lawyer in Clanton, who three years earlier became a local legend when he stole money from his clients, divorced his wife, filed for bankruptcy, and left his family in the middle of the night, never to be heard from again—until now。 Now Mack is back, and he’s leaning on his old pals, Jake and Harry Rex, to help him return。 His homecoming does not go as planned。

In “Strawberry Moon,” we meet Cody Wallace, a young death row inmate only three hours away from execution。 His lawyers can’t save him, the courts slam the door, and the governor says no to a last-minute request for clemency。 As the clock winds down, Cody has one final request。

The “Sparring Partners” are the Malloy brothers, Kirk and Rusty, two successful young lawyers who inherited a once prosperous firm when its founder, their father, was sent to prison。 Kirk and Rusty loathe each other, and speak to each other only when necessary。 As the firm disintegrates, the resulting fiasco falls into the lap of Diantha Bradshaw, the only person the partners trust。 Can she save the Malloys, or does she take a stand for the first time in her career and try to save herself?

By turns suspenseful, hilarious, powerful, and moving, these three novellas are some of the greatest stories John Grisham has ever told。
10 hours and 30 minutes。

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Reviews

Sue

Sparring Partners is three novellas, one of which features Jake Brigance from A Time to Kill。 His story - Homecoming - features an old friend who left his wife and kids in the middle of the night and hasn't been heard from since。 Until now。 He wants to come home。 Decent story, but nothing spectacular。Strawberry Moon has a lot to say about the death penalty and minors and being present when a crime is committed and books and the difference kindness can make in a life。 This one is outstanding。Spar Sparring Partners is three novellas, one of which features Jake Brigance from A Time to Kill。 His story - Homecoming - features an old friend who left his wife and kids in the middle of the night and hasn't been heard from since。 Until now。 He wants to come home。 Decent story, but nothing spectacular。Strawberry Moon has a lot to say about the death penalty and minors and being present when a crime is committed and books and the difference kindness can make in a life。 This one is outstanding。Sparring Partners is the story of two brothers who inherit a law firm from their criminal father。 The brothers hate each other but decide to work together when their imprisoned father begins to hint he's getting out early。 They know he's got millions coming in, and they want it。 The managing director, Diantha, is responsible for keeping the peace。 The characters are not very likeable, but the manipulation involved in the story is fascinating。Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of the book。 My opinion is my own。 。。。more

Blaine

Jake took it to be polite。 In lieu of cash fees, he had been paid with watermelons, fresh venison, firewood, repairs to his cars, and more bartered goods and services than he cared to remember。 His best lawyer buddy, Harry Rex Vonner, had once taken a John Deere mower as a fee, though it soon broke down。 Another lawyer, one who was no longer practicing, had taken sexual favors from a divorce client。 When he lost the case, she filed an ethics complaint alleging “substandard performance。”Thanks to Jake took it to be polite。 In lieu of cash fees, he had been paid with watermelons, fresh venison, firewood, repairs to his cars, and more bartered goods and services than he cared to remember。 His best lawyer buddy, Harry Rex Vonner, had once taken a John Deere mower as a fee, though it soon broke down。 Another lawyer, one who was no longer practicing, had taken sexual favors from a divorce client。 When he lost the case, she filed an ethics complaint alleging “substandard performance。”Thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for sending me an ARC of Sparring Partners in exchange for an honest review。Sparring Partners is John Grisham’s first collection of novellas。 The best of the three, also the shortest one, is the middle one, “Strawberry Moon,” which follows a Death Row inmate named Cody Wallace over the final three hours before his execution。 Much of the story revolves around a visit from the elderly woman who has been sending him hundreds of old paperback books over the years。 It’s a sad story, subtle in its critique of imposing the death penalty on for crimes committed by minors (that kind of subtlety is not common for Mr。 Grisham)。 “Strawberry Moon” is all about regret, and it’s a good little story。 4 stars。The first story is “Homecoming,” set in Ford County and featuring Jake Brigance。 But it’s really about a former lawyer named Mack Stafford who years ago stole a windfall settlement from his clients and disappeared, leaving his family behind。 Now, a few years later, Mack reaches out because he’d like to return home, if the people he wronged will let him。 The story is a very slow burn and really never goes anywhere。 But Mack’s attempt to reconcile with his older daughter is poignant, and it’s always fun catching up with Jake and Harry Rex Vonner。 3 stars。The final story is “Sparring Partners,” and it’s a story about two brothers who hate each other but have to work together at the law firm they inherited when their father went to jail for killing their mother。 There are about five characters and each is more crooked than the last, including the protagonist Diantha Bradshaw, who’s purportedly the heroine but is actually as flawed and criminal as the rest of them。 3 stars。The three stories in Sparring Partners aren’t terrible, but they certainly aren’t “three of the greatest stories John Grisham has ever told。” “Sparring Partners” feels like a true novella, it’s just populated with such unlikable characters that I didn’t enjoy it very much。 The other two feel like B-plots that Mr。 Grisham couldn’t figure out how to weave into one of his novels。 “Strawberry Moon” would have been great in one his other novels about Death Row, and “Homecoming” could have been in either of his more recent Ford County novels。 Recommended for Grisham fans, but not the place to start for new readers。 。。。more

