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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?

(P)2005 Random House, LLC©2004 John Grisham Crime Thrillers Suspense Thriller & Suspense Espionage Fiction Military Italy War
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From reading this novel several years ago, nostalgia sent me to listen on this platform. Just loved it.

One of his best!

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The narrator was brilliant and made this story come to life. If you’re wondering about listening to… do yourself a favour 👏👏👏

Loved it

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I am a great fan of John Grisham and have read most of his work. However I find that with some of his work he brings the story to an abrupt end, The Broker is another example.
I loved the plot and the excellent reader but was left wanting a better conclusion.

Disappointing ending

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It couldn’t have been all bad because I finished. I mistakenly bought when prompted by Audible, thinking it was a new John Grisham. Sadly wrong. Written in the early 2000s it’s painfully dated ( the main protagonist, who’s meant to be street smart, grapples with sending an email) and feels downright sexist in parts ( same protagonist sits in cafe with friend, “ watching the pretty girls go by”). The opening has promise as a white collar criminal lawyer is mysteriously released by Presidential pardon and set up with a new identity in Italy for reasons that unfold. But the plot degenerates into a far fetched travel guide of Northern Italy. And guess what! Apparently Italians love food and coffee! You would think the “ hero” should be grateful; sprung from prison, finding himself in Italy, taken to endless cafes, restaurants, bars, eating and drinking like there’s no tomorrow. But he’s arrogant, American, boorish and just wants to know “ what’s going on”. Which he starts to work out once he manages to send that email. One of the worst John Grishams I’ve read but I suspect he had a great time doing the tax deductible research!

Dated travelogue masquerading as an espionage novel

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loved it, easily to listen and quite entertaining without too much technical jargon the main character is easy to like.

Excellent and easy listening

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