The Associate By John Grisham John Grisham is at it again. The Associate brings together the best in vintage Grisham writings. The book introduces the readers to one of Grisham's younger, prime characters in 25-year old Kyle McAvoy, a recent law school graduate from Yale with an under graduate degree from Duquesne. Kyle's three Beta buddies find themselves back in contact with each other. Readers get a quick insight into the ability of forces beyond the visible and their abilities to take over the life of young McAvoy. In this case, the force has the name McAvoy wants to forget, Bennie Wright. It is hard to believe, but I suppose lawyers understand it well; the unbelievable grind of major law firms where it is all about billable hours. McAvoy is forced to jump in head first to that life at the largest law firm in the world. A short video from his Duquesne days has fallen into Bennie's hands. Kyle and his three friends have something very big to hide. The deep secret they hoped would never resurface has done so. Bennie has blackmail element number one. McAvoy, more than a little bit reluctant, becomes his pawn in a litigation with stakes at $800 billion. Twists and turns of every variety punctuate the journey to bury the secret while trying to keep Bernie satisfied and deceived along the way. Pastors might find Grisham's description of McAvoy's college friend Baxter Tate very accurate. He describes Tate's drug addicted life converted to Christ and his subsequent desire to make it right with the violated party from the video. McAvoy finds it difficult to keep everything a secret when one of his four buddies wants to reconcile. This book is a break from all the pastoral leadership books you read. You won't become a better pastor, leader, visionary, etc. a a result of reading this book, but your mind will be fresher for having done so.