Book Reviews of The Broker

I really enjoyed this. I had grown tired of the Grisham formula for awhile- and this book is enough of a departure that I did find it entertaining

One of his best since the firm! Highly reccomended. Great twists and turns

I think this is one of Grisham's best. Not a "lawyer" book. Reads really fast.

The main character engenders no sympathy at all. When he gets his just desserts, I could not care less. Not up to the standards of The Firm or The Client!

Certainly not as good as some of Grisham's earlier works, but not the worst either. Like most Grisham novels, best suited for a long trip. The plot stalls quite a bit in the middle (you get about as frustrated as the main character does with the frequent language tutoring scenes), but does pick up at the end. Good premise, mixed execution.

One of Grisham's best works. A story of a man on top, a man broken and removed from his ivory tower. A story of a man deciding to fight back, using his skills at what he does best, to vanquish his opponents and once again prove to himself and the world, he is the master "broker" of deals.

Another exciting read from John Grisham. Our protagonist is on the run from EVERYBODY in this one. Lots of plot twists.

Very good book. Very good Grisham. More like his older stuff than some of the other "recent" books by him.

I love Grisham and his way of writing especially this book.

I couldn't predict the outcomes during the start, middle or end of the book which excites me to enjoy and finish the book. Unpredictable style is classic of Grisham and this I think will someday be a real classic.

Very much enjoyed the whole book!

I really enjoyed this one! once you start reading it you just can't put it down.

i love this book, but i didnt like the way it ended, unless it was a series then it would have been good... what happened next i am still wondering .... ?

Not all that. This book sets up as a "Good guy with lots of secrets on the run from the bad guys" and just fizzles. There's not much in the way of action, twists, or plot wrap-up. Way too much focus on Italy and learning the Italian language.

2 stars out of 5

Great book! Quick read. Fast moving, excellent plot, likeable characters and one of Grisham's best. Well worth reading.

Very good book. Typical Grisham

Classic Grisham - a good read!

Joel Backman was a high-roller D.C. lawyer sent to prison for trying to broker a secret satellite system. When he's pardoned and sent by the CIA to Bologna, Italy as a decoy to draw out the owner of the satellite system--Israelis? Russians? Chinese?--he rebuilds his life while learning to speak Italian with a beautiful & mysterious tutor. Great travelogue, as well as a fun read and good mystery.

Nice, easy read. Captures you quickly. Enjoyable and suspenseful.

great thriller by Grisham, very timely

My husband loved this book and couldn't put it down.

!! THE BEST FROM ONE OF THE BEST !!

In this novel, the president pardons Jack Backman, a power-broker with a past. The CIA becomes involved as well as foreign countries. A good read.

Grisham as usual - wonderful!

Grisham at his best!

Another great John Grisham!!

Action packed. Another winner!

Loved it.

Great book. I couldn't put it down.

solid Grisham

Very gripping story. Excellent book.

"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."*

*Borrowed from Amazon.com

First rate Grisham.

An OK legal thriller.

Boy, Grisham can sure write complex plots. This one involves CIA shinnanigans, a Presidential pardon, a villa in Italy, spys and assassins from Israel, China, Russian and even the Saudis...all while the CIA watches--and waits. Another good one by Grisham.

really enjoyed this book. Typical Grisham.

Awesome! Love Grishams Books...Legal Thrillers by John Grisham are A+++

A really tough book to put down. The Broker, even though a "crook" is a very sympathetic character whom you hope will survive. (At least I hoped he would!) Grisham knows how to tell a story and I will look for more of his books. Paul C.

Different beginning from most Grisham books...almost a farcical bent and characters. When it got rolling, it again had the intrigue, twists and turns of a Grisham novel.

It's a page-turner. Interesting premise, a little too formulaic for my taste though.

"A Fast-Paced, fun read with echoes of something deeper, the autor's command of Pop Fiction delivers crisp, sharp prose."--Boston Globe

This is a start to finish type of book. Once you start reading, it's hard to put this book down.

I loved this book! With the twists, turns, and lies concerning the CIA and FBI this book would make an awesome movie! I usually get lost in books like this because there are so many characters and twists but Grisham has a way of making sure that the reader stays with the program. This was a great book.

Classic Grisham, this is a tale of a Washington Power Brooker who steped over the line, went to jail, and was pardoned as bait. His wits and redemption make this a good read that will keep you uncertain of the outcome until the satisfying ending.

Not only is it a fast-paced story that will keep you on the edge of your seat, but you'll also pick up a little Italian too.

I don't think this was one of his better books. It left me hanging

This is one of Grisham's best. Pardoned from prison, Joel Backman is sent to a safe house in Italy, but many want him dead. Find out how he deals with his new life.

Very slow start. Continued to read based on my husband's statement it got better. Really only liked the last 100 pages. But then I'm not a big Grisham fan to begin with!

