7 reviews for The Whistler
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The Whistler
by John Grisham
Description:
We expect our judges to be honest and wise. Their integrity and impartiality are the bedrock of the entire judicial system. We trust them to ensure fair trials, to protect the rights of all litigants, to punish those who do wrong, and to oversee the orderly and efficient flow of justice.
But what happens when a judge bends the law or takes a bribe? It’s rare, but it happens.
Lacy Stoltz is an investigator for the Florida Board on Judicial Conduct. She is a lawyer, not a cop, and it is her job to respond to complaints dealing with judicial misconduct. After nine years with the Board, she knows that most problems are caused by incompetence, not corruption.
But a corruption case eventually crosses her desk. A previously disbarred lawyer is back in business with a new identity. He now goes by the name Greg Myers, and he claims to know of a Florida judge who has stolen more money than all other crooked judges combined. And not just crooked judges in Florida. All judges, from all states, and throughout U.S. history.
What’s the source of the ill-gotten gains? It seems the judge was secretly involved with the construction of a large casino on Native American land. The Coast Mafia financed the casino and is now helping itself to a sizable skim of each month’s cash. The judge is getting a cut and looking the other way. It’s a sweet deal: Everyone is making money.
But now Greg wants to put a stop to it. His only client is a person who knows the truth and wants to blow the whistle and collect millions under Florida law. Greg files a complaint with the Board on Judicial Conduct, and the case is assigned to Lacy Stoltz, who immediately suspects that this one could be dangerous.
Dangerous is one thing. Deadly is something else.
About The Author
John Ray Grisham, Jr. (born February 8, 1955) is an American bestselling writer, attorney, politician, and activist best known for his popular legal thrillers. His books have been translated into 42 languages and published worldwide.
John Grisham graduated from Mississippi State University before attending the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1981. He practiced criminal law for about a decade and served in the House of Representatives in Mississippi from January 1984 to September 1990.
He began writing his first novel, A Time to Kill, in 1984; it was published in June 1989. As of 2012, his books had sold over 275 million copies worldwide. A Galaxy British Book Awards winner, Grisham is one of only three authors to sell 2 million copies on a first printing; the others are Tom Clancy and J.K. Rowling.
Grisham’s first bestseller was The Firm (1991); it sold more than seven million copies. The book was adapted into a 1993 feature film of the same name, starring Tom Cruise, and a 2012 TV series which “continues the story of attorney Mitchell McDeere and his family 10 years after the events of the film and novel.” Eight of his other novels have also been adapted into films: The Chamber, The Client, A Painted House, The Pelican Brief, Skipping Christmas, The Rainmaker, The Runaway Jury, and A Time to Kill.
Skryf Review
“Amazing Book”
Tisha
I have read most of John Grisham’s novels so I was always going to read this one and so when offered the opportunity to read this preview I had no hesitation. The only problem is as expected the preview only succeeded in drawing me in and left me wanting more. The book is out in October so not too long to wait but I wish it was sooner.The novel starts with Lacy Stoltz an investigator who works on judicial misconduct cases in Florida. Up to now she has only worked on fairly small cases but suddenly she is thrust into the big time. Lawyer Greg Myers approaches Lacy and her partner Hugo on behalf of a whistle blower who has details of a judge who is mixed up with the local mafia. In combination with the gang the judge has managed to make illegal earnings from involvement in a casino and two of the people who opposed the casino are now dead. Under state law Greg Myers and the whistle blower are able to gain a slice of the illegally gained assets and are in a position to make a lot of money. But they first need to convince Lacy and Hugo that the case is genuine and the danger is worth the risk.
The four chapters I read set the story up and I need to hear more. I am sure this is going to be another John Grisham best seller.I would like to thank Net Galley and Hodder & Stoughton for supplying an advanced preview copy of John Grisham’s new novel ‘The Whistler’.
