I enjoy a good Grisham thriller.  They aren’t too thrilling, but have enough complexity and great characters to make them enjoyable “popcorn” for the mind.  This one not so much.  I disagree with the NYT and Wash Post which gave The Whistler rave reviews.  Enjoyable and informative, yes.  Among Grisham’s best, no. 

The plot involves the Florida Board on Judicial Conduct, a corrupt judge and an Indian casino.  The FBJC is a state agency that endeavors to uncover state, county and municipal judges engaging in corruption and maleficence.  I assume most states have such bodies.  The protagonists are all charming, the antagonists suitably despicable.  My problem with the book is that Grisham “tipped the wink” as to who was guilty and why within the first third of the book.  From that point, it was must a nice narration of how the case played out, all tied up in a neat bow at the end.