I don't think this was as good a Grisham's past novels. I waited so long for it to come out in paperback, then was disappointed. It just wasn't worth the price to me. It was worth reading...I just wish I had waited and got it from here.

This was a good book. However, anyone who is expecting a typical Grisham legal novel will be a little let down. Not bad for his attempt at a spy novel.

As with most of John Grisham's books, I could not put it down until finished. The addition of action in Europe added to the enjoyment of the read. One of his very best.

Another fast read from John Grisham!!!

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 Backman, in his pwer 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?

Very good book hard to get started but once you do and it a page turner like all of Grishams the ending is VERY different then I had guessed. Different then his other books not at legal but touches on the legal system but a very good addition

Typical John Grisham book.

By JANET MASLIN
The New york Times
Published: January 10, 2005

Birds sing. Fish swim. John Grisham dreams up thriller plots that begin at full throttle, then move through their early stages in a series of flying leaps. For Mr. Grisham, who is now on his 18th novel, this style of jump-starting a story is part of the natural order of things.


So off goes "The Broker," starting with a partisan swipe at a lame duck in the White House. "In the waning hours of a presidency that was destined to arouse less interest from historians than any since perhaps that of William Henry Harrison (31 days from inauguration to death)," the book begins, a president named Arthur Morgan is cashing in.

"How sad that after four tumultuous years of leading the free world it would all fizzle into one miserable pile of requests from a bunch of crooks," Mr. Grisham writes scornfully. But President Morgan is strapped for cash, so he is ready to sell those crooks some high-priced pardons.

Cut to the federal prison where Joel Backman, former wheeler-dealer, has spent six years in solitary confinement. Backman embodies everything that Mr. Grisham currently chooses to detest. He is a former power broker (see title): "He'd been the epitome of money and power, the perfect fat cat who could bully and cajole and throw around enough money to get whatever he wanted."

Worst of all in Mr. Grisham's eyes, Backman was an embarrassment to his profession. The firm that he founded "was a lobbying machine, not a place where real lawyers practiced their craft," the book explains. "More like a bordello for rich companies and foreign governments." In other words, the world is a better place with Backman behind bars.

But along come a couple of mysterious operatives. They plan to spirit Backman into a new life, 14 years ahead of schedule. They sneak him out of prison, put him in an Army jumpsuit and load him onto a cargo plane, destination unknown. Quicker than you can say "Buon giorno, Marco," Backman has been handed a new identity in sunny Italy. All he need do is follow strict orders on how not to resemble an American. "No shorts, no black socks and white sneakers, no polyester slacks, no golf shirts," he is told, "and please don't start getting fat."

From now on the broker's responsibilities will be as follows: He must lounge in cafes. He must enjoy the espresso. He must learn to ask for "panino prosciutto e formaggio" when he wants a ham-and-cheese sandwich. He must savor Italian cuisine, architecture, history and joie de vivre. Backman has effectively died, been reborn as Marco Lazzeri- "that's you, pal, a full-blown Italian now" - and gone to tourist heaven.

As Marco studies Italian, he learns to distinguish tortellini from tortelloni, and to ask "Dov'é suo marito?" ("Where is your husband?") of the beautiful Italian tutor who has been hired to help him. He walks around with surveillance equipment hidden in his shoe, but this is the only minor residue of the book's original setup. What is the Italian word for plot? Marco doesn't need to know it and you don't either. Once it hits its first picturesque little piazza, "The Broker" has effectively gone fishing.

Mr. Grisham points out that he gained 10 pounds while doing the grueling research for this story. "I adore Italy and all things Italian," he writes in an author's note, "and I have to confess that I was not blindfolded when I threw the dart." Hardly. He was in the mood for an Italian idyll, and he presents the reader with a vicarious equivalent of that pleasure. Even the cover art for "The Broker," the blurry image of a man running past a row of classical arches, is more redolent of a postcard than of an action story.

It's certainly Mr. Grisham's prerogative to try new things, and to make his own personal escape from the thriller format. But "The Broker" switches gears so drastically that it seems to be two separate novels in a single binding. The same kind of contradiction applies to Backman: he is supposed to be the embodiment of corruption, and the book jacket promises that the C.I.A. will engineer his demise. "The question is not whether Backman will survive - there is no chance of that," says the jacket copy.

But Backman is happily admiring his grandchild at the end of the story. And reports of the broker's odiousness are greatly exaggerated. Actually, Backman makes a companionable figure, if a completely inconsistent one, in ways that make nonsense of the novel's moral distinctions. Even if scales fall from the broker's eyes and allow him to see the error of his former ways, this guy's wicked side is seriously unconvincing. And by the finale, when Mr. Grisham halfheartedly returns to the intrigue plot to throw one final whammy, the reader has long since begun rooting for Grandpa Backman's new lease on life.

