CAMINO GHOSTS
by John Grisham
Synopsis
In this new thriller on Camino Island, popular bookseller Bruce Cable tells Mercer Mann an irresistible tale that might be her next novel. A giant resort developer is using its political muscle and deep pockets to claim ownership of a deserted island between Florida and Georgia. Only the last living inhabitant of the island, Lovely Jackson, stands in its way. What the developer doesn’t know is that the island has a remarkable history, and locals believe it is cursed…and the past is never the past…
Richard says
An awesome tapestry of characters and suspenseful plotlines. Grisham can be counted on writing a good story. As a retired lawyer, his books always spin on some sort of legal case, and usually, the spin is engaging and captivating reading. Camino Ghosts delivers the expected.
The revolves around slave history and voodoo curses in modern-day Florida. Grisham weaves a tapestry of colourful personalities, steadily creating an increasingly intriguing tale. The characters start with our ’emcee,’ a personable and likable book shop owner on Camino Island who holds publicity and book promotional gatherings for authors in his book shop. Our dominant protagonists, Mercer and husband, Thomas, thread more colour into the art piece. And then our chief character, the Lovely Jackson, adds the climax of colour with her apparel, her novel and her biography. Descendent of African slaves, she weaves a tale of suspense and mystique into the story building the tension and excitement.
The curse of Dark Isle victimizes white men, the original perpetrators of the enslavement exploitation of the story. Lovely Jackson claims to own the Isle but Florida law expropriates land that is unowned for the state. When developers see an opportunity to make a profit by building an exclusive gambling resort on Dark Isle, the intrigue and excitement really begin.
The drama unfolds wonderfully, as one would expect from a Grisham work. He does justice to the reputation he holds throughout almost the entire book. The level of excitement and intrigue is constant and superbly maintained until the last couple of pages.
Perhaps I am becoming jaded with too many Grisham books under my belt. I thought this one was rising to the level of his very best…until the final couple of pages.
Read it.
