• The Racketeer

  • By: John Grisham
  • Narrated by: JD Jackson
  • Length: 12 hrs and 46 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (10,833 ratings)

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The Racketeer  By  cover art

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
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    5,626
  • 4 Stars
    3,355
  • 3 Stars
    1,281
  • 2 Stars
    355
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Performance
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    749
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    200
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Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4,951
  • 4 Stars
    2,708
  • 3 Stars
    1,206
  • 2 Stars
    351
  • 1 Stars
    211

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

Great story! Great Read!

If you could sum up The Racketeer in three words, what would they be?

Great story from start to finish. Grisham did it again. Don't miss this one.

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

Non really.

Any additional comments?

Buy this book

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

An intellegent mystery story

John Grisham is a fine writer, no doubt.

The story is quirky enough to keep my attention and the twists are not predictable. I had quite a time with the main character as he seemed so duplicitous, But in the end he was revealed as just VERY intelligent,. His long term plan was brilliant. Yeah, I liked the book a lot. The narrator JD Jackson was excellent.

In a twisted sort of way the story reminded me of Marilyn Monroe in Bus Stop, playing a dumb blond that really couldn't sing and doing a masterful job of it,

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

Strong finish!

The first half of this book was kind of ho-hum and I thought it was a pretty pedestrian, matter-of-fact plot. But wait for the second half. My perception went from "nice story" to "that was one of Grisham's best in a few years!" Mr. Grisham still has it! This one would make a good movie.

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

Nicely Done

Very nicely done. Great job having all the suprised come together in the end. Great Reader. Voice fit character well.

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

I love Grisham.

What did you love best about The Racketeer?

It is a little different that his usual books but so many twists and turns, I could not stop listening!

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

definitely

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

Good Story Line but Predictablr

I liked this book, but most of the situations were predictable. Grisham books always have a great story line. Thanks

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

good listen.

This is a typical John Grisham book. It is thrilling and suspensful. I recommend this book.

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

Lazy writing

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

No! Wasted time.Beyond Boring!!! I can't beleive it was even published!Author has lost his talent of writing quality books. He should be embarrassed! Money and time wasted!!! I agree with other reviewer; it's indeed nothing but garbage! I Also hated the narrater! Honestly, This was the worse book ever!!!I will never get another book by this author. Ever! I wish I could get reimbursed!

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

PREDICTABLE. BORING!!!

Would you listen to another book narrated by J.D. Jackson?

Absolutely not!!!

Was The Racketeer worth the listening time?

Absolutely not!!!

Any additional comments?

I HATED IT! Sorry to be so blunt and cold but its the sad truth.
This book gets NO STARs or minus stars!!!

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

Improbable Premise

What did you like best about The Racketeer? What did you like least?

Fast-paced but not believable.

Any additional comments?

Maybe I'm just getting old, I remember past Grisham's novels as being more engaging.

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

enthralling

couldn't stop listening to this story. never wanted it to end. loved the characters . vivid writing.

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