I recently finished The Racketeer by John Grisham and understand, yet again, why his stories are appointment reading. There's only one word to describe his most recent novel.
Magnificent.
You can find a synopsis elsewhere. I liked The Racketeer for many reasons. But two in particular come to mind:
1. Grisham is the master of believable plot twists. When this one comes, it reveals the depth of the protaganist's relationship with … well … you'll have to read the book. No plot spoilers here.
As a writer, I'm always trying to learn from the craft of others. Check. Grisham's sequencing added richness to his story. I'll have to remember how he turned a minor charactor into a major one by the end of the book. And as a reader, I like losing myself in another world, one that's revealed slowly rather than bunched together at the start. Check.
2. Terrific commentary about "prosecutorial overreach."
This expression is neither mine nor Grisham's (to my knowledge). I first heard it used by the family of Aaron Swartz. Today, in fact. Swartz's death is a tragic story, and my heart goes out to his family.
"Prosecutorial overreach" is the DOJ's willingness to prosecute cases at any cost, even when government victories come at the expense of justice. In my opinion, 2013 will be the year when this issue becomes part of the national dialogue. More on that in future posts because this one, after all, is a book review.
For me, The Racketeer was an absolutely delicious experience. There's just no better way to learn than picking up facts from a great piece of fiction.
PS. Okay, there is one other thing. I guess everything comes in threes. I like the Southern feel of Grisham novels.
The New York Times describes my novels as “money porn,” “a red-hot franchise,” and “glittery thrillers about fiscal malfeasance.” Through fiction I explore the dark side of money and the motivations of those who have it, want more, and will steamroll anybody who gets in their way.