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The Broker: A Novel Audiobook
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(3.00) - 38,011 listener ratings
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Plot Summary
Sometimes a sitting United States President makes a decision and commits an action that goes beyond being questionable and controversial.
At the behest of top-level CIA members, a U.S. president makes one of his final acts in office the last-minute pardon of one Joel Backman, who has spent the last six years in prison.
Joel Backman knows things. The CIA knows he knows them. The CIA has an elaborate plan for Backman that starts off with giving him a new identity and a place to live far away from the United States.
Backman once brokered a deal of such gigantic proportions that it put the entire country at risk. Sure, he did a dirty deed, but he's a likeable guy. Despite his being a criminal, Joel Backman becomes a character who gains respect from the readers. They want him to survive, but can anyone in his unenviable position actually do so?
Born in Jonesboro, Arkansas on February 8, 1955, international bestselling author John Grisham attended law school at the University of Mississippi, earning a law degree in 1981.
Grisham has practiced both criminal and civil law and served in the Mississippi House of Representatives.
His first novel, "A Time to Kill," was published in 1989, but it was not until his next book, "The Firm," came out that he was catapulted into the publishing world and went on to become one of the world's most recognized novelists. Many of his books have been made into successful motion pictures.
Grisham writes from his homes in Charlottesville, Virginia and Oxford, Mississippi. In 2008, he and his wife purchased a home in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
"Once I settled into this thriller, I was hooked. My initial problems were of a grammatical nature--especially the author's propensity to use split infinitives. Despite this, John Grisham is a brilliant storyteller, and, I think, over the years his novels have become less dry, with an emerging humour. When reading the opening two chapters of 'The Broker' I didn't like the main protagonist, but my sympathy for him, as a hunted man and an intended pawn in a political game, grew with every page thereafter. A good read for those who like something to keep them awake but not too mentally taxed."
— Sarah (4 out of 5 stars)
Publisher Summary
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?
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Quotes
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“[Grisham] is exceptionally good at what he does…Indeed, right now in this country, nobody does it better.”
— Washington Post -
“Most and best of all, it’s Grisham living up to his reputation as a great storyteller.”
— USA Today -
“A fast-paced, fun read with echoes of something deeper. The author’s command of pop fiction delivers crisp, sharp prose.”
— Boston Globe -
“America’s great storyteller has spun a tale that tantalizingly combines spy-thriller adventure and intrigue with a tour-de-force tour guide of Bologna, Italy.”
— Forbes -
“Like a meticulous magician debuting a fancy trick, Grisham takes great care creating his setup.”
— People -
“Where Grisham leads, millions of readers follow.”
— New York Daily News -
“Once you’ve started the book you’re not likely to give it up; [Grisham]…has the knack of creating suspense.”
— Charlotte Observer -
“The Broker is smart, quick, and fun. Time will slip by…it has ‘major motion picture’ written on every page.”
— Rocky Mountain News -
“A fast-paced, thrilling cat and mouse chase.”
— Amazon.com, editorial review -
“Readers will find an amiable travelogue to Italy and its charms in Grisham’s [The Broker].”
— Publishers Weekly
Awards
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A #1 New York Times bestseller
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A #1 USA Today bestseller
The Broker Listener Reviews
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Jackie, 10/7/2023
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Dan Carlson, 9/13/2023
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" It's John Grisham, you can't expect too much. "
— Dennis, 2/12/2014 -
" I couldn't put this book down! I would suggest for guys or girls. "
— Leah, 1/24/2014 -
" What starts as a conspiracy/spy novel changes into an interesting portrait of a stranger in a strange land. Although Grisham skims over some important portions of the plot, this was an absorbing and pleasurable read. "
— Oldesq, 1/20/2014 -
" Straight up stupid. The only reason I read this book cover to cover was because I was in a hostel for a week without any internet access or tv. If you're a fan of Italy, it provides some nice scenery, but otherwise, Grisham's overuse of already over-used phrases is kind of painful. "
— Laura, 1/17/2014 -
