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The Racketeer
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The Racketeer (2012) (edit title/settings)

by John Grisham (Author) (edit contributors)

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Description edit see section history

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 just became number... read more

Summary edit see section history

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... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

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.

Characters edit see section history

  • Malcolm Bannister: The main character of the book. He is a small town black lawyer jailed for RICO dealings he had no idea he was involved in. He starts the book by serving a 10 yr sentence in a minimum security prison. He later assumes the identity of Max Reed Baldwin.
  • Nathan Cooley: He is a friend of Malcolm Bannister/ Max Reed Baldwin from Jail.
  • Vanessa Young: The protagonist's female companion. Her part in the story builds as the story goes on with a great deal of back story near the end. She is the love interest of Malcolm Bannister and her role is quite significant.
  • Bill Clinton: He is the 42nd President of United States Of America referenced in the book.
  • George McTavey: He is the Director of FBI
  • Dan Raynor: He is a US Marshal.
  • Mrs. Fawcett: She is the wife of Judge Fawcett
  • Gene Cooley: He is the brother of Nathan Cooley and was killed during a drug bust, which had sent Nathan to jail.
  • Marcus: He is the brother of Malcolm Bannister. His name is only mentioned and he seldom appears in the story.
  • Dusty Shiver: He is the lawyer hired by Dee Ray to represent Quinn Rucker when he is arrested for the murder of Judge Ray Fawcett.
  • Naomi Clary: She is the secretary of Judge Fawcett. She was also murdered along with him.
  • Mr. Copeland: He is the partner of the firm where Malcolm Bannister had worked.
  • Henry Bannister: He is the father of Malcolm Bannister, who loves his son and visits him at the prison monthly.
  • Dionne: She is the wife of Malcolm Bannister who divorces him while he was serving the 10 years sentence in jail.
  • Quinn Rucker: A fellow inmate with Malcom serving time for drug dealing. He escapes the minimum security prison and is then accused of killing Judge Fawcette and his secretary.
  • Victor Westlake: He is the FBI Agent who is in charge of the investigation of the murder of Judge Fawcett.
  • Dee Ray: He is the brother of Quinn Rucker. He helps Quin to escape the prison and was later charged with the murder of Judge Fawcett and his secretary.
  • Max Reed Baldwin: It is the new identity taken by Malcolm Bannister under Witness Protection Programme.
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First Sentence edit see section history

I am a laywer, and I am in prison.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. John Grisham (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Doubleday
Country: USA
Publication Date: October 23, 2012
ISBN: 978-0739378342
Page Count: 563

Classification edit see section history

  • Library of Congress: PS3557.R5355 R33 2012b
  • Dewey: 813.54

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

More Books Like This edit see section history

   
  • The Litigators
  • Beyond Justice
  • The Last Juror

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