RaveThe Washington PostThis is a legal book that lawyers can read. (It’s also pretty great for non-lawyers, too.) Not only is it free of any major legal gaffes, but it also addresses a problem within the legal profession that deserves attention: the deceptive practices of for-profit law schools ... Sure, there are some lucky coincidences and things happen on a very expedited timeline in this fast-paced novel, but no more than you would find in your average thriller. Moreover, The Rooster Bar highlights the appalling way that many for-profit law schools ruin many of their students. In the author’s note, Grisham writes that his book was influenced by an article in the Atlantic called 'The Law-School Scam,' a lengthy investigation of for-profit law schools. Bravo to him for using his star power to shine another spotlight on an all-too-real problem in this gratifying and all-too-real book.
Beth Underdown
RaveThe Washington PostUnderdown has found a fresh approach, spinning a tale that’s entertaining and thought-provoking — with a valuable message for our own times ... Underdown beautifully creates a palpable sense of anxiety ... Underdown has written a novel that grapples with two very important questions: how those in power oppress the powerless through fear and intimidation, and how the bystanders must decide what, if anything, they will do to stop it. The Witchfinder’s Sister serves as an important reminder — especially valuable today — of the consequences of such an imbalance.
