#1 New York Times bestselling author John Grisham’s newest legal thriller takes you inside a law firm that’s on shaky ground.“[A] buoyant, mischievous thriller . . . Grisham writes in such an inventive spirit. . . . A treat.”—Janet Maslin, The New York Times Mark, Todd, and Zola came to law school to change the world, to make it a better place. But now, as third-year students, these close … better place. But now, as third-year students, these close friends realize they have been duped. They all borrowed heavily to attend a third-tier for-profit law school so mediocre that its graduates rarely pass the bar exam, let alone get good jobs. And when they learn that their school is one of a chain owned by a shady New York hedge-fund operator who also happens to own a bank specializing in student loans, the three know they have been caught up in The Great Law School Scam.
But maybe there’s a way out. Maybe there’s a way to escape their crushing debt, expose the bank and the scam, and make a few bucks in the process. But to do so, they would first have to quit school. And leaving law school a few short months before graduation would be completely crazy, right? Well, yes and no . . .
Pull up a stool, grab a cold one, and get ready to spend some time at The Rooster Bar.
“Satisfying . . . Grisham [is] at his best when he brings his sardonic sense of humor to the sometimes questionable ethics of law and banking.”—USA Today
“[A] smartly told tale . . . gratifying and all-too-real.”—The Washington Post
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This is John Grisham’s latest novel and, once again, it deals with the legal profession – specifically “for- profit” law schools. While the topic is serious the activities of the main characters, Mark, Todd, Zola and Gordy wind a tale that is a little exciting, a little funny and a little a mix of both. It takes place at the Foggy Bottom Law School. The subjects mentioned above are all in their final semester of school and carrying a huge amount of debt (yes, the school, as it turns out is in the lending business) which discourages the four from completing their legal education. The decide to take on the enterprise and to do this, they actually drop out of law school and pretend they are lawyers and appear in court on behalf of clients they have solicited in violation of most legal ethical standards. Read the book, you will enjoy it.
How three law school dropouts make millions while zapping a billionaire who runs eight law school scams to get government money. Really clues reader in on today’s outrageous college tuition, how it started. and how thousands get the money through fraud….which ultimately will come from us tax payers.
Good book but not one of Grisham’s best. Leisurely pace with the female character not really having much to do. Interesting premise with students from a diploma mill law school deeply in debt with worthless degrees that decide to take matters into their own hands. Morally ambiguous characters who get their HEA by gaming the system. A solid 4 star read.
When characters dig themselves deeper in hot water and your stomach twists as if it’s happening to you, you know you’re vested!
Mark, Zola, Todd and Gordy are deep into their third year of law school debt thanks to a sham, but so far that’s all that’s shady. When Gordy goes off his rocker –and meds–he unravels the Great Law School Scam, tracing it back to the big banks who bleed students dry while making offshore millions.
They decide to bail on their last semester, assume false identities and beat the scam at their own game. Thus begins the misadventures of hustling easy bucks as ambulance chasing DUI vultures. Only the plan Gordy unravels begins unraveling them!
The story was entertaining but was slightly different than I expected based from the blurb on the back. I thought the information Gordy revealed would be a pawn much sooner but it did play out. AT times I didn’t understand the complicated chart of banks and all its intricacies and why the law rebels were doing what they were doing with it, but it is later revealed and maybe it’s more on me for not being in the profession.
The ending is cute but had me wondering why go through all that trouble?
As immersed as Grisham is in law, he has a simplistic yet educated writing style all readers can enjoy and his flair for engaging dialogue keeps me a fan.
I’ve seen mixed reviews after I posted mine, but if you like Grisham novels, you’ll probably like this well enough.
Not up to his usual standards.
Not one positive character in this book. The entire book depressed me. If the book had not been selected by my book club I would not have continue plodding through it.
It’s been years but I remember it. My husband is reading this now.
I really enjoyed this book. Sometimes Grisham gets bogged down with the law and not the charters or a good story. This one was very much like the twists and turns of the Firm.
Outstanding
Can’t go wrong with John Grisham
THE ROOSTER BAR by John Grisham is categorized as a Crime THRILLER and as a Legal THRILLER. There was nothing thrilling about this book. Nothing. I kept waiting, thinking, “This is Grisham, surely there’s going to be something to salvage this story at the end.” There wasn’t.
I love everything John Grisham writes, and this book is no exception.
I stayed up all night to finish it because I literally could not put it down.
Dragged the reader along. Only Grisham novel that I just could not finish.
I thoroughly enjoy the majority of Gresham’s books, especially those dealing with the law. This one approaches the law from a different standpoint, law students in a diploma mill type school that has the sole purpose of taking the students’ loan money and providing a mediocre learning experience that won’t get them a decent job anywhere, assuming they can even pass the bar. Several friends find this out just short of their graduation, leading to some sad outcomes, and their attempts to punish those behind the business, get their money back, and ruin the parent corporation. Many twists to a plot which at least to me was not obvious. While not Gresham’s typical past courtroom drama, it was a great read. The name comes from their primary base of operation for their activities.
Great book! Very intriguing. I hope we get to learn what happens to this band of thieves. Do they ever get caught?
John Grisham books always keep me interested.
I can’t put a John Grisham book down until it’s finished. He is the very best.
Disappointing novel from the usually reliable John Grisham. Repetitious, predictable, and, ultimately, boring. The only good comment I can add is that it was a quick and easy-to-read.
I usually like Grisham books, but this one seemed a little bit far-fetched, about 3 3rd year law students who drop out and try to hustle legal gigs without a license. I kept wanting to tell them to get real and cut it out.
I love Grisham but this one was boring and unbelievable. Waste of time.