Hiten
I was lucky enough to be offered the chance to read this short 4 chapter preview of John Grisham’s new thriller ‘The Whistler’. Well, who wouldn’t want to read this excellent author even if it isn’t the full book?Lacy Stolz investigates cases of judicial misconduct in Florida. She has her share of interesting cases but nothing that will set the world on fire, that is until Greg Myers approaches her with the mother of all judicial misconduct complaints. Lacy, along with her working partner Hugo, agree to meet Myers ( a somewhat shady character who lives on the periphery of society). He claims to have evidence of a female judge being mixed up with the local mafia, and that she’s amassed a small fortune in illegal earnings from a casino and its surrounding condos. This case, if true, could become a very dangerous assignment for Lacy and Hugo, and Hugo in particular has real concerns about becoming involved with the mafia, and its possible outcome. This preview certainly gives a strong flavour of what’s to come and has left me feeling excited about its release. I realise that 4 chapters doesn’t make a book so it’s difficult to accurately rate and review but it’s certainly whetted my appetite and left me desperate to read the rest of this intriguing storyline. I think John Grisham has written another winner here.
arif
You know when you’re on holiday in Crete or wherever and the hotel has a big bookcase that guests can help themselves to. Well, if you find a John Grisham book in there, it’s like holiday gold. There’s a good couple of days of pool-side reading right there.There were times in The Whistler when the pace slowed, but then the tension would ratchet right back up again and you’re kept guessing right to the end who the whistle-blower actually is.This was a really great thriller and definitely recommended for cosy evenings now that the nights are drawing in.
Vishvesh
The Whistler is a tale of the perfect storm of corruption, a corruption so profound and well hidden that it lasts decades and involves an entire Native American tribe, countless of mobsters that have previously evaded law enforcement attention, numerous murders, a corrupt judge, and her attorney, as well as loads of dirty cash. Going deep into how the organization of a Native American tribe and the federal laws that allow gambling on tribe lands work, as well as, the powers of a little known governmental authority whose job it is to investigate judicial misconduct, called the Florida Board on Judicial Conduct, Mr. Grisham’s spare no detail account of the inner workings of these various matters are sure to keep the listener entertained and fascinated with learning more about these interesting matters. Moreover, the listener is sure to be glued to the edge of their seat as they work out who the secret mole, or “whistler,” and intermediary actually are, as well as the enormity of the grandiose corruption scheme they are blowing the cover on. Moreover, as if the story were not reason enough to listen, Cassandra Campbell’s adept narration makes this a great title to experience in audio format.
Jasmine
A totally riveting read! I especially enjoyed how the tension built up from chapter to chapter as two lawyers from the Board of Judicial Conduct (in Florida), Lacey Stoltz and Hugo Hatch, investigate a complaint to expose a corrupt judge, if not the most crooked judge ever.The Board needs to substantiate the misconduct, and it takes time to get proof: over the course of weeks, they meet with the complainant, the mysterious lawyer, Greg Myers who only acts as the spokesperson for the real whistle-blower, who needs to stay anonymous.
The investigation takes Lacey and Hugo to a thriving casino on tribal land, whose management are in bed with a criminal syndicate, the Coast Mafia, lead by the elusive elderly Vonn Dubose. Moreover, it seems that the judge was secretly involved with the construction of that large casino. The criminal syndicate killed a few people 15 years ago in order to smooth the path (ref. Witness to a Trial – Kindle single), and is now helping itself to a sizable skim of each month’s cash. The judge is getting a cut too, and has been looking the other way for the past 15 years.
A heart-wrenching turn of event brings the investigation to another level, an even more personal one, and the few people at the BJC need to be extra careful. And they need help.
Believe me when I say that I was literally glued to the pages as from the second half of the book.I loved the balance between the seriousness of the situation and the lighter moments, for instance, when Lacey’s brother, Gunther, made an appearance. It was also very gratifying to read that the FBI did a good job by methodically going after the right persons to build their case in order to catch the big fish. All in all, a very well written story. And, yes, satisfying to know that Junior Mace would be proven innocent and was going to get out of jail since he was so skilfully framed 15 years ago. The good guys won, and I, for one, am super happy about that.
Skryf Review
Good Read
This book covers Native American land that is used by a gambling casino. The Tappucola tribe finds themselves involved with the Coast Mafia. A whistle-blower reports the corruption including skimming and laundering the Casino’s cash offshore.
Our protagonist is Lacy Stoltz, an investigator for the Florida Board on Judicial Conduct. Lacy is an attorney who investigates Judges; she is not a law enforcement officer. She is investigating Judge Claudia McDover. Lacy finds herself up against the head of the Coast Mafia, Vonn Dubose.
The book is well written and has a complex plot. The suspense slowly builds throughout the story. The story follows the usual Grisham formula. It could almost be called an issue novel regarding unregulated Indian casinos and judicial ethics.
Cassandra Campbell does a good job narrating the book. Campbell is an actress and a multi-award winning audiobook narrator.