John Grisham deserves his reputation as a crime writer. Normally I loathe present tense writing as it often smacks of immaturity, so my heart sank when I saw that's what this was, but within the first few pages I was gripped as Grisham wove his typically tight, tense and compelling narrative.
The Guardians of the title are pro bono legal sharks who pursue exonerations for the wrongfully convicted, and this novel, some of which is sadly based on true cases, looks at two particularly intricate cases. The characters are interesting, the plot is believable and also insane. Another Smash.

A good John Grisham. Some are not so hot, but here he is right back on form in his usual territory - exposing the huge brutality and cruelty of America's criminal justice system. Grisham shows us the racism and classism at the heart of the system - and the corruption that enables it to functions. He also shows us how those who profit from the failures of the system - the private prison providers, criminals, politicians and police - ensure it remains as undisturbed as possible by such silly concerns as justice and fairness.

If you never read another John Grisham, you'd understand everything you need to know about the man and his passions from this book. But its more than a fictionalised polemic - its an excellent taut and compelling thriller that once you've started you don't want to put down.

Highly recommended.

I'd like to thank netgalley, the publisher and Mr Grisham himself for this advance review copy which made a day in bed with a bad cold really very exciting

Sometimes you get the feeling that he’s phoning it in a bit but when he’s in form there is no thriller writer out there who can match John Grisham for sheer excitement, thrills and great plotting.

The Guardians is up there with his best and engaged me from the opening chapter.

I finished it in a day and can thoroughly recommend it as an exceptional legal thriller.

Highly recommended.