The Broker: A Novel by John Grisham (Epub)

Description

In his final hours in 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 that Backman, in his 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?

User’s Reviews

Review “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 “Where Grisham leads, millions of readers follow.”—New York Daily NewsFrom the Paperback edition. Amazon.com Review Before he was sent to federal prison for treason (among other things), Joel Backman was an extremely powerful man. Known as “the broker,” Backman was a high roller–a lawyer making $10 million a year who could “open any door in Washington.” That is, until he tried to broker a deal selling access to the world’s most powerful satellite surveillance system to the highest bidder. When caught, Backman accepted prison as the one option that would keep him safe and alive, since the interested parties (the Israelis, the Saudis, the Russians, and the Chinese) were all itching to get their hands on his secrets at any cost. Little does he know that his own government has designs on accessing that information–or at least letting it die with him. Now, six years after his incarceration, the director of the CIA convinces a lame duck president to pardon Backman, and the broker becomes a free man–and an open target. The Broker marries the best of John Grisham’s many talents–his ability to immerse himself in the culture of small town life (in this case, Bologna, Italy), and his uncanny mastery of the chase. The first half of the book focuses on Backman’s transformation from infamous power broker to helpless victim in his own game. Upon his release from prison, Backman is taken into “protective custody” and whisked off to Italy where he is assigned a new identity, and a tutor to help him blend in. Sure he is on the run, but some readers may feel that Backman’s time spent in Bologna is a bit too leisurely–readers join him on an almost cinematic tour through the Italian town, complete with language and history lessons. Impatient readers will be happy to know that the final half of the novel is classic Grisham–a fast-paced, thrilling cat and mouse chase pitting Backman against the numerous agencies that want him dead–as the broker makes a move to take back his life. –Daphne Durham Exclusive Video Interview with John Grisham Watch the interview (high bandwith)Watch the interview (low bandwith) Grisham: The Books A Time to Kill, 1989The Firm, 1991The Pelican Brief, 1992The Client, 1993 The Chamber, 1994 The Rainmaker, 1995The Runaway Jury, 1996The Partner, 1997The Street Lawyer, 1998The Testament, 1999 The Brethren, 2000 A Painted House, 2001Skipping Christmas, 2001The Summons, 2002The King of Torts, 2003Bleachers, 2003 The Last Juror, 2004The Broker, 2005 Essential Grisham Amazon Editor Favorites A Time to KillThe FirmA Painted House The ClientThe RainmakerThe Pelican Brief Bestselling Grisham Amazon Customer Favorites The Last JurorSkipping ChristmasBleachers The TestamentThe PartnerThe King of Torts If You Like Grisham, You’ll Love… John LescroartRichard North PattersonDavid BaldacciLisa ScottolineRobert CraisMichael CrichtonHarlan CobenDennis LehaneKen Follett Best Grisham Books on DVD A Time to KillThe Pelican BriefThe Client The FirmThe RainmakerThe Chamber –This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition. From the Inside Flap 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? –This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

Reviews from Amazon users, collected at the time the book is getting published on UniedVRG. It can be related to shiping or paper quality instead of the book content:

⭐ If you are a reader of Grisham novels, you know what I mean by this header. He has a style of writing that brings you back time after time to his books. I had missed this title (2005) when it was first published because of a topsy-turvy year in my life. Found the plot just as relevant in 2017. Politics, international spying, CIA, FBI, cyber and digital age events. Fast moving plot that kept you hanging on till the end.

⭐ After spending 6 years of a 20 year federal prison sentence, Joel Backman, a former major player in DC’s political circles is granted a sudden, dramatic pardon. He is then quickly and secretly flown to Italy where he is transformed by CIA handlers. Why the sudden pardon, why the handlers, why Italy and why all this intrigue? All this comes to light in this unique, John Grisham page turning thriller. Fast paced, beyond the usual Grisham attorney/client norm, the storyline keeps the reader involved with interesting characters throughout. If you’ve enjoyed Grisham novels in the past, you’ll definitely find “The Broker” an excellent read.