Brian Miller

I wanted to like these more than I did。 Novellas seem like they are too short to really get into the character's feelings and motives。 I enjoyed the Jake Brigance story and feel that could have been a full length novel。 Grisham does a great job getting you invested in his characters and this book is no different。 I enjoyed the second story a little less as the convicted murderer who was found guilty at 15 leaves a lot more to be explored on how we as a society condemn teenagers for life。 All in I wanted to like these more than I did。 Novellas seem like they are too short to really get into the character's feelings and motives。 I enjoyed the Jake Brigance story and feel that could have been a full length novel。 Grisham does a great job getting you invested in his characters and this book is no different。 I enjoyed the second story a little less as the convicted murderer who was found guilty at 15 leaves a lot more to be explored on how we as a society condemn teenagers for life。 All in all I am glad I got the chance to read it but long for the full length Grisham show where he can flex his muscles a bit more。 。。。more

Jim

I've been a Grisham fan for a long time and have read quite a number of his books ( but not all of them!)。 So I was very pleased to get a bound galley of Grisham's latest book ( to be published in May 2022)。 The book consists of three novellas, each one different but, of course, all dealing with legal cases。 The first one is "Homecoming," which places us back in Clanton, Mississippi, with Jake Brigance, the lawyer in "A Time to Kill。" The story is about an old friend of Jake's, Mack Stafford, w I've been a Grisham fan for a long time and have read quite a number of his books ( but not all of them!)。 So I was very pleased to get a bound galley of Grisham's latest book ( to be published in May 2022)。 The book consists of three novellas, each one different but, of course, all dealing with legal cases。 The first one is "Homecoming," which places us back in Clanton, Mississippi, with Jake Brigance, the lawyer in "A Time to Kill。" The story is about an old friend of Jake's, Mack Stafford, who had disappeared, abandoning his family and his law practice。 Now, he wants to come back and he needs Jake and Harry Rex ( his actual lawyer) to help him。。。 3 stars for this one and no more than that mainly because I wanted more Jake! But good to see Jake again。 "Strawberry Moon," the second story, features Cody Wallace, a young man on death row only hours away from execution。 A powerful story--as I expected it to be--and I give it 4 or 4。5 stars。 The third story, "Sparring Partners," is the longest novella and could easily have been developed into a novel。 The story concerns the Malloy brothers, Kirk and Rusty, who inherit the law firm (in St。 Louis) when the founder, their father, is sent to prison。 The two brothers are the "sparring partners" of the title as they hate each other and refuse to even speak with each other。 Meanwhile, the father tries to manipulate things from inside the prison。。。The story engaged me completely and kept me guessing where it was going-- and is my favorite of the three novellas of the book。 Easily a 4。5。 Definitely a book for Grisham fans and possibly a good way to be introduced to Grisham if you haven't yet read anything by the author! Thanks to Goodreads for the bound galley that I received。 。。。more

