Not Bad, But Wait For Paperback: Conor Dugan Reviews 'The Partner'

By Conor Dugan | Wednesday, April 23, 1997

Over spring break I saw my mom with The Partner, yet another John Grisham book (this guy pumps them out faster than I can write a sentence). I ribbed her a little on buying a hardcover in these frugal college tuition years. 'Why didn't you just wait until the paperback, Mom?' I asked. 'Sam's Club,' she answered. Ahh, yes, the joys of unfettered capitalism and the bulk stores which it has created. Soon she had finished it and I began my light holiday read. I can say that after reading it I am glad she bought the hardcover.

The Partner is the story of Patrick Lanigan, a.k.a. Danilo Silva. Lanigan is a lawyer who faked his own death, stealing $90 million from his former law firm and its client, Benny Aricia, in the process. The novel opens in Ponta Por?, 'a pleasant little town in Brazil,' where bounty hunters hired by Lanigan's former firm have come upon 'Danilo Silva,' living out his days in a modest cottage. It has been four years since a suspicious, fiery car crash 'killed' Lanigan, leaving his wife a widow and his young daughter an orphan.

As the vigilantes torture Lanigan in order to find the money, we learn that Lanigan has planned for these possibilities. His Brazilian mistress, Eva Miranda, soon puts the machinations in motion. Knowing that 'Danilo' is in danger, she calls the FBI, which quickly makes arrangements to place Lanigan in federal custody. Half-alive, Lanigan is soon flying back to the United States to stand trial for his crimes. On the docket are Mississippi capital murder and federal embezzlement charges.

As Lanigan recuperates in a military hospital his plan really begins to develop. He enlists an old college friend, Sandy McDermott, to be his counsel. He plays other cards as well. In order to gain sympathy he files suit against the FBI for the burns accrued in the torture. And on his way back to Biloxi, Mississippi, he embellishes his story in order to befriend his doctor and remain in his cushy hospital room instead of being transferred to the horrid Parchman Prison.

Surprisingly, here the book gained excitement even though Lanigan remained incarcerated. It was thrilling to see his plan come to fruition. I found myself losing sleep to stay up and finish a chapter or two to find out what move Lanigan would make next. I also began to feel sympathy for Lanigan. He was a thief and possible killer — and I was rooting him on. He was the little guy, taking on the system — a man fed up with his wife's adultery, disillusioned with his profession, and willing to simply fade away and leave. I saw no way out for him, but I hoped that he would find a way out for himself.

Within Lanigan's story are other players. Judge Karl Huskey, an old friend, happens to be the initial murder trial judge and is able to give Lanigan some help and reassurance. Lanigan's former wife, Trudy, also makes an appearance. She gained little of my sympathy — she was nothing more than a money-grubbing strumpet. We meet her sleazy boyfriend, Lance, who is a drug runner and a lowlife. Benny Aricia is the client whose money was stolen. And we also meet the broken lawyers of Bogan, Rapley, Vitrano, Havarac, and Lanigan, Attorneys and Counselors at Law, Lanigan's former firm. These men are bankrupt and alcoholic — men who hate each other but have no one else to turn to.

The Partner does have some weaknesses. After reading several of Grisham's novels, I could predict some of the plot twists. The novel is also not technically detailed. If you are interested in briefs and the intricacies of the law, turn to a law school, not Grisham's novel. Some of the characters are also a bit flat. I had a hard time visualizing them. I can only tell you that Eva Miranda was beautiful — that is how she was described. The characters did not jump off the page at me. The were exciting but not totally real.

But in the end Grisham's novel is very entertaining. Like his other novels, The Partner is a page-turner. It is the type of book you would want to have at the beach or on a plane ride — it is both easy and fun to read. Go out and get it — but wait for the paperback.

Not Bad, But Wait For Paperback: Conor Dugan Reviews 'The Partner'

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