While "The Broker" might uncharitably be described as lazy - especially in comparison with its immediate predecessor, "The Last Juror," one of Mr. Grisham's best - it is also notably relaxed. Yes, it falls hard for stereotypical distinctions between Italians (happy, sensual, steeped in history) and Americans (scowling, hurried, crass). And it demonstrates that Mr. Grisham can barely do Crichton Lite (the cloak-and-dagger part involves encrypted e-mail messages and a spy satellite), let alone offer any semblance of Alan Furst's richly atmospheric view of Americans abroad. But "The Broker" is a novel for, by and about somebody taking a vacation. Birds sing. Fish swim. Armchair travelers like a getaway even if they can't leave home.

good read

good book. I recommend it to other people.

Very intense, keeps you on your toes, very quick read!!!! Loved it!

read the book 2 times not lot of action, but lots 1ntrigue
Dave

My parents really like John Grisham. Although my dad did mention that it takes Grisham 300 pages to set up the situation and 10 pages to solve the crime. Now that they're finished reading all of his books, they are now going on to James Patterson.

IN HIS FINAL HOURS IN OFFICE, THE OUTGOING PRESIDENT GRANST A CONTROVERSIAL LAST MINUTE PARDON TO JOEL BACKMAN, A NOTORIOUS WASHINGTON POWER BROKER WHO HAS SPENT THE LAST SIX MONTHS HIDDEN AWAY IN A FEDERAL PRISON. WHAT NO ONE KNOWS IS THAT THE PRESIDENT ISSUES THE PARDON ONLY AFTER RECIEVING 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 OCUTNRY 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 ISRAELI'S, THE RUSSIANS, THE CHINESE AND THE SAUDIS. THEN THE CIA WILL DO WHAT IT DOES BEST: SIT BACK AND WATHC. 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?

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 months 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 whether Backman will survive--there is no chance of that. The question the CIA needs answered is, who will kill him?

Love his books,read all the time.

A bit different from the usual Grisham but a fun read.

#1 NY Times Bestseller

Great book as all Grisham books are!

tHIS is a great book involving the CIA instead of his typical lawyer- client books I feel it was a great read

In his final hours in office, the outgoing President granta a controversial last-minute pardon to Joel Backman, a notorious Washington power broker who has spent the last six months 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 seens Backman, in his power broker heyday, may have obtained secrets that conpromise the world's most sophisticated satellite surveillance system.
Backman is quietly smuggled out of the county in a military cargo plane, given a new name, a new idenity, and a new home in Italy. Eventually, after he has settled into his niew life, the CIA will leak his whereabouts to the Iraelies, 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?

Hard to put down when I wanted to sleep. Great story.

THIS WAS ONE OF THE BETTER BOOKS THAT I HAVE READ.

A good read.

Very different for Grisham, as more of a spy thriller. Very well done and thought out!

In true Grisham style, this book is thrilling and thought provoking. A fast-paced page turner.

If you like John Grishham books you will really like this one.

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 months 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. Backmanis 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?

very good

Fast paced and exciting. Classic Grisham!

Very good book to read. Hard to put down.

Great book to read.

Great read!

Very intriguing!

Another John Grisham winner....NY Times bestseller (am I surprised??). Great story, as usual.

an excellent read...fast paced, exciting.

A departure from the normal courtroom setting, this is an excellent mystery.

A John Grisham book is always a fun read.

Gripping story of intrigue in the world of big time lobbyist in Washington.

John Grisham has done it again..nother great book

another great story about a litle guy and the powerful

Not bad but not as good as some of his others.

Another "can't-put-down" read from Grisham.

typical Grisham, that's why I like his books. Good descriptions of Bolonga and learning Italian. The ending is farfetched but held my attention.

Did I like the book? Well, I had it finished less than 24 hours after I received it! Another excellent Grisham novel.

In his final hours in office, the outgoing President grants a controveersial last minute pardon to Joe Backman, a notorious Washington power broker who has spent the last six months hidden away in a federal prison.

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 months hidden in a ferderal prison. What no one know is that the President issues the pardon only after receiving enormous pressure from the CIA....

A wonderful read, typical Grisham.

typical grisham book. good read

I enjoyed it.

Great book. Read in 2 days

A very good read.

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?

Typical Grisham gripping plot, but a rather flat ending. Good summer read.

Quite a bit different than the lawyer types, but well-written and fascinating.

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? Great 'scenes' of Italy made me want to go there - good story!

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 months hidden away in a federal prison. Backman, may have obtained secrets that compromise the world's most sophisticated satellite surveillance system.

Great international story with neat ending.

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?

Loved the book. Could not put it down!

A page turner like all John Grisham books

The end of this book is exciting. Once things get heated up you will not want to put it down.

