The Racketeer

( 807 )

Overview

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 ...

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The Racketeer

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More About This Book

Overview

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.

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Editorial Reviews

From Barnes & Noble

The assassin of a federal judge on the loose; an imprisoned lawyer who knows his identity: John Grisham's latest legal thriller possesses all the elements that have already made it a number one bestseller.

The New York Times
In its early stages [The Racketeer] does follow the familiar Grisham template, in which a lawyer finds himself unexpectedly in legal trouble. But then it breaks out into the exhilarating tale of how Mal, a disbarred attorney, now a savvy, self-taught legal scholar, leads his pursuers on a long, winding chase…this is not a story about a triumph or a miscarriage of courtroom justice. It's the more devious, surprising story of a smart man who gets even smarter once he spends five years honing his skills as a jailhouse lawyer—and then expertly concocts an ingenious revenge scheme…Mr. Grisham writes with rekindled vigor here. Perhaps that's because he hasn't mired this book in excessive research…He has simply…gone back to what he does best, storytelling rather than crusading.
—Janet Maslin
The Washington Post
The Racketeer…offers a thorough display of [Grisham's] characteristic virtues: imaginative plotting; a fluent, deceptively effortless prose style; and an insider's view of our complex, often fatally flawed legal system…ingenious, surprising and suspenseful. At times, the convoluted scheme that gradually unfolds seems almost too elaborate, too dependent on crucial but problematic events…But like his protagonist, Grisham makes it work, holding the pieces together with a headlong narrative energy that rarely, if ever, flags. The result is a satisfying, deeply engrossing thriller in which different forms of justice are ultimately served…[The Racketeer] is engaging and illuminating in equal measure.
—Bill Sheehan
Publishers Weekly
Bestseller Grisham (The Litigators) is back in top form with this twisty, precisely plotted legal thriller that eschews the civics lessons of some of his more recent work. The masterful opening introduces disgraced Virginia lawyer Malcolm Bannister, who has served half of a 10-year prison sentence for money laundering after getting caught up in a federal net aimed at a sleazy influence peddler. Bannister's conviction has, naturally, destroyed his life, but he thinks he can use the murder of federal judge Raymond Fawcett to his advantage. Fawcett, who presided over a landmark mining rights case, and his attractive secretary, with whom he was having an affair, were both found shot in the head in his cabin in southwest Virginia. Near the bodies was an empty open safe. When the high-profile investigation stalls, Bannister tells the feds that he can identify the killer for them in exchange for a release from jail and the means to start a new life. The surprises all work, and the action builds to a satisfying resolution. Agent: David Gernert, the Gernert Company. (Oct.)
Kirkus Reviews
Evenly paced, smart legal thriller--trademark Grisham (The Litigators, 2011, etc.), in other words. "Secrets are extremely hard to keep in prison, especially when outsiders appear and start asking questions." So writes Grisham in the voice of one Malcolm Bannister, a one-time attorney who has gotten himself in trouble and is now "halfway through a ten-year sentence handed down by a weak and sanctimonious federal judge in Washington, D.C." Grisham locates his story on the familiar ground of the racial divide: Bannister, 43 years old, is black, the only black ex-attorney at the Maryland prison camp to which he has been committed--not a bad place, a "resort" in fact as compared to most pens. And, of course, he's innocent, or so he protests. Bannister also has come by some inside knowledge of events surrounding the death of another federal judge, which links to witness protection, drugs, Jamaicans and some heavy bad guys--and therein lies Grisham's longish, complex tale of cat and mouse. Every character in the book is believable, and though some of the plot turns seem just a touch improbable, the reader never quite knows whether things are going to work out for Bannister before the heaviest of the heavies quiets him down for good. "I have a plan," Bannister says, "but so much of it is beyond my control." That's not so of Grisham's plot, which is carefully mapped out without seeming pat, leading to a most satisfying conclusion. In fact, there are plenty of surprises along the way. As ever, a solid, unflashy performance by Grisham.
From the Publisher
Critical Acclaim for the Undisputed Master of the Legal Thriller

“With every new book I appreciate John Grisham a little more, for his feisty critiques of the legal system, his compassion for the underdog, and his willingness to strike out in new directions.”—Entertainment Weekly

