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The Broker

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The Broker

By: John Grisham
Narrated by: Michael Beck
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About this listen

In his final hours in the Oval Office, the outgoing president grants a controversial last-minute pardon to Joel Backman, a notorious Washington power broker who has spent the last six years hidden away in a federal prison. What no one knows is that the president issues the pardon only after receiving enormous pressure from the CIA. It seems Backman, in his power-broker heyday, may have obtained secrets that compromise the world's most sophisticated satellite surveillance system.

Backman is quietly smuggled out of the country in a military cargo plane, given a new name, a new identity, and a new home in Italy. Eventually, after he has settled into his new life, the CIA will leak his whereabouts to the Israelis, the Russians, the Chinese, and the Saudis. Then the CIA will do what it does best: sit back and watch. The question is not whether Backman will survive - there is no chance of that. The question the CIA needs answered is, who will kill him?

©2004 John Grisham (P)2005 Random House, LLC Genre Fiction Military Political Spies & Politics Thriller & Suspense War & Military Espionage Fiction Suspense Exciting Italy War

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Critic reviews

"A killer combination of sheer story-telling nous and no-nonsense prose" ( Independent)
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if you've come to enjoy the courtroom law based Grisham novels this one is a little different.

based around an anti-hero pardoned by an outgoing president and released from prison it centres on his life after prison adjusting to a new identity and trying to stay alive.

it chugs along at a good pace and at every step of the way you're left thinking, "what would I do in his shoes".

I really enjoyed it and the narration, which I struggled with at first soon grew on me. give it a try I'm sure if you're a Grisham fan you'll enjoy this too.

Grisham but a bit different

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loved this book...didn't want to put it down.I thought the naration was great and really allowed me to walk along side the characters.
I didn't expect it to end when it did though.

What a good read!

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An awesomely engaging listen, from start to finish. Top form and the narrator is a favourite. Brilliant. Highly recommended.

Fantastic !!!

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Love John Grisham and this doesn’t disappoint despite the departure from the legal arena. Highly recommend.

Great story

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Fairly boring story - felt like the writer was keen on talking about having a holiday in Italy and used the story as a hook

Dull

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good characters, well told. Lots to keep you interested. good stuff, I am now filling up the review as it requires more words

worth listening to

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A little bit different by lacking the more legal parts of his work but very enjoyable. The author's statement at the end clarifies some of the questions you may have crossed you mind. Well recommend , so on to his next release.

if its Italian it's smart

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The first and last quarters are good. The middle reads like a travelogue of Italy and Bologna! Generally a big fan of Grisham but this one was disappointing! If I wanted to read a travelogue, I’d pick up a magazine or a travel book. Narration is good though!

Disappointed

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Excellent spy/law thriller set amongst the all of fabulous food and fascinating history of the city of Bologna. Definitely worth your time.

Classic Grisham

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I loved listening to this book because it was gripping from the first page and I don't say that lightly.
So many twists and turns making it very hard to predict!.
If you're trying into espionage pulse raising drama then this is definitely for you!
An easy 5 stars!

Amazing !!

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