THE RACKETEER

THE RACKETEER is to legal dramas what OCEANS 11, 12, and 13 are to heist films--so far-fetched it should be termed legal fantasy. It has so little to do with courtroom and prison reality that the listener feels cheated for listening to it. That's not to criticize the performance of JD Jackson, who does an amazing job, considering the paltry plot. He's believable as the convicted criminal who cuts a deal with the Feds for freedom, immunity, and $50,000 in exchange for the identity of the killer of a judge. If that sounds implausible, be advised that the rest of the book is even worse. Jackson's clueless hillbillies are priceless, even if they're out of central casting. If you want a taut legal thriller, look elsewhere. M.S. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2012]