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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
It wasn't Grisham's best work and it actually seemed to drag during the final chapters. I only gave it 3 stars because I truly thought that he could have ended it sooner and the suspense could have been greater.
Wow. This book amazed me! I really enjoy John Grisham's books, but this one was really exceptional. Malcolm was a great and immediately likable character and I was instantly hooked into the story. Really great! Definitely recommend to everyone.
Note: Audiobook was really well read/acted and added to the story.
Spoiler
I love how this novel started as a "hmm who killed the judge" to "omg they planned it for 2 years. Every, EVERY move was planned. Every situated preconcieved and manipulated to achieve the end means...boat loads of gold. I love the way the story was written and how everything slowly unfolded. I love Malcolm's manipulation of the system that arrested him though he was innocent, and eventually made him a rich man. I also enjoyed how there wasn't too much "law talk" to get bogged down in.Note: Audiobook was really well read/acted and added to the story.
This books was incredibly suspenseful, masterfully mysterious, and entrancingly fast-pasted. But for some strange reason, I didn't connect in any way to the main character, Malcolm/Max. We was cold and only looked out for himself. His disregard for his former life and for the federal government astounded me, and I found that I could not relate to him in any way. His morals were shot and his personality was not like-able in my eyes. I found myself hoping that the protagonist would fail.
Additionally, this book is unsettling because it pushes doubt down your throat. More specifically, the author is warning everyone not to trust in any federal agency. While these suspicions may be warranted, no one likes to read about the idiotic pursuits of the government that they voted into power. Both of the Grisham novels I have read so far have had similar themes and elude to a more beautiful, simpler life in the Caribbean free of the watchful eyes of Big Brother. I am quite content where I am, and have nonetheless decided that if I ever pursue a career in law, I had better look over my shoulder every second of the day and entertain clients with extreme caution.
This book read well, sure, but left me feeling really depressed! Grisham toes the line between good and bad, and makes his readers question the legitimacy of underdogs and power-hungry freaks all while being stuck with an often unreliable narrator.
If you're looking for a book to read that will keep you turning pages while you ruminate in your disgust with big government, this is the novel for you. The mystery was entertaining, but I was hoping that the main character would emerge taking some sort of moral high ground, which he does not.
Additionally, this book is unsettling because it pushes doubt down your throat. More specifically, the author is warning everyone not to trust in any federal agency. While these suspicions may be warranted, no one likes to read about the idiotic pursuits of the government that they voted into power. Both of the Grisham novels I have read so far have had similar themes and elude to a more beautiful, simpler life in the Caribbean free of the watchful eyes of Big Brother. I am quite content where I am, and have nonetheless decided that if I ever pursue a career in law, I had better look over my shoulder every second of the day and entertain clients with extreme caution.
This book read well, sure, but left me feeling really depressed! Grisham toes the line between good and bad, and makes his readers question the legitimacy of underdogs and power-hungry freaks all while being stuck with an often unreliable narrator.
If you're looking for a book to read that will keep you turning pages while you ruminate in your disgust with big government, this is the novel for you. The mystery was entertaining, but I was hoping that the main character would emerge taking some sort of moral high ground, which he does not.
I loved how the story was page-turning and twist-y but didn't like the goals and characterization of the protagonists at all (though I know I'm not supposed to). I stopped sympathizing with Malcolm Bannister at the second half. The author's note says that this book is more fictional than his others and I guess that's why the fascinating execution of Malcolm's plan was just too perfect with almost nothing going wrong.
This is my first John Grisham book, and I would like to read more for the law and thrill aspect. Preferably with less crooked lawyers as protagonists.
This is my first John Grisham book, and I would like to read more for the law and thrill aspect. Preferably with less crooked lawyers as protagonists.
As I have recently tried to start doing, I want to avoid rehashing the blurb in my review. A review should be separate and distinct from a book blurb. If you need a plot synopsis, read the blurb.
The Racketeer is an interesting and intricate story, but is less compelling than many of Grisham's other stories. This is because there is really no character here for us to attach ourselves to. Don't get me wrong, the main character, Malcolm Bannister, is a very interesting character and I do develop a keen interest in the outcome. But Bannister is a lawyer and a con. Granted, he is as sanitized a con as we can possibly be presented with, but he is a con. He is also an attorney, and with apologies to the author, there is a general lack of empathy for attorneys in our society. The thing that Grisham usually does to bring the attorneys into our good graces is to cast them (at least one of them) in defense of someone who we quickly care about, by extension, we come to like, and care about that attorney. With this plot that never happens, it really can't.
