THE WIDOW

5 stars out of 5

It's been a while since I read a book I really, really didn't want to put down. When I find one, it's likely to be by one of my favorite authors like the prolific Mr. Grisham - but even he outdid himself on this one. It's a titch off center from his usual fare, but viva la difference.

Simon Latch has a decent but boring life as an attorney in backwoods Virginia, struggling to keep his office open and his long-time secretary Matilda paid after 18 years. To keep his sanity, he's also a sort of under-the-table gambler whose losses typically outweigh his wins. Then one day, in walks elderly Eleanor Barnett, who claims to need a new will. So what, Simon says (to himself, which is a good thing since the old bag also claims to be loaded). Her late husband, it seems, racked up a fortune in corporate stock before he died - and also told her he didn't want either of his two grown sons to inherit a cent. She's got a will drawn up by an attorney across the street, but she's not happy with it and wants Simon to write a new one that will make the previous one - even though it also excludes her stepsons - null and void.

Simon's nose does twitch a bit at her story, but that's soon overwhelmed by the smell of financial opportunity. He can, he decides, draw up a better will - one that gives the bulk of her money to the charities she wants, but also provide a more than comfortable future for him (make that way more). First, though, he needs to gain her full confidence (not to mention rack up fees and expenses) as well as details she's reluctant to reveal about her financial situation. So for a time, he becomes a frequent companion, making sure she gets where she wants to go and eating what she wants to eat - while his nose twitches with every dollar spent.

Then comes a major roadblock; she's hospitalized as a result of an auto accident. And from that point on, Simon's life takes on a life of its own - ending with his realization that in many ways he's been had and his arrest for a murder he didn't commit.

At that point, my job as a reviewer is done - just as Simon's terror that his life outside jail will be over unless he can somehow prove his innocence begins. How he tries that - and whether or not he's successful, makes up the rest of the book and is for readers to learn (as well, of course, as the juicy and intriguing details of everything I spoke of in previous paragraphs). In the end, it's an engrossing tale told by a master of engrossing tales. My advice? Don't miss it. And while I'm still writing, I'll say many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the pre-release copy. Loved it!

The Widow by John Grisham (Doubleday, October 2025); 416 pp.

CAMINO GHOSTS

5 stars out of 5

This is the third in the author's Camino Island series, and in many ways, I'll call it my favorite even though I gave each of them 5 stars as well. It's a happy, sad, bittersweet, intriguing, well-written story that held my attention throughout. I will not, though, calll it a "thriller;" nothing in here was the least bit frightening or scary to me.

Back to the forefront is Bruce Cable, owner of a bookshop on Camino Island. His friend, author and college teacher Mercer Mann, is looking to write a follow-up to her successful novel but having trouble finding a topic. Ever helpful, Bruce turns to a small self-published history of nearby Dark Island written by local resident Lovely Jackson. Now 80 years old, Lovely claims not only to have lived on the long-deserted island, but is the owner; she was the last inhabitant to leave, and many of her relatives are buried there. She also claims that the island is cursed - and any people not of color (a.k.a. white) will not be welcomed there.

But progress, apparently, has no use for claims like hers; a large development company has set its sights on turning Dark Island into a tourist attraction now that a huge storm carved a path for a bridge to be built between the two islands. Despite offers of huge sums of money, Lovely says no deal; so the company, in the belief that Lovely can't prove ownership of Dark Island, decides to take the matter to court.

From there, it's a matter of history - readers learn what Lovely knows first-hand and by way of her ancestors, almost all related to the slave trade, kidnapping and worse. In the present, we see how the trial develops, proceeds and ends as an aging Camino Island lawyer who opposes the Dark Island development project takes on Lovely's case in true David v. Goliath fashion.

I should note that this book stands alone well, although those who read the first two will have an advantage of being familiar with several of the characters (and besides, they're really good books as well). As for this one, I once again thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. Loved it!

Camino Ghosts by John Grisham (Doubleday, May 2024); 295 pp.

THE EXCHANGE

4 stars out of 5

Well, the ending wasn't a direction I'd have foreseen (nor chosen, for that matter), but getting there was quite a trip in this, the follow-up to the author's super-popular 2010 book The Firm. It was good to see what Mitch McDeere and his wife, Abby, have been up to since they narrowly escaped with their lives after he turned informant against his old law firm and its ties to organized crime.

