The Judge's List by John Grisham Summary
Overview of The Judge's List
A sitting judge moonlights as a serial killer in this #1 New York Times bestseller from legal thriller master John Grisham. The Wall Street Journal called it "one of the best crime reads of the year" - a spine-tingling cat-and-mouse game worth staying up all night to finish.
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Key takeaways
A Serial Killer in Judge's Robes
What happens when the person responsible for upholding justice becomes its greatest threat? In the Florida Board on Judicial Conduct's cramped Tallahassee office, investigator Lacy Stoltz receives a mysterious call from a woman who will only identify herself as "Margie." After twelve years of investigating mundane judicial misconduct cases-improper gifts, conflicts of interest, temperament issues-Lacy finds herself intrigued by this caller's insistence on meeting at Starbucks rather than her office. The woman who arrives moves with calculated precision, scanning the cafe before selecting a corner table. Her designer outfit and perfectly styled hair contrast with her obvious nervousness. She demonstrates an unnerving knowledge of Lacy's career and even points out the colleague Lacy positioned at another table as backup. This calculated revelation serves its purpose: establishing her thoroughness while suggesting she has more cards to play. At a dimly lit hotel bar, "Margie" reveals herself as Jeri Crosby, daughter of murdered law professor Bryan Burke. For twenty-two years, Jeri has built a case against the killer-now Judge Ross Bannick, a respected Florida circuit court judge whose carefully crafted public persona masks what she believes is a methodical serial killer with at least seven victims across multiple states.
The Relentless Daughter
The Perfect Predator
The Investigation Unfolds
The Final Confrontation
Justice Found in the Junkyard
When Obsession Finally Ends
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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