“John Grisham is exceptionally good at what he does—indeed, right now in this country,  nobody does it better . . . Grisham’s books are also smart, imaginative, and funny, populated by complex interesting people, written by a man who is driven not merely by the desire to entertain but also by genuine (if understated) outrage at human cupidity and venality.”—Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post

“The secrets of Grisham’s success are no secret at all. There are two of them: his pacing, which ranges from fast to breakneck, and his theme—little guy takes on big conspiracy with the little guy getting the win in the end. —Time

“The law, by its nature, creates drama, and a new Grisham promises us an inside look at the dirty machineries of process and power, with plenty of an entertainment.” – Los Angeles Times

“John Grisham is about as good a storyteller as we’ve got in the United States these days.”—The New York Times Book Review

“Grisham is a marvelous storyteller who works readers the way a good trial lawyer works a jury.”—The Philadelphia Inquirer

“John Grisham owns the legal thriller.”—The Denver Post

“John Grisham is not just popular, he is one of the most popular novelists of our time. He is a craftsman and he writes good stories, engaging characters, and clever plots.”—The Seattle Times

“A mighty narrative talent and an unerring eye for hot-button issues.”—Chicago Sun-Times
 
“A legal literary legend.”—USA Today

Library Journal
Evidently, only four active federal judges have been murdered in this country; Grisham imagines a fifth victim, Judge Raymond Fogletree, found dead with his secretary in a lakeside cabin. As the narrator says, "I did not know Judge Fogletree, but I know who killed him, and why. I am a lawyer, and I am in prison. It's a long story."
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780385535144
  • Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
  • Publication date: 10/23/2012
  • Pages: 352
  • Sales rank: 1,392
  • Product dimensions: 6.00 (w) x 9.30 (h) x 1.50 (d)

Meet the Author

John Grisham

JOHN GRISHAM is the author of twenty-five novels, one work of nonfiction, a collection of stories, and two novels for young readers. He lives in Virginia and Mississippi.

Biography

As a young boy in Arkansas, John Grisham dreamed of being a baseball player. Fortunately for his millions of fans, that career didn't pan out. His family moved to Mississippi in 1967, where Grisham eventually received a law degree from Ole Miss and established a practice in Southaven for criminal and civil law. In 1983, Grisham was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives, where he served until 1990.

While working as an attorney, Grisham witnessed emotional testimony from the case of a young girl's rape. Naturally inquisitive, Grisham's mind started to wander: what if the terrible crime yielded an equally terrible revenge? These questions of right and wrong were the subject of his first novel, A Time to Kill (1988), written in the stolen moments before and between court appearances. The book wasn't widely distributed, but his next title would be the one to bring him to the national spotlight. The day after he finished A Time to Kill, Grisham began work on The Firm (1991), the story of a whiz kid attorney who joins a crooked law firm. The book was an instant hit, spent 47 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list, and was made into a movie starring Tom Cruise.

With the success of The Firm, Grisham resigned from the Mississippi House of Representatives to focus exclusively on his writing. What followed was a string of bestselling legal thrillers that demonstrated the author's uncanny ability to capture the unique drama of the courtroom. Several of his novels were turned into blockbuster movies.

In 1996, Grisham returned to his law practice for one last case, honoring a promise he had made before his retirement. He represented the family of a railroad worker who was killed on the job, the case went to trial, and Grisham won the largest verdict of his career when the family was awarded more than $650,000.

Although he is best known for his legal thrillers, Grisham has ventured outside the genre with several well-received novels (A Painted House, Bleachers, et al) and an earnest and compelling nonfiction account of small-town justice gone terribly wrong (The Innocent Man). The popularity of these stand-alones proves that Grisham is no mere one-trick pony but a gifted writer with real "legs."

Good To Know

A prolific writer, it takes Grisham an average of six months to complete a novel.

Grisham has the right to approve or reject whoever is cast in movies based on his books. He has even written two screenplays himself: Mickey and The Gingerbread Man.

Baseball is one of Grisham's great loves. He serves as the local Little League commissioner and has six baseball diamonds on his property, where he hosts games.