" My favorite of the John Grisham books. "
— Karlene, 1/3/2014 -
" Ending was not as thrilling as I hoped it to be.... pace of the book was moderate... "
— Archana, 12/22/2013 -
" Entertaining as usual... Grisham style! :) "
— Apoorva, 12/19/2013 -
" This was a slow-starter for me, but once it got moving it was the typical Grisham page-turner. "
— Kristen, 12/12/2013 -
" Typical Grisham. Lots of twists and turns. An easy, fast read, but don't expect thought-provoking literature. "
— Heidi, 12/11/2013 -
" Another great Grisham. I really liked the Italian lessons in the book as well. :-) "
— Teddy, 11/27/2013 -
" A good, reliable Grisham novel...no surprises, but kept my interest. "
— cindy, 11/18/2013 -
" Entertaining but not his best. "
— Noreen, 10/28/2013 -
" Not quite up to his usual standard. "
— Kathy, 10/17/2013 -
" Who is going to kill the guy released from prison by a presidential pardon? Quite a few twists to this one... "
— Jan, 10/16/2013 -
" Good book, but wasn't his best. I've read all of his books thus far and thought this one was the most tedious. It picked up some in the last quarter of the book, but I still felt like the ending was weak. "
— Pascale, 6/18/2013 -
" Mostly set in Italy - a nice touch - the Italy stuff re location and language is well done "
— Ian, 5/28/2013 -
" Not what I thought it was going to be ... An okay novel.. "
— Patty, 4/23/2013 -
" Funny, but I like the non movie books. "
— Bob, 1/29/2013 -
" John Grisham never disappoints...this one has a lot of CIA conspiracy and definitely is hard to put down "
— Jacquelineboggs, 11/23/2012 -
" I always like Grisham's work. The Broker is no exception. "
— Roy, 11/12/2012 -
" Typical Grisham, but it made my 6 hour drive go back quickly! "
— Maureen, 8/1/2012 -
" As Grisham's books tend to be, this book is about redemption. A good read, as expected from Grisham. I listened to this one on tape, which was great because of all of the Italian in it. I'm hungry! "
— Erik, 3/4/2012 -
" 3.5 stars...it's been a while since I read a John Grisham book, but they are always a good read. "
— Becky, 2/16/2012 -
" Another well done mystery and suspense novel from writer John Grisham. "
— John, 1/18/2012 -
" Not the best Grisham book I've read. "
— Jacquie, 10/20/2011 -
" A great novel of intrigue and I am now hooked on Grisham. "
— Jeanette, 9/22/2011 -
" I thought it was going to be an interesting book, but it was so slow. . . "
— Jsvillanueva, 9/4/2011 -
" A good international spy mystery from John Grisham. A quick read; made me want to learn Italian. "
— Brian, 8/4/2011 -
" It's a good, fun, escape. Grisham does well in describing the scenes and providing sufficient background without wasting words. "
— Tom, 5/22/2011 -
" I didn't like this one as well as the other ones. I wasn't drawn in as much, but it was still entertaining. "
— Joy, 5/20/2011 -
" Not as suspenseful or as exciting as some of his others. But it was thrilling enough to get me through the 3 hour flight just fine. "
— Tracie, 5/11/2011 -
" Grisham's attention to detail paints a beautiful picture of Italy, only to complement the smooth storytelling. "
— Ultraban, 5/9/2011 -
" it's a page-turner, you always want to know whats gonna happen next! <br/> <br/> <br/> <br/> "
— Ntombizozuko, 5/7/2011 -
" Kind of slow. Not real exciting and not a lot seemed to happen. "
— Jake, 5/6/2011 -
" I finished this book in a day! I'm still a huge fan of Grisham... he can write an international "cut and run, escape! escape!" sequence like no other. I think this story would make a great movie. It reminded me a lot of The Firm, which is still my favorite of all time. "
— Jen, 4/23/2011 -
" another forgotten read. Grisham was actually pretty clever here. "
— RK, 4/18/2011 -
" An easy read which is nice after finishing Blindness, which was so intense. I like John Grishom easy to read enjoyable plots. Not too much thinking involved, but overall a good story. "
— Andrea, 4/9/2011 -
" It was fine. It was typical Grisham. The audio kept me entertained as I drove to Arizona and back alone. If you are a Grisham fan, you will like it. "
— Kathy, 4/6/2011 -
" I've read a few Grisham books and liked them. This one was o.k., but after reading "The Camel Club" series by David Baldacci, "The Broker" seemed a little thin. I liked it, but Grisham does a better job with law stories than guy-on-the-run stories. "
— Steven, 4/4/2011
About John Grisham
John Grisham is the author of more than thirty-five novels, one work of nonfiction, a collection of stories, and seven novels for young readers. Thirty-three of his crime thrillers have made the #1 spot on the New York Times bestsellers list
About Michael Beck
Michael Beck is an American actor and audiobook narrator. He is best known for his role in the 1979 film The Warriors. He has narrated numerous novels by John Grisham, as well as Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz and My Life by Bill Clinton. He lives in California.