The Exchange by John Grisham Summary
Overview of The Exchange
After 32 years, Grisham's #1 bestseller sequel reunites us with Mitch McDeere, now navigating a high-stakes kidnapping in Libya. What dangerous secrets await in this international thriller that captivated fans who made The Firm a $158-million box office phenomenon?
Similar books to The Exchange
Feel the book through the author's voice
Turn knowledge into engaging, example-rich insights
Capture key ideas in a flash for fast learning
Enjoy the book in a fun and engaging way
Key takeaways
A Legal Thriller with Life-or-Death Stakes
Fifteen years after escaping the corrupt Bendini law firm, Mitch McDeere has rebuilt his life as a partner at prestigious Scully & Pershing in Manhattan. His corner office on the forty-eighth floor overlooks Central Park - a far cry from his humble Kentucky beginnings. Despite his success negotiating billion-dollar mergers for Fortune 500 clients, Mitch maintains modest habits, taking the subway instead of black sedans and living in a Brooklyn brownstone with his wife Abby and eight-year-old twin sons. The comfortable life he's constructed begins to unravel when a pro bono death row case brings him back to Memphis - the city he fled under deadly circumstances years ago. Though the inmate mysteriously dies before Mitch arrives, this brief encounter with America's shadowy justice system foreshadows the international intrigue to come. Returning to Memphis forces Mitch to confront ghosts he's long avoided - walking through the renovated Bendini Building, passing landmarks that trigger vivid memories of his narrow escape. Over lunch with Lamar, a former colleague who spent twenty-seven months in federal prison after the firm's collapse, Mitch reveals his untold journey: escaping by boat to the Caymans, living on the run with money taken from the firm, eventually settling in Cortona, Italy where they rented a cottage for 300 euros monthly. After three years immersed in Italian culture, they moved to London where Mitch's Harvard credentials opened doors at Scully's office there. Two years later, with Abby pregnant, they returned to America.
A Terminal Diagnosis and a Deadly Assignment
Ambush in the Desert
When Terror Hits Home
The Race Against Time
The Exchange and New Beginnings
Quick Summary Mode - Read or listen to The Exchange Summary in 8 Minutes
Break down key ideas from The Exchange into bite-sized takeaways to understand how innovative teams create, collaborate, and grow.
Flash Card Mode - Top 10 Insights from The Exchange in a Nutshell
Distill The Exchange into rapid-fire memory cues that highlight Pixar’s principles of candor, teamwork, and creative resilience.
Fun Mode - The Exchange Lessons Told Through 22-Min Stories
Experience The Exchange through vivid storytelling that turns Pixar’s innovation lessons into moments you’ll remember and apply.
Personalize Mode - Read or listen to The Exchange Summary in 0 Minutes
Ask anything, pick the voice, and co-create insights that truly resonate with you.
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
Get the The Exchange summary as a free PDF or EPUB. Print it or read offline anytime.