The Broker Audiobook By John Grisham cover art

The Broker

A Novel

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The Broker

By: John Grisham
Narrated by: Michael Beck
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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?

©2004 Belfry Holdings, Inc (P)2005 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc. Espionage Legal Spies & Politics Suspense Thriller & Suspense Fiction Mystery Law Thriller

Critic reviews

"Most and best of all, it’s Grisham living up to his reputation as a great storyteller.”—Entertainment Weekly

“A fast-paced, fun read with echoes of something deeper. The author’s command of pop fiction delivers crisp, sharp prose.”—The Boston Globe

“[Grisham] is exceptionally good at what he does. . . . Indeed, right now in this country, nobody does it better.”—The Washington Post

Featured Article: The Essential John Grisham in Audio


John Grisham is best known for his fast-paced legal thrillers and mysteries, many of which have been adapted for television and film. Because he’s so prolific and has been writing for decades, it can be difficult to know where to begin when selecting a title from his impressive back catalog. And Grisham is definitely a jack-of-all-trades: he’s written not only legal thrillers, but nonfiction, a series for kids, some humorous novels, and recently, a new mystery series outside of the legal thriller genre. To help you decide which Grisham gem to download next, we’ve compiled a list of the very best.

Featured Article The Essential John Grisham in Audio
Intriguing Plot • Captivating Suspense • Excellent Narration • Vivid Italian Setting • Engaging Storytelling
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The story was basically good a bit slow in places. The ending leaved alot to be desired

End leaves you unfulfilled

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Typical Grisham... except that the first 3/4 of the book feel like an intense course into the Italian language. The book could have been streamlined if they didn't have every Italian word that was spoken or learned by the character pronounced. The novel is non descriptive. Not the best novel Grisham has written.

It felt like a guide to learning Italian.

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I just love the whole book. There was no let down!!!! It kept me up just to listen!!!

The Broker

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This was a fun book to listen to, in typical Grisham fashion, lots of twists and and turns. As usual they get into impossible situations and escape. You will enjoy even with those flaws, I know I did.

Keeps you entertained

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love his writing and narration was great. good story line. Acttually may read it again.

Grisham great as usual

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I will be brief, Slow getting started, Fast passed in the middle and close to the end and then just left you hanging. Don't get me wrong I still liked the book. I just hope there is a sequel!

The Broker Roller Coster

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The plot was good, but the book dragged on! I think the book could have been half the length and still would have been effective. Too much detail given about locations and sites. At times I felt like I was on a personal guided tour of Italy.

Also, the ending was a bit abrupt given the involved plot in the book. Not one of the author's best. The reader was excellent, though.

Broker Review

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I'm a huge John Grisham fan, but I'm sorry to say this was not one of my favorites. I like the idea, and some of the location narrative (loved the language study narrative!), but didn't ever get to the point that I cared much for the main character.

Enjoyed on a trip

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So enjoyed this. It's like a travel guide of Italy AMD Beck does a fantastic job of the accents.

Great Grisham, great reader

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Throughly enjoyed the journey through this adventure. There are a lot of twists and turns and a well thought out ending.

intriguing Story

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