The thing that I liked about this story was that it was a little like listening to a six and a half hour episode of Columbo, and in the absence of Grisham's normal "Heroic Attorney defends the downtrodden client" storyline, this worked for me. I was never sure what was going on, or what was going to happen, but I was always close. This is important, because if I begin to feel totally lost, I can lose interest. I deduced the answers to two big questions before Grisham revealed them, but not too far before. There were enough other plot questions to keep me keenly interested if not compelled (recall my thoughts from paragraph one). But if I were Grisham, I would stick to the formula that has worked for him. Some of us want to live in our fantasy world where there are good people (even some lawyers) who do the right thing and stand up for what's right. Where they may not always win, but where somebody is willing to fight the good fight.
This was the second Grisham book that I recall having been done in the first person. I am old and possessed of a poor memory ... and have not read all of Grisham's books yet so am unsure if it's more common, but I think I like when he works in the third person better.
I don't like abridged books (I feel like I'm missing something). I wonder if the unabridged version would have given me enough background to help me feel more empathy for Malcolm Bannister. Also, I missed Grisham's regular narrator (Michael Beck). All in all Grisham did his job. He kept me walking and listening.
The Racketeer is an interesting and intricate story, but is less compelling than many of Grisham's other stories. This is because there is really no character here for us to attach ourselves to. Don't get me wrong, the main character, Malcolm Bannister, is a very interesting character and I do develop a keen interest in the outcome. But Bannister is a lawyer and a con. Granted, he is as sanitized a con as we can possibly be presented with, but he is a con. He is also an attorney, and with apologies to the author, there is a general lack of empathy for attorneys in our society. The thing that Grisham usually does to bring the attorneys into our good graces is to cast them (at least one of them) in defense of someone who we quickly care about, by extension, we come to like, and care about that attorney. With this plot that never happens, it really can't.
The thing that I liked about this story was that it was a little like listening to a six and a half hour episode of Columbo, and in the absence of Grisham's normal "Heroic Attorney defends the downtrodden client" storyline, this worked for me. I was never sure what was going on, or what was going to happen, but I was always close. This is important, because if I begin to feel totally lost, I can lose interest. I deduced the answers to two big questions before Grisham revealed them, but not too far before. There were enough other plot questions to keep me keenly interested if not compelled (recall my thoughts from paragraph one). But if I were Grisham, I would stick to the formula that has worked for him. Some of us want to live in our fantasy world where there are good people (even some lawyers) who do the right thing and stand up for what's right. Where they may not always win, but where somebody is willing to fight the good fight.
This was the second Grisham book that I recall having been done in the first person. I am old and possessed of a poor memory ... and have not read all of Grisham's books yet so am unsure if it's more common, but I think I like when he works in the third person better.
I don't like abridged books (I feel like I'm missing something). I wonder if the unabridged version would have given me enough background to help me feel more empathy for Malcolm Bannister. Also, I missed Grisham's regular narrator (Michael Beck). All in all Grisham did his job. He kept me walking and listening.
“Rack-e-teer: one who obtains money illegally as by fraud, extortion etc.”
Synopsis: Malcolm Bannister, former attorney, is currently serving time in a Federal Prison Camp for a crime he didn’t commit. Luckily for Malcolm, he knows some very valuable information: who killed Judge Fawcett and the motive.
Thoughts: what an intricate storyline! The beginning is a little slow but by a few chapters in, I was hooked. The book has so many twists and turns...my head was spinning. At times I could not understand why Malcolm was doing any of what he was doing, but by the end, Grisham ties up the storyline in a pretty little bow. Overall, a great legal thriller!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Typical John Grisham. It had everything from stereo typical lawyers with pointy toed boots to good bad guys and the government looking silly.
I like John Grisham. He's usually who I turn to for audiobooks when I have a long hike or a long trip. I had been given this book by my boss and had nearly forgotten I had it until I had to move, so I took this with me on a vacation. I have to admit to being disappointed.
It's not a bad story, just certainly not one of Grisham's best. The opening part of the book seems pretty preposterous as does the continuing events, but there was a long stretch of time where I thought Grisham forgot which novel he was working on and entirely switched the story; I'm all for twists, but this was a sharp left turn almost into a wall.
It's really a shame, too, because I wanted to like the book more, but just could not. This one should be at the bottom of the list if you're looking for something to read.
It's not a bad story, just certainly not one of Grisham's best. The opening part of the book seems pretty preposterous as does the continuing events, but there was a long stretch of time where I thought Grisham forgot which novel he was working on and entirely switched the story; I'm all for twists, but this was a sharp left turn almost into a wall.
It's really a shame, too, because I wanted to like the book more, but just could not. This one should be at the bottom of the list if you're looking for something to read.
Simple book. Quick read. Not a lot of details or plot development.
Decent. A good crime/legal thriller from Grisham that kept me guessing.