Book Review: ‘Camino Ghosts’ by John Grisham

Book Title: Camino Ghosts
Author: John Grisham
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Number of Pages: 304
ISBN: 978-1529342512
Date Published: Jun. 5, 2024
Price: INR 425

Book Review

In his latest novel, “Camino Ghosts,” John Grisham takes readers on a captivating journey that blends legal drama, historical fiction, and environmental activism. The story follows author Mercer Mann as she returns to Camino Island for her wedding and is drawn into a compelling case involving the last surviving descendant of Africans formerly enslaved on a tiny barrier island off the coast of Florida.

John Grisham introduces us to Lovely Jackson, a sympathetic and likable character who claims ownership of Dark Isle as the last remaining descendant and heir. Lovely’s self-published book, “The Dark History of Dark Isle,” tells the story of how the island became a sanctuary for runaway slaves from Georgia in the 1700s and how a ship carrying 400 slaves from West Africa to Savannah capsized in a storm, with the survivors forming a community on the island.

The stakes are raised when a greedy Miami commercial real estate developer announces plans to develop Dark Isle into a resort with a casino. Mercer, with the help of her friend Bruce Cable and a semi-retired famous environmental attorney, Steve Mahon, agrees to write a non-fiction book expanding on Lovely’s story and to represent her in a lawsuit against the state of Florida to gain legal title to the island.

Grisham’s signal triumph in this novel is a tightly plotted, feel-good read with a few nifty surprises in store for fans. The author introduces us to many fresh, nuanced characters, with Lovely Jackson stealing the show. The story is woven together perfectly, and the ending is emotional and lovely.

“Camino Ghosts” is a captivating story that blends legal drama, historical fiction, and environmental activism. Grisham’s fans will enjoy seeing the return of familiar characters from the Camino Island series, while new readers will find this to be a gripping standalone story. The novel is a proof to Grisham’s diversity as a writer and his ability to craft compelling tales that tug at the heartstrings.

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