And that, I suppose, is the biggest issue I have with this book. Somehow, I just can't see powers-that-are looking the other way when they know a man stole, and is hiding, a huge amount of money - even if it once belonged to the mob and the guy who stole it is a hero of sorts. But apparently, $10 million somehow got lost in the shuffle (we all know one hand of the government rarely knows what the other is doing, but still...) I, on the other hand, am not quite so forgiving; the money wasn't Mitch's to keep.

But mine is also not to reason why, and besides, the rest of the story is interesting, timely and held my attention throughout. And this is now, not then; Mitch is a successful and valued partner at the auspicious law firm of Scully & Pershing at the ripe old age of 41. Abby is a senior editor who honchos cookbook creation and publishing, and together they have twin sons Clark and Carter. Smooth sailing, yes? Well, that's about to change; his boss asks (read: demands) that he go to Rome to see Luca Sandroni, the head of a partner firm. One of Luca's best clients, it seems, is being cheated out of payment for building an ill-fated bridge in Libya and  needs a hot-shot attorney like Mitch to argue the case in front of an arbitration board in Geneva. Mitch was actually looking forward to representing Luca's client, right down to personally visiting the bridge; that went south when Luca's daughter Giovanna - who accompanied Mitch to the bridge - is kidnapped. Subsequently, the kidnappers demand an ungodly sum for her safe return - choosing a reluctant Abby as the go-between.

And that's just the beginning; the rest of the story, of course, deals with trying to find Giovanna [alive] with help from sources who won't be discovered by the kidnappers and coming up with $100 million in a very short time, mostly from sources who outwardly, at least, refuse to pay ransom under any circumstances. While there's no courtroom drama, it's pretty heady stuff - all well laid out with a few potshots at some of the people, institutions and issues who (IMHO) well deserve them as well as intriguing groundwork for (I hope) another sequel. All told, well done - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

The Exchange by John Grisham (Doubleday, October 2023); 352 pp.

THE BOYS FROM BILOXI

4 stars out of 5

Despite the fact that this prolific author is one of my favorites, after reading the first couple of chapters of any of his books - including this one - I always suspect I'm not going to enjoy it very much. And every single time - including this one - once I get back in the no-dialogue groove and start paying attention to the expertly crafted narrative that centers on intriguing characters and places, I'm hooked.

So it was with this one, which takes place in the coastal town of (as the title suggests), Biloxi, Mississippi, a popular destination for those looking for great beaches and scrumptious seafood. But to those who lived there, it was also a haven for corruption, with much of the vice under the tightly held reins of the so-called Dixie Mafia. Here is was, in the 1960s, that Keith Rudy and Hugh Malco first became friends as teenagers; but once the glow of their school baseball team faded, they went their separate ways: Rudy to law school, following the path forged by his successful lawyer father, Jesse; Hugh, to follow in the path forged by his equally successful mob boss father, Lance. As Keith's father makes it his mission to rid the city of ne'er-do-wells, Hugh's father vows to bring down those in government and law enforcement who are not in his pocket. That puts the two fathers and their two sons squarely at odds - in and out of the courtroom - that makes readers constantly question who, if anyone, will emerge triumphant and suspect that the story won't end well (some will argue, no doubt, that it didn't).

And that's all I can say without spoiling it for other readers, except to say it's a captivating story that I really didn't want to put down. Kudos (once again)!

The Boys from Biloxi by John Grisham (Doubleday, October 2022); 453 pp.

THE JUDGE'S LIST

5 stars out of 5

This one, IMHO, is the author at his best. Loved it, hated to put it down and was upset that keeping my husband fed and the need for sleep got in the way of polishing it off in one sitting.

It's actually the second in a series featuring attorney Lacy Stoltz, but it stands alone quite well. I say that because although I read the first book, The Whistler, it was so long ago (2016) that I don't remember a thing except that I thoroughly enjoyed it as well. Here, Lacy is working for the Florida Board on Judicial Conduct, which investigates allegations against members of the judiciary, and has an FBI boyfriend named Allie Pacheco. Their relationship is serious, but so far it hasn't progressed to a ring-on-the-finger stage. 

