Broker

John Grisham returns to his signature terrain of institutional critique and legal procedure with a novel that examines the hidden machinery behind international child adoption. Drawing on his background as a practicing attorney, Grisham constructs a narrative that follows individuals operating in the morally ambiguous space between humanitarian aid and commercial exploitation. The story explores how well-intentioned systems can be manipulated, revealing the complex web of lawyers, social workers, and intermediaries who facilitate adoptions across borders. Central to the work is a meditation on fatherhood, responsibility, and the lengths people will go to build a family when conventional paths are blocked. Grisham’s meticulous attention to legal detail grounds the narrative in a recognizable reality, while his character-driven approach ensures that systemic critique never overshadows human consequence. The novel stands as a continuation of the author’s long-standing examination of how American institutions function, and occasionally fail, when confronted with deeply personal crises.