The Exchange, Grisham - C+

                      For my money, the two most memorable characters Grisham has created are Jake Brigance from 'A Time To Kill' and Mitch McDeere from 'The Firm.' This is undoubtedly due to the charismatic renderings in the books, and the charming young actors, McConaughey and Cruise respectively, who portrayed them in the movies. Jake has had three books. This is Mitch's second, and oh what a crushing disappointment. It is to the best of my recollection Grisham's first thriller overseas. By moving the focus to Libya and featuring a kidnapping, none of the author's brilliant plotting and suspense is present. Indeed, we wait and wait for the kidnappers to raise their hands. When they do, they ask for $100M for an associate from Mitch's firm, NY based, and the largest in the world. Mitch and a few others race around the world trying to raise the funds. Unfortunately for the McDeere's, the kidnappers choose Mitch's wife, Abby, as the go-between. The money is raised, the hostage freed, and Mitch so disillusioned by his firm that he quits. I'm not sure it would rate as a thriller. It certainly flops as a legal thriller.