One day, Lacy gets a call from a woman who calls herself Margie; she wants Lacy's agency to look into a judge she insists murdered her father years ago, when the judge wasn't even on the bench. But wait, there's more; Margie - real name Jeri Crosby - claims to have some evidence that her father isn't the judge's only victim (far from it, in fact). Even though Jeri says several other victims had unsatisfactory interactions with the judge, thereby providing him with motive, Lacy is skeptical (lawyers, after all, rely on actual evidence, which is noticeably missing in all these instances). Lacy also makes it clear that if evidence is found, her agency will have to turn the case over to the police and/or FBI - and Jeri's identity, which she's intent on keeping private for fear of her life - most likely would be revealed.

As the story progresses, readers also get a glimpse into what the judge himself is up to, and one thing is clear: He's guilty as all get-out. Unfortunately, he's also smart, manipulative and has no intention of stopping until he makes his way through the list of people he believes have wronged him over the years. 

As circumstances in Lacy's agency open up new possibilities, she agrees to at least look into the case with help from her task force members Darren and Sadelle. Once they start delving into past murders (all with at least one common M.O.) and the victims' connections to the judge, it becomes clear they're dealing with a serial killer. Now, they must collect enough evidence to file a formal complaint on behalf of Jeri (under a fictitious name). But that also will mean the judge knows they're on to him, raising the question of how far he will go to avoid charges and protect his good name. In fact, it's a pretty sure bet it will be far enough that lives that aren't on the judge's original list find themselves on it now.

The Judge's List by John Grisham (Doubleday, October 2021); 359 pp.

A TIME FOR MERCY

 5 stars out of 5

The law works in mysterious ways - at least in small-town Mississippi courtrooms in 1990. And they're laid out here for all to read and enjoy as local attorney Jake Brigance takes on two very different high-stakes cases. One could earn a ton of money for his struggling practice; the other could get him killed.

The golden goose case pits Jake against a giant railroad company

he alleges was negligent in keeping crossing lights in good repair. The result was a horrible accident that happened - or so Jake needs to prove - because the lights weren't working. Needless to say, the railroad attorneys insist they were working just fine. As the book begins, it looks as if the railroad may be willing to offer a substantial cash settlement with Jake's client - thus allowing Jake to pay his bills as well as those he's racking up defending the client in his other case - one he got [ahem!] railroaded into taking on by the local judge.

It is that case that gets the lion's share of attention. A 16-year-old boy has been charged with the cold-blooded murder of his mother's boyfriend. The case is complicated by the fact that the dead guy was a local deputy sheriff - albeit one with a nasty temper and a penchant for getting drunk. Under state law, the boy can and will be tried as an adult; many, if not most, of the town's residents (and most certainly the victim's family and his fellow officers) are fervent in their belief that he deserves the death penalty. 

The more Jake learns, though, the more he believes the charges against his young client aren't warranted. Readers, of course, learn the details of what really happened as well as how Jake and his legal cronies are working out their courtroom strategy. Suffice it to say it's a real treat to follow along - or at least it was for me. I have to say I wasn't totally thrilled with the way things turned out even though it probably was for the best, but I'm encouraged that there is plenty of fodder for the next book in this terrific series (this is the third). Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review it.

A Time for Mercy by John Grisham (Doubleday, October 2020); 465 pp.

CAMINO WINDS

5 stars out of 5

This, the author's second adventure set on

Camino Island, puts some of the characters from the first (appropriately titled Camino Island) back in the eye of the storm. This time, though, it's literally; not long after the story begins, Hurricane Leo threatens to disrupt the festivities honoring successful author Mercer Mann that are to take place in Bruce Cable's Bay Books store. Mercer, who has a college teaching gig, has returned to the island with her latest boy toy, Thomas, expecting to be wined and dined by her old friends.

But it's not long before all those plans are blowin' in the wind; Leo, it seems, has set his eye on the island's downtown. Evacuations are ordered, but Bruce and a couple of his friends decide to ride it out. Luckily, they survive the devastation; but no such luck for Nelson Kerr, a thriller writer and one of Bruce's friends. He's found dead at his damaged home; but an up-close-and-personal look determines that Leo may not have been the killer.

Since Nelson died in the storm when debris was flying everywhere, the local police aren't quite ready to buy the murder angle - and even if they did, they're up to their eyeballs in clean-up efforts and making sure looters don't start running rampant. Bruce, though, is positive he's right. As he and his friends, including Mercer and Thomas, put their heads together, the consensus is that somebody, somewhere, didn't want Nelson's not-yet-published manuscript to see the light of print.

