The broker by John Grisham

"The broker" by John Grisham - Too easy end!

This book is published by RHUK in 2005 and has 480 pages. 

Arthur Morgan, Incumbent President, has lost the election. In his last few hours in office he takes a controversial decision under pressure from CIA. Presidential pardon to Joel Backman, an infamous power broker. Backman carries many secrets and CIA can't kill him. So, after pardon he is set up in Italy under assumed identity. His identity will be leaked to someone who will willingly kill him. 

Who is looking for Backman? Why? What does he possess? What will CIA do? How long will he survive?

Backman is a powerful lobbyist who worked 80 hours a week, who influenced a number of decisions in DC and changed the outcome of numerous bills. In personal life, he has three failed marriages and three children. But at the end of the day, he is alone.

Backman has something that everyone wants. It's called Jam. America, Israel, Saudi Arabia and many others are after it. Who will get to Backman first? Can Backman evade the pressures in Italy? What's his connection with Francesca? There is also the eternal animosity between CIA & FBI.

While Backman learns Italian language and Italian way of life, readers also get a crash course in Italian. It's enjoyable. However, author spends a lot of time in the Italian tuitions and drinking hundreds of cups of espresso. Does it cannibalize the page space of the main story? Probably, yes. 

The story develops nicely. The cloak and dagger game is on. Backman makes a run. At this point the reader is very interested. But the last section of the book is a bit anti climactic. The end comes too easily. It does not stand up to the build up of the story. So at the end, even if you are not disappointed, you remain unsatisfied. 

Author makes it a point to muck up the cash for pardon scandal. But at the end decides to leave the readers high and dry about it. No trace of who was behind the scandal? Who the money trail eventually led to? Who was guilty? It's a big loose end. 

Why did I read this book? Author.

What did I like? Italian sojourn.

What I didn't like? Too easy end. 

Read if you have time.