Wendy

Sparring Partners by John Grisham is a collection of three novellas being published at the end of May。 In “Homecoming,” Grisham takes fans back to Ford County, Mississippi, the setting of many of his earlier books。 The familiar character Jake Brigance is featured in this story about a fellow lawyer named Mack Stafford who three years ago left his family and disappeared to some foreign country, supposedly with a fortune。 Mack has had a change of heart, and he calls on Jake to help him return to t Sparring Partners by John Grisham is a collection of three novellas being published at the end of May。 In “Homecoming,” Grisham takes fans back to Ford County, Mississippi, the setting of many of his earlier books。 The familiar character Jake Brigance is featured in this story about a fellow lawyer named Mack Stafford who three years ago left his family and disappeared to some foreign country, supposedly with a fortune。 Mack has had a change of heart, and he calls on Jake to help him return to the United States。 He wants to make it up to his ex-wife, who is dying of cancer, and give his daughters a home。 What are the chances? Slim to none, according to the family。 Yet, a headstrong daughter has another opinion。“Strawberry Moon” introduces the reader to Cody Wallace, who is sitting on Death Row three hours away from his execution。 He and his brother never had a chance, born to a prostitute who did not want them。 Both escape foster care, living off the land, looting houses, pawning the items for cash。 One fateful night, something went deadly wrong。 Even though he wasn’t even armed, Cody was sentenced to death, and now all avenues have been exhausted。 Cody has one final request。 It is simple, costs nothing, but it would break the rules。 Will a prison guard jeopardize his job for a Death Row inmate and allow Cody his request?Kirk and Rusty Malloy, two brothers as well as practicing lawyers who took over the family law firm from their father who was sent to jail for killing his wife are the “Sparring Partners。” The brothers have long been on opposing sides, speaking only when absolutely necessary。 The firm is going into the toilet unless Diantha Bradshaw, the managing partner in the practice and the only person at the firm the partners trust, can save the practice。 Worse, their father is almost assured a get out of jail free card with a $2 million bribe to the governor of Missouri。 Can the partners outbid their father to keep him in jail so they can tap into the fortune he hid before being arrested for murder? Not wanting any part of their bribery scheme, Diantha must find a way to save the firm。John Grisham, a lawyer, started his writing career in 1988 with A Time to Kill, in which he introduced Jake Brigance。 Several of his books have been adapted for movies。 Born in Arkansas, he and his wife split their time among their homes in Charlottesville, Virginia; Destin, Florida, and Chapel Hill, North Carolina。My review will be posted on Goodreads starting April 29, 2022。I would like to thank Doubleday Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review。 。。。more

Sujoya

Overall Rating: 4/5Sparring Partners by John Grisham is a collection of three novellas, each of which is very well-written, distinctive in setting, theme and tone and makes for an intriguing read。 I thoroughly enjoyed this collection and would definitely recommend it to both longtime fans of Grisham and also as an interesting introduction to those who are yet to read any of his novels。“Homecoming” revolves around Mack Stafford, a former lawyer and resident of Clanton, Mississippi, and friends wi Overall Rating: 4/5Sparring Partners by John Grisham is a collection of three novellas, each of which is very well-written, distinctive in setting, theme and tone and makes for an intriguing read。 I thoroughly enjoyed this collection and would definitely recommend it to both longtime fans of Grisham and also as an interesting introduction to those who are yet to read any of his novels。“Homecoming” revolves around Mack Stafford, a former lawyer and resident of Clanton, Mississippi, and friends with lawyers Jake Brigance and Harry Rex (who also happens to be his lawyer)。 Mack disappeared from Clanton after divorcing his wife, declaring bankruptcy, and closing his practice rumored to have skipped town with his clients’ money due to them as part of a settlement。 Three years later he makes contact with Jake and expresses his desire to return to Clanton, meet his ex-wife who is terminally ill and reconnect with his daughters who he had left behind。 However, his homecoming is more complicated than he anticipated with his family wanting to have nothing to do with him and suspicions about his indiscretions leading to potential legal problems for which he requires the assistance of Jake and Harry。 This novella was an average read and my least favorite among the three。 With a few familiar characters (it was great to revisit Ford County with Grisham) and many new ones and an intriguing start, it did have some interesting moments but I was a tad disappointed with the way the story ultimately panned out。 (My Rating: 3。5/5)“Strawberry Moon” is an engaging story revolving around 29-year-old death row inmate Cody Wallace, who is hours away from being executed。 Incarcerated for a home invasion that resulted in the deaths of his brother/partner in crime and the two residents of the house they were in the process of burgling, his appeals and requests for clemency have been denied and now he waits for the inevitable。 The narrative gives us a snapshot of his life on ‘The Row’ and takes us through his final interactions with his lawyer, the prison doctor, the chaplain, his warden, a surprise visitor he has been corresponding with and the guard on duty who grants him his final wish。 This was a moving and thought-provoking read。 You cannot help but feel sympathy for Cody who was arrested at the young age of fourteen and ponder over the justification for capital punishment。 (My rating: 4。5/5)The final novella, “Sparring Partners”, revolves around St。 Louis based law firm Malloy & Malloy and the Malloy brothers, Rusty and Kirk, who couldn’t be any more different in nature, management styles or political inclinations and hardly speak to each other and mostly communicate through ‘unofficial third partner’ Diantha Bradshaw。 However, together they run the family law firm after their father was incarcerated for manslaughter and duly disbarred, though his devious efforts to manipulate from behind bars remain a constant factor of irritation。 Unfortunately, the firm is in a downward spiral。 While the brothers and Diantha are concerned with the survival of the firm, each of them is also motivated by self-interest and is looking to grab a larger slice of the pie from a settlement that Malloy Sr。 has kept hidden with the help of his lawyer without him knowing。 What follows is a thrilling sequence of events involving collusion and deceit, bribery and political corruption and financial fraud。 The fast-paced narrative, well-developed characters and intriguing plot kept me glued to the pages with this one。 (My rating: 4。5/5)Many thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for the digital review copy。 All opinions expressed in this review are my own。 This book is due for release on May 31, 2022。 。。。more