But who might that be? Surely not one of their own - each of whom has a background and secrets that are slowly revealed as the story unfolds - and issues are resolved - over a period of a year or so. As was the first book, it's told in a narrative style, although there seems to be more dialogue here (and, maybe because of that, I think I slightly prefer this one). Those expecting courtroom theatrics will be disappointed, although lawyers do get involved in some of the goings-on. All in all, this one is thoroughly enjoyable - and I've definitely taken a liking to this series. More, please!

Camino Winds by John Grisham (Doubleday, April 2020); 290 pp.

THE GUARDIANS

5 stars out of 5

As a long-time Grisham fan, the moment I got my hands on this book I bookmarked the one I'd almost finished reading, set aside the one lined up to be read next and got down to business. My only disappointment? That real-life business (like eating and sleeping) prevented me from polishing it off in one sitting; it was engrossing from the first page to the last.

The story outlines the efforts of nonprofit Guardian Ministries, a small, close-knit group of like-minded individuals whose mission is to move legal mountains to free wrongly convicted prison inmates. Narrated by firm investigator, attorney and Episcopal priest Cullen Post, the book primarily details the investigative and legal progress as related to two of the firm's six clients - both of whom have been serving time for years for crimes they did not commit. The primary focus is on Quincy Miller, a black man who was sent to prison for life for murdering a young lawyer in a small north Florida town.

Fast-forward 22 years, when Cullen meets with the man and, after reviewing the scant evidence that suggests Quincy was framed, decides to take on the case. Getting to the truth, though, requires hundreds of interviews, exhausting research and travel wherever the evidence leads - not easily accomplished by a firm that operates on a shoestring budget. But the more they investigate, the more convinced of Quincy's innocence they become and the more determined Cullen is to prove it (and maybe, although it's not the prime directive, unearth the real killer in the process).

Time-consuming? Obviously. Dangerous? Not so much, except when it is; not everyone is eager to set the record straight. Some, in fact, will go to any lengths to keep long-buried secrets as dead as the lawyer they murdered all those years ago - and now they've got Cullen in their sights. Will he get out alive? And if he does, will he get his client out of jail? Read it and find out - you'll be glad you did.

The Guardians by John Grisham (Doubleday, October 2019); 371 pp.

THE RECKONING

5 stars out of 5

Without doubt, this is one of the saddest and most haunting books I've read in a while (close to downright depressing, in fact). What's more, about a third of it was so unsettling that insofar as possible, I skimmed through it. It is written matter-of-factly, without emotion - but the emotion comes through loud and clear nonetheless. Did I love it? In many ways, no; but in the overall scheme of things, it's pretty darned awesome.

Let me clarify. The depressing part came near the end, when facts not previously in evidence were revealed (let's just say that O Henry's "The Gift of the Magi" came to mind). The unsettling part came in the middle, when details of the World War II military life of Pete Banning, one of the main characters, was outlined in all-too-vivid detail. If there's anything in this world I'd rather not read about, see, or listen to, it's the horrors of war. And the entire middle section of this book, Titled "The Boneyard," lays it all out. Yes, it's a very important part of the story - but had I known it was coming I'd have left sneaker tracks on the sidewalk running the other way.

That said, what a story it is. Set in small-town Clanton, Mississippi, after World War II has ended and Pete, thought to have been killed, returns home to his extensive cotton farm as a decorated hero. His wife, Liza, is in a mental institution - at Pete's orders - and their son and daughter are grown. In 1946, at the age of 43, Pete is about to do something virtually unthinkable, especially for a man of his stature; commit a cold-blooded murder. He freely admits to his guilt; what he refuses to admit, though, is his motive. He will, he insists, go to his death - a very real possibility if he's convicted by a jury - with his secret intact. His long-time family lawyer, nor his sister Flora, who lives on the farm, nor his children will ever hear the reason behind his action - at least never from his lips.

From that point on, much of the narrative focuses on Pete's family background and what and how his children are doing, all of which takes place in a deep-South setting in which "coloreds" handle menial tasks and are not allowed to sit on the front porch of any home nor anywhere in a courtroom except the balcony. And of course, let's not forget the section that details what happened to him in the war when he was part of the historic Bataan Death March in the Philippines. Even though I didn't want to read it, I can't imagine the research it took to pull all that together. In the final section, "The Betrayal," readers, along with Pete's two children - find out what really happened.  

