The Jack Carr Book Club October 2025 selection is THE WIDOW by #1 New York Times bestselling author John Grisham.
Simon Latch is a small-town lawyer in rural Virginia, barely scraping by while his marriage slowly falls apart. Then Eleanor Barnett—a wealthy widow—walks into his office with a simple request: a new will. But when Eleanor’s story begins to unravel and she winds up in the hospital after a mysterious accident, Simon finds himself accused of a shocking crime—her murder.
To clear his name, Simon must uncover the truth about Eleanor Barnett’s fortune and the dark secrets surrounding her life before time runs out.
With THE WIDOW, Grisham—one of the great storytellers of our time—delivers his first-ever whodunit: a taut, character-driven mystery layered with deception, tension, and high-stakes survival.
John Grisham is the author of more than fifty consecutive #1 bestsellers translated into nearly fifty languages. His recent books include FRAMED, CAMINO GHOSTS, and THE EXCHANGE: AFTER THE FIRM. A two-time winner of the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction and recipient of the Library of Congress Creative Achievement Award for Fiction, Grisham serves on the boards of the Innocence Project and Centurion Ministries, two organizations dedicated to exonerating the wrongfully convicted. He lives on a farm in central Virginia.
This conversation explores Grisham’s inspiration for THE WIDOW, the evolution of his storytelling beyond the courtroom, and what continues to drive his passion for justice through fiction.
FOLLOW JOHN
YouTube - @johngrisham9631
Instagram - @johngrisham
Facebook - @johngrisham
X - @johngrisham
Website - https://jgrisham.com/
FOLLOW JACK
Instagram - @JackCarrUSA
X - @JackCarrUSA
Facebook - @JackCarr
YouTube - @JackCarrUSA
SPONSORS
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The Need to Lead
Today’s guest is Dave Berke, a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer, fighter pilot, ground combat leader, and now a leadership instructor with Echelon Front.
As an F/A-18 pilot, Dave deployed twice from the USS John C. Stennis in support of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan before joining the ranks of TOPGUN, where he was dual-qualified in both the F/A-18 and F-16, serving as the Training Officer—the senior pilot responsible for the conduct of the TOPGUN course.
He later served on the ground in Ramadi, Iraq in 2006 as an ANGLICO Forward Air Controller with the Army’s 1st Armored Division, supporting SEAL Task Unit Bruiser.
Dave was the first operational pilot to fly and be qualified in the F-35B Lightning II, commanding the Marines’ first F-35 squadron. He also holds a master’s degree in International Public Policy and Business Administration from Johns Hopkins University.
Now, as Chief Development Officer and leadership instructor with Echelon Front, Dave draws from decades of combat and aviation experience to teach principles of leadership, discipline, and teamwork to organizations around the world.
In this episode, Jack talks with Dave about growing up under the flight path of El Toro Marine Base, early influences that led him to Marine aviation, and the journey from the cockpit to the streets of Ramadi. They discuss the power of teamwork under fire, the lessons learned at TOPGUN, and what true leadership looks like—whether in the sky, on the battlefield, or in business.
His book, THE NEED TO LEAD: A TOPGUN INSTRUCTOR'S LESSONS ON HOW LEADERSHIP SOLVES EVERY CHALLENGE, is available now.
FOLLOW DAVE
Instagram: @davidrberke
X: Dave Berke
Facebook: David Berke
Website: daveberke.com
FOLLOW JACK
Instagram: @JackCarrUSA
X: @JackCarrUSA
Facebook: @JackCarr
YouTube: @JackCarrUSA
SPONSORS
CRY HAVOC – A Tom Reece Thriller https://www.officialjackcarr.com/books/cry-havoc/
Bravo Company Manufacturing - https://bravocompanyusa.com/ and on Instagram @BravoCompanyUSA
THE SIGs of Jack Carr:
Visit https://www.sigsauer.com/ and on Instagram @sigsauerinc
Jack Carr Gear: Explore the gear here https://jackcarr.co/gear
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Charlie Sheen: Don’t Wish Your Days Away
Today’s guest is Charlie Sheen. From Red Dawn and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off to Platoon and Wall Street to Young Guns, Major League and Hot Shots to Spin City and Two and A Half Men, and, of course, Navy SEALs, Sheen’s career spans some of the most iconic roles in modern cinema. His new memoir, THE BOOK OF SHEEN, offers an unfiltered look at family, fame, survival, and redemption after a lifetime in the spotlight. It is available now.
In this episode, Jack and Charlie reconnect on familiar ground, sharing stories that range from Hollywood sets to baseball stadiums—including a full-circle moment on Martin Sheen’s birthday that ties back to Apocalypse Now.
They reflect on the cultural impact of Sheen’s films and how his characters inspired a generation, including Jack’s own path toward military service. The conversation weaves through art, legacy, and the pursuit of meaning in an era defined by noise, fame, and reinvention.
Sheen offers wisdom on storytelling, gratitude, and the importance of living life forward rather than replaying it on screen.
FOLLOW CHARLIE
Instagram: @charliesheen
FOLLOW JACK
Instagram: @JackCarrUSA
X: @JackCarrUSA
Facebook: @JackCarr
YouTube: @JackCarrUSA
SPONSORS
CRY HAVOC – A Tom Reece Thriller https://www.officialjackcarr.com/books/cry-havoc/
Bravo Company Manufacturing - https://bravocompanyusa.com/ and on Instagram @BravoCompanyUSA
THE SIGs of Jack Carr:
Visit https://www.sigsauer.com/ and on Instagram @sigsauerinc
Jack Carr Gear: Explore the gear here https://jackcarr.co/gear
Go beyond the books. Jack Carr spent 20 years as a Navy SEAL, where he served as a Team Leader, Platoon Commander, Troop Commander, Task Unit Commander and a sniper. Now, he’s a speaker and the author behind the bestselling Terminal List series. Inspired by actual experiences serving in conflict areas around the world, the novels follow James Reece, a Navy SEAL who becomes embroiled in the world of conspiracies, international espionage and revenge. Now, on his new podcast Danger Close, Jack takes fans beyond the books with conversations from real-life warriors, tactical experts and fellow writers about the world of the Terminal List, real conflicts, gear and a ton more. New episodes drop every Wednesday Presented, by Sig Sauer.
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