⭐ Whenever I’m disappointed from reading boring books, I select one of Grisham’s, knowing that he would revive my pasion for book reading. Grisham has never disappointed me and I’ve read so far more than 10 books of him. This one wasn’t a bad one but it wasn’t great either. Grisham knows how to tell a story in a compact and conscise language that keeps you connected until the very last page. Same with this book. However, the plot didn’t seem that realistic. Many elements in the plot didn’t seem reasonable. The broker could have avoided 20 years in prison if he had surrendered the software to the CIA in the first place. The idea that the CIA would send him to Italy just to see who would kill him is far fetch. The Israelis would never kill a US citizen, especially not on US soil and so forth. Lastly, the ending seems so sloppy that you hardly could believe that it is Grisham’s. It looks as though the author was in a rush to happy end the book so that he searched for the shortest route that would get him there without much bother. This easy, happy ending makes the entire plot, which wasn’t the most realistic to start with, totally unreliable. I did expected more from Grisham.

⭐ It’s been awhile since I read one of his books, but I remembered them as all being good. This one is a travel guide to parts of Italy with a backstory that is incomplete, hard to follow, never had any steam to run out of. The ending sounds like whomever wrote the book just got tired of it and just wrapped it up with a period.Worst book I’ve read all the way through in a long time.

⭐ Kept my interest all the way through. Enjoyed the setting in an ancient Italian city. The presidential pardon added interest: did the lead character bribe his way out of the penitentiary; was he set up to be assassinated by one of the foreign powers that he had offended in his financial schemes? The protagonist’s struggle to learn Italian will resonate with any reader who has tried to master a second language. The Italian language is but one element of establishing an entirely new identity for the lead character. Not merely name change or wardrobe adjustment. Interesting story and a “free trip” to Italy.

⭐ Five stars because I love the novel and UNABRIDGED audio CD I checked out from the public library long ago. Because I searched for John Grisham UNABRIDGED audio CD’s, I assumed this was unabridged when I ordered it. Unfortunately, I also ordered a couple of John Grisham only to discover after they were received that they too were abridged. I’ll not order ANY audio book CD’s again from Amazon unless it’s clear that the CD is UNABRIDGED.

⭐ This story is unique; you end up liking the lead character who is the broker. That isn’t the case in the beginning but his character is fully developed and he evolves as a person because of his situation (on the run), realizing several people want to kill him. It gives you an insight to how the CIA and respective organizations like them in other countries operate. It feels very real and you get a travelogue view of Bologna, Italy. It’s not about the law or the courtroom but is a story about politics, influence, lobbyists and Washington.

⭐ As a longtime Grisham fan, I do not know how I missed reading this earlier; but, I totally enjoyed this book. The plot was absolutely believable meaning that it was timely for the lives we are living now. The workings of our government espionage agencies are always a wonder to me and this novel gave me another view of their work as it unfolds. The idea of a presidential pardon for a prisoner who has settled into his sentence for the long run was the first contemporary idea; but, the way he was smuggled out of the prison and set up with another identity along with new residences, name, experience, and the life was beyond puzzling. The complexity of the undertaking was amazing. Grisham develops his characters to the point that the reader feels that this could be a neighbor is demonstrated again. The human side of the characters demonstrated in their choices of food and drink as well as clothing is most interesting. The fact that our government would undertake such an exhausting endeavor with the intention of having another government take over just blew me away. I came to hate the director of the agency and his having to be bundled in blankets, drinking tea all of the time! He knew his business alright. But, he was not a favorite of mine. The ending was one I would never have predicted as the plot wore on, but it was most satisfying. Once again, Grisham comes through with a unique story and an issue that deserves our attention.

⭐ I thoroughly enjoyed the book and the storyline, but when I got to the part about talking to the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, l was baffled . He is listed as a Major. The director of DIA is a 3-Star General. A Lieutenant General. Just like the Director of the NSA. Also, all intelligence agencies, including CIA report to the Director of National Intelligence.

⭐ This book just dragged on forever.Normally a Grisham fan, and it was well written, but never went anywhere.I’ve never given a poor review to a Grisham book, but try as I might, I can’t, and may not, finish this one.Hope the author had a good time in Italy.

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