Brenda

Grisham never fails to deliver a great book。 Sparring Partners is three novellas which are all great reads。 Thanks, Netgallery for the ARC。

Jodi Olson

I received a bound gallery。I've not read a lot of John Grisham; this book of 3 novellas I read in one day。 I got invested in the characters and storylines and was upset they ended so quickly。 It was a good read and I'll definitely recommend to others。 I received a bound gallery。I've not read a lot of John Grisham; this book of 3 novellas I read in one day。 I got invested in the characters and storylines and was upset they ended so quickly。 It was a good read and I'll definitely recommend to others。 。。。more

Jonathan K (Plot & Characters Matter)

Having written a positive review of 'Sooley' Grisham's most recent book, I was contacted by Doubleday offering a 'bound, pre-release galley" in exchange for use of it。 Flattered, I was eager to read it once it arrived。Broken into three novellas, the first one brings Jake Brigance back in "Homecoming"; unfortunately it was disappointing due to predictability and lackluster characters。 Rather than belabor the topic and fill in the details, suffice it to say it falls short of 'A Time To Kill', the Having written a positive review of 'Sooley' Grisham's most recent book, I was contacted by Doubleday offering a 'bound, pre-release galley" in exchange for use of it。 Flattered, I was eager to read it once it arrived。Broken into three novellas, the first one brings Jake Brigance back in "Homecoming"; unfortunately it was disappointing due to predictability and lackluster characters。 Rather than belabor the topic and fill in the details, suffice it to say it falls short of 'A Time To Kill', the best of all stories involving Jake。Moving to the next one, its a feeble attempt at "Just Mercy" with a death row convict on edge as his execution nears。 Hail Mary passes by his attorney and efforts for re-trials and pardons fail。 Once again, it was predictable from start to finish。And now the good news!In the final story, its hard not to think that Grisham pulled the plot from Trump and his henchmen who as you know were all pardoned。 With this story we meet the imprisoned father of a successful family law firm who was convicted of involvement with the death of his wife。 While in prison, his two disjointed sons do their best to win litigation trials and both lack the devious nature of Dad。 Hatred for one another increases over time until they learn of their father's scheme。 Having kept a tobacco case settlement secret from them, he'd funneled the annual $3M to offshore accounts。 Eager to get out of prison, he contrives yet another scheme and shares it with the firm's disgruntled manager。 It's the old 'little does he know' thing that catches him。All in all its not a complete failure since Grisham is a master of pacing, suspense and the legal arena。 That said, I honestly cannot recommend this unless you're one of the millions of Grisham fans。 I found 'Sooley' far more to my liking due to it NOT being another legal thriller。 。。。more

Heather

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Doubleday Books and by #NetGalley。 Opinions expressed are completely my own。 Three equally interesting, intriguing stories with characters that you’ve come to expect from John Grisham。

Rick Molitor

This is a book of three novellas each very different from the others。 They are all legal based。 I thought the first one was an interesting story but was just a good story。 The second story was better and more interesting and different with a good perspective on the subject of death row。 The third one was the best。 It grabbed you more and had some good twists and turns。 A good read。

Tess

Fantastic book。 He never disappoints。 A must read。

Mona Hesseling

Arghhh! These short stories made me craving for more! Great story lines。

Jeff Crosby

May 2022

PAMELA MASTERS

Awaiting receipt。

John Grisham

My latest book, the one I’m still trying to finish, is something new for me。 Sparring Partners is a small collection of short novels, known as novellas, they’re too short to be novels and too long to be short stories — thus, novellas。 I wrote them for several reasons one of which is I’m still stuck at home with COVID and can’t do anything else, so I’m writing far too much, but most importantly these are stories I’ve had for a long time。 I hope you enjoy them。