The Whistler

I was recommended this book by GoodReads, so thought I'd give it a try. I listened to it on audio, and enjoyed that format very much. This book is well-written, and a page-turner. Grisham has delved into the world of corrupt judges in this one, and we meet Lacy Stoltz, a woman who is willing to take on this particular judge. Little does she realize the cost that will be incurred by doing so, and little does she realize that her life and the life of people that she loves will be placed in grave danger. Lacey is a lawyer for the Florida Board on Judicial Conduct (FBJC). Her job is to investigate and put a case together to gather information on corrupt judges in the state of Florida. She doesn't carry a weapon, and she usually works with show more one other person, not a whole police force. Then she and her partner Hugo meet a formerly disbarred lawyer by the name of Greg Myers and things start to get really dicey right away. They find out that this particular judge is affiliated with a notorious Florida crime boss and his many crooked family members. It turns into a deadly cat and mouse game that has Lacey dodging assassination at every corner. This is apparently the first book in a new legal thriller series written by Grisham. It was a great listen, and i will continue this series. show less

John Grisham has another legal thriller. In the Whistler, Lacy, a Bureau of Judicial Corruption lawyer is informed about a judge that has taken corruption to a new level. This sets Lacy and her partner on a path that is filled with corruption and organized crime.

The story is very good but the reason I gave it only three stars was because there was not enough twists. This is something that I have grown used to in many stories. I was continually waiting for that 'bad guy' in the shadows to jump out with rage and betrayal - but it didn't materialize. That is just my personal preference and others may not mind that too much.

This one is a typical Grisham, one to add to the somewhat uneven side of the ledger – a judicial commission investigator receives a “deep throat” type of tip, sufficiently ominous to trigger an investigation into a potentially corrupt state judge with ties to a dark hillbilly criminal organization that has infiltrated a native tribe in Florida, and their casino. There’s the intrepid investigator, ala [The Pelican Brief], and the well-oiled corrupt organization, ala take your pick. The narrative twists stretch the boundaries of reason just a little too far with all of the ills that befall the investigator that would trigger more help, yet she battles on like only a Grisham heroine. Readable on a flight, where you can leave the show more book somewhere in the airport for the next traveler, but nothing too memorable.

2 ½ bones!!! show less

Fieldnotes:
Florida Panhandle, Contemporary (p.2016)

2 Smart Determined Investigators
1 Unknown Whistleblower, sort of protected by
2 Useless Go-Betweens after a Payout

1 Complicated Conspiracy Involving:
1 Very Corrupt Judge
Organized Crime
Indian Casinos
Kickbacks Galore
Scummy Property Developers

1 Serious Not-So-Accident
1 Mysterious Disappearance
1 Hitman
Following the Money

The Short Version:
This felt like a return to form for Grisham - I have not been a fan of his Camino Island stories and generally prefer his thriller set in and around the world of law. Here we have a determined, ethical investigators out to root out corruption in the judiciary, a complicated scheme (don't think about it too hard), informants and legwork and making sure show more justice is done. As with the most enjoyable Grisham stories, it feels a bit like a "case a season" TV show with a quick-moving plot. Enjoyable - a great airplane read - if not particularly memorable. show less

This John Grisham story is set in the Florida panhandle. It revolves around a case about a corrupt judge, tribal land and a casino. The lead character works for a judicial department that investigates complaints about misdoing by judges.

The story was entertaining, although it is a typical Grisham story that lacks sophistication. But it's an easy and quick read.

Grisham's usual complex but not bewildering plotting, this time involving a sort of sting operation to bring down a corrupt judge, and with her a whole organized crime outfit not even on the Fed's radar until Lacy Stoltz of the Florida Board on Judicial Conduct brought it to their attention. A bit of a slow set-up, and a death that felt unnecessary had me skeptical about this one for 100 pages or so, but I should have trusted Grisham to know what he was up to. Solid entertainment and a satisfying outcome, as always.

Another top-notch thriller by John Grisham! He has written yet another novel with non-stop action and danger, compelling characters, and a detailed crime with a fascinating backstory. As always, the walk through the legal system and the many ways people try to circumvent it is enlightening. If you are looking for a well-written solid story from a reliable author, the Whistler is it.