Fantastically written in typical Grisham fashion!

Another Grisham winner.

GREAT BOOK

Not his best but very readable and now I want to visit Bologna.

Once again Grisham did a great job. Kept my interest right from the beginning.

In the final hours in office the president grants a pardon to a notorious power broker. What no one knows is the president was pressured to make the pardon by the CIA. Very good

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 months hidden away in 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. Eventually, after he is settled, the CIA wil 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.

A fast, action packed adventure - I think one of Grisham's best. I enjoyed it tremendously.

Another great Grisham.

Amazon.com: "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 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

I really enjoyed the book--Good quick read, very clean.

Grisham at his best. Follow the "Broker" as he's pardoned out of prison by the outgoing president and relocated to Italy by the CIA in hopes of watching him killed by a foreign government. Great Page turner and keeps you guessing throughout.

It's not about lawyers and courtroom drama, but it's prime John Grisham. Not only can he tell an engrossing story, he makes you care about a character you would despise in the hands of a lesser writer. The man can tell a story!

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 months 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?

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 months hidden away in a federal prison. What noone knows is that the President issues the pardon only after recieving enormous pressure from the CIA. Backman may have obtained secrets that compromise the worlds most sophisticated satellite surveillance system.

Excellent.

Another glorious tale by Grisham. Joel Backman, a power broker, being locked up in the state pen for years, is set free. Instantly, a game for his life is played by those who need his secrects: that being software that can change the face of the world as we know it.

Grisham again takes us on a fairytale ride through the law and govt.

"Just read it on vacation in Florida. Great read for the beach....or anywhere!

another Grisham thriller.

Really enjoyed this one. It has it all, romance, family, intrique, spies, food, etc.

I loved this book! If you are a Grisham fan, you will not be disappointed.

I couldn't put this book down. It was not what I expected. Very fast-paced and thrilling!

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?

an outgoing president grants a pardon to a corrupt broker in prison. the cia wants this man pardoned, so other countrys will have the opportunity to kill him and take him off the u.s. hands

Really good book. Keeps you on the edge of your seat

I love John Grisham. You don't have to be a fan to enjoy this one.

Wonderful read..couldn't put it down. In the Grisham style but with a different twist rather than the courtroom.

I could not put it down.

Enthralling!

Excellent reading!

Another great book by Grisham! It is a fast paced book about a man that the president releases from prision after receiving pressure from the CIA. He receives a new identity and the CIA looks on and waits to see what is going to happen!

This book was okay. It was like some of Grisham's other books, some are great and are okay.

Typical Grisham. Great read.

Grisham spy mystery set in Italy. Imprisoned former power broker is given a new identity and relocated to Italy so the CIA can see who comes after him.

#1 New York Times Bestseller
"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 months 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 tha 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 wherabouts to the Isreais, 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?"

I like John Grisham and this book was no exception. I enjoyed reading this one very much!

Other great read by John Grisham, don't miss this one!

This is one of his best I think. Couldn't put it down.

Love Grisham

The President has pardoned power broker Backman and the CIA has set him up in Italy with a new identity. Who will finish him off, the Israelis, the Chinese, the Russians, the Saudis or some unknown agency?

very detailed john grisham book, interesting book and details of italian countryside.

Grisham wins with this story of a lawyer pardoned by an outgoing President. The lawyer is then used for bait and we follow the story through his eyes as he tries to find a way out.

In typical John Grisham fashion a tale of suspense and espionage unfolds. Fast-paced, fun read.

Great story keeps you going till the end

A classic Grisham book! A must read!

Enjoyable....sort of an unfinished work though.

Got this book for christmas, very interesting book. 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 6 months hidden away in a federal prison. What no one know's is that the President issues the pardon only after receiving enormous pressure for the CIA. It seems Back man in his ppower broker heyday, may have obtained secrets that compromise the world's most sophisticated satellite surveillance system. Backman is secretly smuggled out of the country in a military cargo plane, given a new identity and a new home in Italy. CIA will now leak his whereabouts to the Isralis, the Russians, the Chinese, and the Saudisl Then the CIA will do what it does best, sit back and watch. The question is not whether he will survive---It is who will kill him.

Good book, pretty similar to other grisham books.

Not his best.

Excellent, engaging book!

In the last few hours of his presidency the president issues a pardon to a notorious D.C. power broker who ends up in a safe house in Italy. He has to learn the language & falls in love in the process while trying to evade killers sent by several governmnets to find & destroy him. I loved the book, particularly the Italian setting.

Great!

Pretty good story line, easy and fast to read like other Grisham books.

Great Book. A really good read.

Grisham always keeps me in suspence until the end and this book is no exception.

Super story.

Latest Grisham book, good as all the others

Love all of his books!

Joe starts out in prison, then is pardoned and takes an interesting tour though Italy..always watching his back.

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