The Racketeer

John Grisham

Doubleday, 2012 - Fiction - 343 pages

Given the importance of what they do, and the controversies that often surround them, and the violent people they sometimes confront, it is remarkable that in the history of this country only four active federal judges have been murdered.

Judge Raymond Fawcett has just become number five.


Who is the Racketeer? And what does he have to do with the judge’s untimely demise? His name, for the moment, is Malcolm Bannister. Job status? Former attorney. Current residence? The Federal Prison Camp near Frostburg, Maryland.

On paper, Malcolm’s situation isn’t looking too good these days, but he’s got an ace up his sleeve. He knows who killed Judge Fawcett, and he knows why. The judge’s body was found in his remote lakeside cabin. There was no forced entry, no struggle, just two dead bodies: Judge Fawcett and his young secretary. And one large, state-of-the-art, extremely secure safe, opened and emptied.

What was in the safe? The FBI would love to know. And Malcolm Bannister would love to tell them. But everything has a price—especially information as explosive as the sequence of events that led to Judge Fawcett’s death. And the Racketeer wasn’t born yesterday . . .

Nothing is as it seems and everything’s fair game in this wickedly clever new novel from John Grisham, the undisputed master of the legal thriller.

What people are saying

Review: The Racketeer

User Review  - Marsha - Goodreads

Haven't read Grisham lately. Good fast-moving read about Malcolm Bannister pulling one over on the federal government. Abrupt ending...sequel in sight?

Review: The Racketeer

User Review  - Jenn - Goodreads

Malcolm Bannister, is a lawyer who is in jail for a crime he didn't commit. Fortunately for him the unfortunate demise of a Federal judge and his lady friend is his key for early release. No clues, no ...

About the author

JOHN GRISHAM is the author of twenty-five novels, one work of nonfiction, a collection of stories, and two novels for young readers. He lives in Virginia and Mississippi.

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Racketeer
• Author: John Grisham
• Publisher: Doubleday, 2012
• ISBN: 0385535147, 9780385535144
• Length: 343 pages
• Subjects: Fiction / Legal; Fiction / Thrillers / Suspense