Super Short Summary

The Brethren by John Grisham follows three incarcerated former judges—Joe Spicer, Finn Yarber, and Hatlee Beech—who run an extortion scheme from a federal prison by posing as gay men to blackmail respondents, including a presidential candidate, threatening to expose their secrets unless demands are met; simultaneously, the CIA director manipulates the presidential election. The story includes themes of political corruption, blackmail, and betrayal.