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    1. Hometown:
      Oxford, Mississippi, and Albemarle County, Virginia
    1. Date of Birth:
      February 8, 1955
    2. Place of Birth:
      Jonesboro, Arkansas
    1. Education:
      B.S., Mississippi State, 1977; J.D., University of Mississippi, 1981
    2. Website:
      http://www.jgrisham.com

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4
( 807 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(325)

4 Star

(193)

3 Star

(151)

2 Star

(65)

1 Star

(73)

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 807 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 23, 2012

    Great!

    I have read everyone of mr.grishams books, this book is one of his best.its not bogged down with alot of useless information.keep up the great work.

    50 out of 58 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 24, 2012

    Excellent!

    A really good, fun read! Grabs your attention and doesn't let go. Will easily cause you to stay up late, reading. Definitely worth it. Keep up the great work, Mr. Grisham!
    ~Munchkin

    32 out of 37 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 28, 2012

    BORING

    John Grisham's books are becoming as boring as James Patterson's. I didn't like the lead character from the beginning--alternated between being whiney or slimey. And it became very obvious early on that he knew way too much about circumventing the law than then simple small town lawyer he claimed to be. This could have been a good book, but was not written with the suspense of Grisham's earlier books. By the end of the book I didn't like any of the characters and only finished the book to finally get closure on what had become an obvious ending.

    25 out of 35 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 25, 2012

    Grisham

    Not really sure how to write my review. Story-very good, length-just right, the rest? not sure. Just didn't feel like the Grisham of old. Hard to explain. Was he just pushing words for money? Enjoyed the book but just not worth the money for this one in my opinion. Left kind of an empty feeling in the pit of my stomach. Worth reading but wait for the paperback version to save some money on this one.

    22 out of 29 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 30, 2012

    Save your money

    Did not like it! Choppy, poorly written, implausible, hard to follow. Seems like Mr Grisham did this for the gold only. I allow one mistake so the next book better be back to my expectations of a John Grisham novel or I won't purchase another. Fool me once....

    18 out of 29 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 30, 2012

    Not one of his best.....

    In the epilogue the author proudly states he did not do research for this novel. He should have.

    14 out of 20 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted October 26, 2012

    I have read all of Grisham's Books. I bought this one the day it

    I have read all of Grisham's Books. I bought this one the day it was released and could not put it down. Definately one of the best books I have read in awhile and one of my favorite books of his. It will keep you guessing until the last page. GREAT BOOK!

    14 out of 16 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 8, 2012

    A little disappointed

    I've read all of Grisham's books and anxiously await his every novel! I started reading this one and the writing felt off. It was as if being told a story by a boring Uncle. It is missing the suspense and texture usually woven into his writing. The final dissappointment was the author's notes in which he proudly claims he "did no research". Eagerly awaiting Mr. Grisham's next novel.

    12 out of 15 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 25, 2012

    Great Book!!!

    When I want to savor a good book John Grisham never lets me down. I read this book in one afternoon. He is absolutely one of my favorite authors of all time! He has a way of drawing you into the story and keeping you there.

    11 out of 14 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 24, 2012

    You smell like dead angel........

    Very good.

    11 out of 21 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 26, 2012

    Depressing!

    I have read every
    Ghrisham novel, but this one is a dud. I couldn't get past the first chapter and wish I hadn't pre-ordeted it. Save your $15 for a better read.

    8 out of 14 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 7, 2012

    Medxiocre Mediocre at best

    Plot is not very credible.

    7 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 1, 2012

    Loved it

    I was getting a little bored with the lawyer John Grisham books but this was unexpected. I really enjoyed this book!

    6 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 28, 2012

    Great book, fast-paced, fun.

    Great book

    6 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 10, 2012

    Isucks

    It lame

    5 out of 13 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 28, 2012

    Suspenseful

    This one was hard to put down and it kept me guessing. While paarts of it may stretched the imagination, the plot always snapped back to believable boundaries

    5 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 28, 2012

    Not his best work

    This was just an ok read. Not nearly as good as some of his others. It was an easy read though. If you are looking for a book to pass time and not keep you glued to your nook, this is it.

    5 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 8, 2012

    Very clever plot

    While I enjoyed all of Mr. Grisham's works, this is my new favorite. Very easy to connect with the main character.

    4 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 27, 2012

    The Racketeer

    ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!

    3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 21, 2012

    Boring

    Drags. Few characters. No tension in the limited plot.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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