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  • The Racketeer

  • By: John Grisham
  • Narrated by: JD Jackson
  • Length: 12 hrs and 46 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (10,955 ratings)

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The Racketeer

By: John Grisham
Narrated by: JD Jackson
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Publisher's summary

Given the importance of what they do, and the controversies that often surround them, and the violent people they sometimes confront, it is remarkable that in the history of this country only four active federal judges have been murdered.

Judge Raymond Fawcett has just become number five.

Who is the Racketeer? And what does he have to do with the judge’s untimely demise? His name, for the moment, is Malcolm Bannister. Job status? Former attorney. Current residence? The Federal Prison Camp near Frostburg, Maryland.

On paper, Malcolm’s situation isn’t looking too good these days, but he’s got an ace up his sleeve. He knows who killed Judge Fawcett, and he knows why. The judge’s body was found in his remote lakeside cabin. There was no forced entry, no struggle, just two dead bodies: Judge Fawcett and his young secretary. And one large, state-of-the-art, extremely secure safe, opened and emptied.

What was in the safe? The FBI would love to know. And Malcolm Bannister would love to tell them. But everything has a price—especially information as explosive as the sequence of events that led to Judge Fawcett’s death. And the Racketeer wasn’t born yesterday....

Nothing is as it seems and everything’s fair game in this wickedly clever new novel from John Grisham, the undisputed master of the legal thriller.

©2012 Belfry Holdings, Inc. (P)2012 Random House Audio

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 Racketeer

Average customer ratings
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You will not determine the ending.

What did you love best about The Racketeer?

The conclusion.

What other book might you compare The Racketeer to and why?

It is similar to Grisham;s books.

What does J.D. Jackson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I think he provides more characterization.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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it's john grisham

Any additional comments?

it is always a pleasure to listen to a Grisham Novel .... It was a pretty good story. I think Mr. Grisham has a good idea of how law enforcement works..... ....charge them with everything under the sun and squeeze them for all their worth .... I will listen to it again

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Another home run

I love that Mr. Grisham can keep me spellbound without the need of profanity and overt sexual scenes. More writers should take notice and perhaps they would gain more readers. Thank you, John Grisham!

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Kept me Guessing Until the End!

In true Grisham form the story had me on my toes and wondering until the very end. The twists and turns kept me interested throughout the story!

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Good first half

I started off enjoying the book, essentially until Bannister was released. Then the story evolved into a tedious description of an implausible plan. Both he and Vanessa seemed skilled in deception beyond their capability.

Also, since this book is in the first person, how would Bannister know what was going on outside of his personal existence.

Excellent reading by Jackson.

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John Grisham is always a good bet!

Any additional comments?

Enjoyed the book. I listened while traveling and had no trouble catching up where I had to pause and feeling "connected" to the story. I think I will listen to it again and will probably catch several things I missed first time around. Very good!

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Riveting story and narration

One of my favorite authors, John Grisham excells in his story telling abilities A little raw in a couple of spots, but I am guessing it's there to open the reader up to the stark gruesome possibilities of being behind bars with more seasoned criminals.

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Intriguing

Intriguing story line. Keeps the reader engaged and guessing what's to come. Look forward to other Grisham books.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Another Solid Grisham Novel

Any additional comments?

Many of Grisham's novels have seemed to be "auto-penned" of late. I thought this one was the real deal.

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good

good book not one of his best but good I recommend reading it or listening if you prefer

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