The Judge's List: A Novel


Unabridged Audiobook

Ratings
Book
755
Narrator
164
Release Date
October 2021
Duration
11 hours 36 minutes
Summary
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Investigator Lacy Stoltz follows the trail of a serial killer, and closes in on a shocking suspect—a sitting judge—in “one of the best crime reads of the year.... Bristling with high-tech detail and shivering with suspense.... Worth staying up all night to finish” (Wall Street Journal).
    
In The Whistler, Lacy Stoltz investigated a corrupt judge who was taking millions in bribes from a crime syndicate. She put the criminals away, but only after being attacked and nearly killed. Three years later, and approaching forty, she is tired of her work for the Florida Board on Judicial Conduct and ready for a change.

Then she meets a mysterious woman who is so frightened she uses a number of aliases. Jeri Crosby’s father was murdered twenty years earlier in a case that remains unsolved and that has grown stone cold. But Jeri has a suspect whom she has become obsessed with and has stalked for two decades. Along the way, she has discovered other victims.

Suspicions are easy enough, but proof seems impossible. The man is brilliant, patient, and always one step ahead of law enforcement. He is the most cunning of all serial killers. He knows forensics, police procedure, and most important: he knows the law.

He is a judge, in Florida—under Lacy’s jurisdiction.

He has a list, with the names of his victims and targets, all unsuspecting people unlucky enough to have crossed his path and wronged him in some way. How can Lacy pursue him, without becoming the next name on his list?

The Judge’s List is by any measure John Grisham’s most surprising, chilling novel yet.
Reviews
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Stephen L.

The narration could be improved - doing multiple characters with a recognizable and consistent voice is a audiobook skill not very reader has. But I was ok with it as I very much enjoyed the plot. I had read the first book with the main character and liked the follow up story. Maybe a third one coming?

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Marti Byler

I didn't care for the narrator. She sounded like she was giving a lecture not reading a book.

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Anonymous

Difficult to listen to. John Grisham is a marvelous author. Ok, so a bit of a formula writer. But I cannot seem to fight my way through this audio book with MaryLouise Parker reading. She needs training really bad. Her voice does not differ from character to character. I'll read Judges' List but via a paperback book -- not this awful audio book. I gave JG a 2 star only because I can't seem to get through it with MLP reading it. Fun actress in Red, Red2. But terrible narrator.

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Anonymous

is Grisham loosing it or is it just me...please find another narrator this was agonizing.

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Carmine D.

I was really looking forward to listening to this book. Unfortunately the narrator was horrible. I could not follow the story and gave up after 30 minutes. Hopefully John Grisham will re do this audio book with a better narrator.

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Jennifer L.

Really didn’t like the narration.

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Thelma M.

Love Grisham.. This was no exception. Had a hard time with the narrator.

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Lauren H.

Love her as an actress. Do not care for the flat performance here. Michael Beck is one reason we buy the audio books. He brings depth to the characters. This one is a hard listen….

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Mary C.

I thought the storyline was pretty good. I disliked the narrator. You couldn’t distinguish the characters. They all sounded alike; men, women, boys and girls! Because the story was good, I’d recommend.

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Kristina S.

I'm a huge John Grisham fan, a lot less critical of his work than some people who's reviews I've read, but this was not a favorite of mine. I was very much looking forward to the follow-up for the Wistleblower, which, in contrast, was a fantastic read. The Judge's list seemed too dark and less realistic, not what I'm used to from my favorite writer. To me, it's lacking that special trademark style.

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Anonymous

A Good Read

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Anonymous

5 I think I like it

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Arch N.

Great plot

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Ian M.

I thought the narrator was great

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Rob W.

Great book. Unfortunately needs a better narrator

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Jacob G.

the book seems like It would be great, but I simply can't get past the Narrator's voice and tone. She ends every sentence sounding like a question. she's boring and it's hard to tell when she is changing from character to character.

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Dennis B.

It was good I would read it with pauses of length because of my schedule. I was always eager to get back to it when I had the time. The characters come to life and by the end of the book you feel like yo know them and would love to have a drink with some of them.

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Anonymous

I always enjoy this author.

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Christine K.

I usually love JGs stories, and I appreciated his attempt at writing empowered clever women, but I found his version of how women speak/think little grating after a while. It might have been the narrator’s voice (an odd choice), but for me it missed the mark. Little details took me out of the story (eg being described as “childless”, or having a weird convo about her body/appearance with her brother that doesn’t further the plot at all). The mystery itself was good, but it unfolded too slowly for me, and some strings were left hanging, making me wonder why those subplots were included at all. Still, it was a good “vacation read” and kept me entertained while lounging in the sun!

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Michael M.

I was disappointed with both the plot and the narrative… Slow,..

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Pam

Couldn’t stop listening. I wore my ear buds all through the day - great story!

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Don O.

Riveting. Narrator is certainly good. Of course., may be possible to differentiate the voices of different characters a little better, but the writing is so good, this is hardly a problem.

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Marvin P.

Excellent book

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Valerie B.

Not very enjoyable. Too many mini stories Seemed to drag on forever.

