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The Broker

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The Broker

By: John Grisham
Narrated by: Michael Beck
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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 Exciting Italy War
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I have to admit, I was slow to warm up to this story, due to all the Italian language, but it definitely picked up and I was waiting to find out what was going to happen next. I literally found myself rooting for the main character. I found this a very exciting book and normally books don't affect me like that. I was sincerely sorry that the book came to an end. I'd love to see a sequel to it.

Addictive Storyline

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What did you like most about The Broker?

This is now the 3rd Grisham novel I have listened to on Audible. I have come back to him after many years (I voraciously read all his early novels - then moved on). I had forgotten what a good writer he is, and how skilled he is at keeping you on the edge of your chair. His books also have added value - always a bit of education thrown in. With this one we learn a huge amount of Italian and grow (with Grisham) to love Bologna in Italy. Even though the book was written some years ago it has an uncanny immediacy about it as the plot revolves around a President pardoning a criminal. Now where have I heard that before?

Excellent storyline - rather prophetic

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Excellent listen. Could only have been written by a lawyer. Brilliant stuff.
Grisham and narrator Michael Beck. A match made in heaven.

John Grisham does it again.

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Good performance from the narrator. Author keeps up interest by only drip feeding what happened in the life of main character before we met him. Also same technique for letting us know who is circling around the character as the story unfolds.

Intriguing, but a little slow in the middle

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Italian language is beautiful Listening to this book makes want to visit Italy again
Brilliant !

Great Listen brilliant story

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