Sample
  • The Broker

  • A Novel
  • By: John Grisham
  • Narrated by: Michael Beck
  • Length: 11 hrs and 9 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (5,384 ratings)

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The Broker

By: John Grisham
Narrated by: Michael Beck
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Publisher's summary

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 Belfry Holdings, Inc (P)2005 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Most and best of all, it’s Grisham living up to his reputation as a great storyteller.”—Entertainment Weekly

“A fast-paced, fun read with echoes of something deeper. The author’s command of pop fiction delivers crisp, sharp prose.”—The Boston Globe

“[Grisham] is exceptionally good at what he does. . . . Indeed, right now in this country, nobody does it better.”—The Washington Post

Featured Article: The Essential John Grisham in Audio


John Grisham is best known for his fast-paced legal thrillers and mysteries, many of which have been adapted for television and film. Because he’s so prolific and has been writing for decades, it can be difficult to know where to begin when selecting a title from his impressive back catalog. And Grisham is definitely a jack-of-all-trades: he’s written not only legal thrillers, but nonfiction, a series for kids, some humorous novels, and recently, a new mystery series outside of the legal thriller genre. To help you decide which Grisham gem to download next, we’ve compiled a list of the very best.

What listeners say about The Broker

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    3,158
  • 4 Stars
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  • 3 Stars
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Story
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  • 3 Stars
    336
  • 2 Stars
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  • 1 Stars
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

great listen

Excellent narrator and an easy listen. Very suspenseful and keeps your attention. Highly recommended for those mystery lovers.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

The Broker

This was my first Audible book and I am sure one of many more to come. I was truly transported right into the drama. The story line is great, characters of intrigue and the locations were so vivid. I feel like I was in Bologna, Italy. One night I fell asleep listening to the book, only to wake up dreaming in italian! Great book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Micheal Beck great narrator!!

Great story! Loved the descriptions of Italy! Took me back! Really enjoy listening to Micheal Beck's narration!!!

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

More of a language and tour guide.

There's a story for sure but I felt the book really was more of a Italian language guide and tourist guide for parts of Italy than a gripping suspense thriller mystery.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Too much translation

the book was interesting but way too much on learning Italian and too slow. Teadeous

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Great Book

This is the first John Grisham book I ever read. I really enjoyed this book. The character detail was perfect. If you ever have been to Italy you can tell this writer spent some time here by they way he brings out the detail of the towns and lifestyle of the Italians.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

I don’t get the bad reviews…

This was different storyline for Grisham and a little slow starting (like I find most spy novels) but once it took off I enjoyed the hell out of it! Stayed up way too late to finish it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another great Grisham book

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. it kept me captivated at all times. I sometimes just say in the car longer than I would have so that I could finish a chaoter.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Under rated great story!

I am so very glad I did not let the negative reviews and comments on this book disuade me from downloading and listening to it This is one of my favorite Grisham novels. Yes, there is a lot of "language" lessons and food review of Bologna Italy, But there is a good story in there too. and it was a fun book to listen to. It isn't too serious or earth shattering, and not really any moral lessons.. but just a fun spy and political story.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Grisham novels

I have to admit I’m a sucker for all John Grisham-there isn’t much I haven’t read by him-I think just his joint efforts or short stories. Michael Beck is the best performer I’ve ever listened to read a book! Enjoy this novel! I sure did!

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