Review audio book The Broker by John Grisham

The review by John Grisham, the author
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?

Review by me, a listener
Ceritanya menarik dan menegangkan sampai CD terakhir. Total 10 CD audio; enam CD pertama berkesan terlalu detail, menceritakan Mr. Backman alias Marco Latzari di Italia. Dia harus berganti nama dan identitas yang merupakan bagian dari CIA plot.
Empat CD terakhir baru terasa ada 'rush', alur cerita dipercepat, karena Marco terpaksa melarikan diri dari Italia ke Switzerland dan akhirnya ke Pentagon USA untuk membersihkan nama dari segala tuduhan dan fitnah. Dalam pelariannya dia nyaris dibunuh oleh Israelis dan Chinese. Saya pikir dia akan mati, dan saya tetap berteka teki sampai CD yang terakhir. Namun Joel seperti layaknya lawyer, sungguh lihai dan meminta penggantian identitas dan 2 paspor yang berbeda. Di akhir cerita, Joel bertolak kembali ke Bologna, Italia untuk menemui teman wanitanya, Fransesca. Kasus Joel Backman, the broker, selesailah sudah. Tidak ada pembunuhan seperti yang direncanakan dari awal.
Review **** (4 out of 5 stars)