Anticipating a new Grisham novel is almost as much fun as racing through one. Until The Brethren.The plot of The Brethren is still full of Grisham's clever twists, quirky (Southern, mostly) characters, money and high stakes. The differences with this book are that there is no hero, no likable character at all, and it is just too, too timely. Grisham is entitled to his political opinions--and entitled to his success as a novelist. But I felt after reading this one that it had been designed to fulfill--probably successfully--three purposes:1) to make more money, 2) to make still more money as a movie, and 3) to grind Grisham's ax about the government and the 2000 presidential race.I felt there should have been a dustcover warning: What you are about to read is a political statement; entertainment is solely secondary. Proceed at your own risk.