The Racketeer[勒索者]

Giventheimportanceofwhattheydo,andthecontroversiesthatoftensurroundthem,andtheviolentpeopletheysometimesconfront,itisremarkablethatinthehistoryofthiscountryonlyfouractivefederaljudgeshavebeenmurdered.JudgeRaymondFawcetthasjustbecomenumberfive.WhoistheRacketeer?Andwhatdoeshehavetodowiththejudge’suntimelydemise?Hisname,forthemoment,isMalcolmBannister.Jobstatus?Formerattorney.Currentresidence?TheFederalPrisonCampnearFrostburg,Maryland.Onpaper,Malcolm’ssituationisn’tlookingtoogoodthesedays,buthe’sgotanaceuphissleeve.HeknowswhokilledJudgeFawcett,andheknowswhy.Thejudge’sbodywasfoundinhisremotelakesidecabin.Therewasnoforcedentry,nostruggle,justtwodeadbodies:JudgeFawcettandhisyoungsecretary.Andonelarge,state-of-the-art,extremelysecuresafe,openedandemptied.Whatwasinthesafe?TheFBIwouldlovetoknow.AndMalcolmBannisterwouldlovetotellthem.Buteverythinghasaprice—especiallyinformationasexplosiveasthesequenceofeventsthatledtoJudgeFawcett’sdeath.AndtheRacketeerwasn’tbornyesterday...Nothingisasitseemsandeverything’sfairgameinthiswickedlyclevernewnovelfromJohnGrisham,theundisputedmasterofthelegalthriller.