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LanMan

I’m a huge John Grisham fan, read, or listened to every single book he’s ever written, but this book was the hardest to listen to of all his books, just can’t even finish it. If you want to hate every character, and hope they all die, read by a narrator who sounds board with the story, and terrible voice inflection, then this is the perfect book for you. Bla, John, you can do better!

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Outlawtx86

Hope there is another book in the near future. Great to listen too on long drives.

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Anonymous

I decided to give Grisham another try. I loved his early work but stopped reading years ago after it all became underwhelming and canned. This book did not give me enough reason to come back, though honestly it was better than I feared it would be. I agree with the other comments on the narration and won't repeat them. As to the story, I almost stopped listening when the initial tortured back and forth between Lacy and Jeri almost drove me crazy. It seemed like a quarter of this book was just Lacy deciding if she would take the case or not. And the idea that someone who investigates judicial misconduct is hunting a serial killer just didn't grab me as anything realistic.

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Patricia Hanchett

awesome, as always

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Anonymous

Agree with others that narrator underachieved. Started slow but better as she progressed. Characters all sounded alike. Liked plot.

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Anonymous

I stopped reading John Grisham years ago because his books became so predictable. I needed an audiobook for a long solo road trip and decided to give him another try. I’m glad I did. The plot held my attention. I have to agree with most of the reviews - MLP was not the best narrator. I was able to follow along just fine, however, it sounds like she’s giving a lecture rather than reading a book. I think with a little training, she could become a great narrator. All in all, I can say I enjoyed it.

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Eric S.

Very good book. I thought is was playing dead.

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Anonymous

One of Grisham’s best stories.

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Anonymous

Ok. The book is initially some what slow and plodding. Then you are put in the head of a serial killer and things change. Unfortunately, the Disney ending is predictable but this guy should have would have gotten away. The romantic denouement is rediculous.

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Crompton B.

Something there is about Grisham's writing that doesn't bother me if it seems to fit too snugly into a formula...whether it's how conversational it is or simply presented, the pages or the minutes just seem to fly by. Ross Bannick borders on the unrealistic somewhere on the villain scale, but this is a novel after all and the reader/listener can decide if they want to buy into the premise or not. I have to join with others who share a challenge with the narration and it reminds that the truly great ones are a special talent as they seek to render multiple characters without straining to differentiate them in bringing the text to life.

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Deidre Reis

Story was great! John Grishom always delivers. Narrator...ugh! I would have not finished if the storyline had been as blah as the narration.

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Donna L.

narrator wasnt my favorite...very monotone.

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John H.

Gone are Grisham's writing skills, taken over by his views of defund the police and other far left progressive views. Here are 6 people killed in the same manner and with a connection to one man and he promotes the idea that the police, including the FBI, are too stupid to figure it needs an investigation. Only this lady can figure it out along with all readers...

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Sylviajn

I found myself wishing this story would end…it seems to take forever to get going and once it does the main character is so difficult to deal with, I became frustrated with the story but plugged through to the end. My least favorite Grisham novel.

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Dennis K.

Sad story plot, but good outcome

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Anonymous

Liked the story, did not care for the narrator. Monotone reading

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David

The storyline was very intriguing. I had just made a trip through Florida and identified with the geography of the book. I loved the follow up of Lacy Stoltz from the Whistler. Her character was smart, decisive, and courageous. I would have enjoyed a scene where she confronts the evil judge directly and had a chance to quiz him.

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Anonymous

Good book not his best but entertaining

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Riley2309

Great read!

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Claudia G.

I always love his books and this one doesn't disappoint.

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Cyndy M.

Another great Grisham read. He doesn't disappoint with this one. He brings back a character you'll know.

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Regina B.

Good from the beginning to the end!

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Glenda G.

Great read!

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Marty A.

The conclusion of this book was definitely disappointing! Also I found it hard to believe that Jeri, who was TERRIFIED of the serial killer, would start sending him anonymous poems! That was NOT indicative of her character

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Lawrence W.

Not one of his better one's. Always like Grisham, plot clever, but some parts were repetitious and at.points slow. The conclusion of story was a disappointment.

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Anna

It was interesting!

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Lori M.

Fabulous book!!!

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Anonymous

Well written and narrated. This was absorbing and believable. Satisfying ending.

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Terrie B.

good story line, really keeps your interest

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Michael P.

Great as usual

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Tonja W.

The story line was great! I was, however, disappointed a bit with the ending. I expected way more. So much thought was put into other areas but not the ending.

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Margaret C.

I love audiobooks yours especially this is a great new run for your money and I drove all the way from California to West Virginia and then back to Kansas City listening to your book

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Cynthia W.

Great story, unpredictable and addictive! I found it difficult to turn it off. Not many books are so intriguing so I enjoyed the thrill of the chase.

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Cynthia A.

Probably the best book my favorite author has written. More. More.

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Anonymous

As usual, Grisham draws you into the story. Makes a good point that anybody out there could be crazy whether it is a doctor, construction worker or a sitting judge.

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Savannah S.

Not my favorite John Grisham book, but overall not bad

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Ron M.

Enjoyed it but definitely not his best work.

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BigE O.

Enjoyed the read but heard many mistakes. Ignoring those I did enjoy the book and each character. I Loved, loved the narrator, been a fan since Fried Green Tomatoes.

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