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merqri 's review for:
The Racketeer
by John Grisham
This was an easy read and played out almost likely a screenplay. For legal fiction, I expected lot more intricacies of the legal systems, which it failed to deliver.
Malcolm Bannister is incarcerated for ten years in federal prison for a crime he did not knowingly(?) commit. Five years have passed and he desperately wants out. Fate offers him that chance via an unfortunate murder of a federal judge. Can he get out?
The plot is okayish, and the execution is confusing. Usually, the writer weaves the story in such a way that you root for the protagonist. I could not find a lot of sympathy towards Malcolm. The other characters fail to take a significant role in your mind despite being in a substantial part of the book. Somewhat midway the narration goes haywire. It all ties nicely at the end, but still, the midsections of the book feel like a drag.
Spoilers ahead.
At the end of it, there was really no point in Quin's character at all. Like a magician who uses a distraction and misdirection for his act, Grisham has used Quin. All the characters feel dumb and just follow the whims of the plot. It is hard to believe FBI agents being so simpletons. Then there is Vanessa, her whole arc is extremely unbelievable. Who is she? From a simple middle-aged woman to someone who easily does casual B&E? These characters feel like ragdolls always at the mercy of the strange plot. For what is worth, I felt some sympathy for our boy Nate, he wasn't that capable of plotting and using governments for his devious schemes, and yet he suffered without knowing why.
This was my first John Grisham book in English. In the past, I have read a few translations. I think this is not one of his best ones, there are better ones out there, which I should try.
If you are a fast reader (which I am not), then this would be a good read at an airport or between long journeys to take your mind off boredom. I would not put it in the serious fiction category.
Malcolm Bannister is incarcerated for ten years in federal prison for a crime he did not knowingly(?) commit. Five years have passed and he desperately wants out. Fate offers him that chance via an unfortunate murder of a federal judge. Can he get out?
The plot is okayish, and the execution is confusing. Usually, the writer weaves the story in such a way that you root for the protagonist. I could not find a lot of sympathy towards Malcolm. The other characters fail to take a significant role in your mind despite being in a substantial part of the book. Somewhat midway the narration goes haywire. It all ties nicely at the end, but still, the midsections of the book feel like a drag.
Spoilers ahead.
Spoiler
At the end of it, there was really no point in Quin's character at all. Like a magician who uses a distraction and misdirection for his act, Grisham has used Quin. All the characters feel dumb and just follow the whims of the plot. It is hard to believe FBI agents being so simpletons. Then there is Vanessa, her whole arc is extremely unbelievable. Who is she? From a simple middle-aged woman to someone who easily does casual B&E? These characters feel like ragdolls always at the mercy of the strange plot. For what is worth, I felt some sympathy for our boy Nate, he wasn't that capable of plotting and using governments for his devious schemes, and yet he suffered without knowing why.
This was my first John Grisham book in English. In the past, I have read a few translations. I think this is not one of his best ones, there are better ones out there, which I should try.
If you are a fast reader (which I am not), then this would be a good read at an airport or between long journeys to take your mind off boredom. I would not put it in the serious fiction category.