Thirty-two years after publishing his iconic legal thriller, The Firm, #1 New York Times bestselling author John Grisham is finally set to release the long-awaited sequel when The Exchange hits bookstores on October 17th, 2023.
The Firm, which was adapted into the 1993 blockbuster movie starring Tom Cruise, Gene Hackman, and Wilford Brimley, follows a young attorney named Mitch McDeere who “joins a small but prestigious law firm only to find out that most of their clients are on the wrong side of the law.” Of course, as many know by now, “the company is helping to launder mob money, get clients off charges, and even murder partners who threaten to blow their cover.” That is, at least, until the FBI gets involved. In the middle of it all is McDeere, who, after dreaming of becoming a successful lawyer, must now find a way to stay out of federal prison . . . and alive . . . long enough to piece everything together.
The Firm was also adapted for television on NBC but functioned more as a continuation than a retelling of the original story. That series, starring Josh Lucus as McDeere, picked up ten years after the events that took place in the book and the movie, but only lasted 22 episodes before being canceled in 2012. Now, with Grisham’s new novel, fans of the original story will finally see what really happens next for McDeere.
Coming back to some of his most iconic stories isn’t exactly new for Grisham, though, for the most part, he has notoriously avoided sequels for much of his career.
In 2013, Grisham brought back Jake Brigance—who, of course, starred in A Time to Kill (1989)—in Sycamore Row and then again in A time for Mercy (2020). Brigance also appeared in Grisham’s 2022 novella, Sparring Partners. Beyond that, the lawyer turned bestselling author has penned a YA thriller series centered around teenager Theodore Boone and has done a select few other follow-up novels. Aside from that, though, he’s left other iconic thrillers, such as The Pelican Brief (1992), The Client (1993), The Chamber (1994), The Rainmaker (1995), The Runaway Jury (1996)—all of which were made into major motion pictures—alone. With so many classic stories and characters that could be revisited, it’s frankly surprising that Grisham hasn’t taken advantage of such opportunities. However, not doing so speaks to his level of talent and success, as he’s continuously churned out hit after hit, with the majority of his books featuring new characters, locations, and events. So, when he does come back to one of his beloved characters, it’s obviously noteworthy, making The Exchange one of 2023’s most notable new releases.
Check out the official plot details and cover art below.
What became of Mitch and Abby McDeere after they exposed the crimes of Memphis law firm Bendini, Lambert & Locke and fled the country? The answer is in The Exchange, the riveting sequel to The Firm, the blockbuster thriller that launched the career of America’s favorite storyteller. It is now fifteen years later, and Mitch and Abby are living in Manhattan, where Mitch is a partner at the largest law firm in the world. When a mentor in Rome asks him for a favor that will take him far from home, Mitch finds himself at the center of a sinister plot that has worldwide implications—and once again endangers his colleagues, friends, and family. Mitch has become a master at staying one step ahead of his adversaries, but this time there’s nowhere to hide.
Don’t miss John Grisham’s new book, THE EXCHANGE: AFTER THE FIRM, coming soon!
John Grisham is the author of numerous #1 bestsellers, which have been translated into nearly fifty languages. His recent books include The Boys from Biloxi, The Judge’s List, Sooley, and his third Jake Brigance novel, A Time for Mercy, which is being developed by HBO as a limited series. Grisham is a two-time winner of the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction and was honored with the Library of Congress Creative Achievement Award for Fiction. When he’s not writing, Grisham serves on the board of directors of the Innocence Project and of Centurion Ministries, two national organizations dedicated to exonerating those who have been wrongfully convicted. Much of his fiction explores deep-seated problems in our criminal justice system. Grisham lives on a farm in central Virginia.
Readers excited to pre-order The Exchange can now do so here or anywhere else books are sold.
Praised as “One of the hardest working, most thoughtful, and fairest reviewers out there” by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Scottoline, Ryan Steck has “quickly established himself as the authority on mysteries and thrillers” (Author A.J. Tata). Steck also works full-time as a freelance editor and is building a growing community on Twitch. His debut thriller, FIELDS OF FIRE, which #1 New York Times bestselling author Jack Carr says “will leave you speechless and begging for more,” is now available. For more information, be sure to follow him on Twitter and Facebook. And to take part in free, exclusive BOOK CLUBS each month, join The Real Book Spy on Discord.