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A review by ja_hopkins
The Broker by John Grisham
4.0
An inept president agrees to an eleventh-hour request from the head of the CIA to pardon Joel Backman, a notorious Washington insider who was sentenced to twenty years in federal prison six years earlier. Backman had somehow obtained secrets that threatened national security. The man who once rubbed shoulders with the rich and powerful now lived in a tiny cell with no human contact. The pardon was unexpected to say the least, and he finds himself whisked off to Italy to hide. He is free, or so he thinks. However, the CIA have other ideas.
Overall, I rather like the story. It’s a fun take on witness protection in the early 2000’s. The author admits the story is largely an excuse to travel around Italy for a few months in the name of research. Although I read this when it came out, it’s a good re-read. The only quibble, which I had forgotten, is how often Mr. Grisham writes in Italian, the repeats it in English. It would be easier just to say he’s speaking Italian when he is learning. And as far as I am aware, Eurostar doesn’t go to Italy. But, don’t let that put you off – it’s a fun story about a man who is running, but does not know quite why.
Overall, I rather like the story. It’s a fun take on witness protection in the early 2000’s. The author admits the story is largely an excuse to travel around Italy for a few months in the name of research. Although I read this when it came out, it’s a good re-read. The only quibble, which I had forgotten, is how often Mr. Grisham writes in Italian, the repeats it in English. It would be easier just to say he’s speaking Italian when he is learning. And as far as I am aware, Eurostar doesn’t go to Italy. But, don’t let that put you off – it’s a fun story about a man who is running, but does not know quite why.