The Reckoning by John Grisham (Doubleday, October 2018); 417 pp.

THE ROOSTER BAR

5 stars out of 5

"O, what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive!"
-- Sir Walter Scott

I lost count of the times that quote popped into my head as I followed the adventures (and misadventures) of law school students Todd, Mark and Zola. Just one semester away from graduation at the Foggy Bottom Law School in Washington, D.C., the friends realize their school is mostly a sham and they're hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loan debt with no hope of getting meaningful employment even if they pass the bar exam (which, not insignificantly, most graduates fail to do).

On top of that, Zola's parents, who have been in the United States as productive, but illegal, residents for nearly a quarter of a century, are in danger of being summarily rounded up and kicked back to their native Senegal. It's a bleak outlook all around, to say the least. But then comes the discovery that their for-profit diploma is one of several owned by a filthy rich guy who also owns a bank that hustles student loans. So as they gather 'round a table at the neighborhood Rooster Bar, a plan starts to hatch - one that begins with dropping out of school.

In a very real sense, though, their plan is nothing to crow about. From the start - with the tactics they'll take to earn money to live on - virtually everything they do is illegal and could land them in jail if they're caught. It's also a seat-of-the-pants operation; as one door closes, they're forced to find another one that opens - and so it continues until the end, when everything that goes around, comes around. How they pull everything off  admittedly tests the limits of credibiity here and there, but it also provides a wild but enjoyable romp for readers as well as a chance for the author to put the spotlight on injustices (as he sees them) in the student loan industry and immigration policies. Kudos for another one well done!

The Rooster Bar by John Grisham (Doubleday, October 2017); 368 pp.

CAMINO ISLAND

5 stars out of 5

If I could change the title, I think I'd rename it Anatomy of a Heist. The writing is very matter-of-fact - nothing very thrilling or exciting - that begins with the theft of five one-of-a-kind F. Scott Fitzgerald manuscripts from the bowels of the Princeton University Firestone Library. From there, it follows the day-to-day (often minute-by-minute) lives of the thieves and those who want to find them and bring the manuscripts back to their rightful home. It's divided into sections, each of which details the relevant characters and events pretty much on a minute-by-minute basis.

"The Heist," the opening section, brings readers an up-close-and-personal look at the robbers and how they planned the job and carried off the loot. "The Dealer" focuses on Bruce Cable, owner of a popular bookstore on Florida's Camino Island who collects rare books and, despite having a gorgeous French wife who deals in antiques, is quite the ladies' man. That's followed by "The Recruit," which introduces Mercer Mann, a semi-successful novelist and current teacher at the University of North Carolina. She's desperately trying to get out of a writing slump, hoping to get published and sell enough books to pay off her massive student loans and live the life of a successful writer.

In earlier days, Mercer was a frequent visitor to Camino Island and thus is familiar with its small tourist town of Santa Rosa, where Bruce's bookstore is located. When powers-that-be suspect that Bruce somehow may be involved in the theft of the manuscripts, which are insured for a whopping $25 million, she's considered the perfect "spy" and is offered the job of getting close enough to Bruce to learn his secrets. What they're willing to pay for her services is mind-boggling; but she wonders if its worth selling her soul as a snitch. Even if she can get over that hump, does she have what it takes to convince Bruce that she's just a curious, temporary island resident who has an interest in old books? And what if it turns out that Bruce has no secrets at all?

From there, the story unfolds bit by bit, section by section - always in a mostly narrative, little dialogue fashion. For readers, that means no nail-biting or edge-of-seat balancing, which may not sit all that well with those who demand knock-'em-dead action (nor will, perhaps, the lack of courtroom drama). But as with any writer worth his or her salt, the devil is in the details - and in that respect, Grisham is as good as it gets. It was fascinating to see how deftly he weaves together all the bits and pieces into the whole story that builds to the ending - which, as might be expected, is understated as well. Good job!

Camino Island by John Grisham (Random House LLC, June 2017); 304 pp.

THE WHISTLER

4.5 stars out of 5

Quandary time: I really enjoyed this book - in fact, perhaps more than the last two or three from this popular author. For openers, there's a noticeable absence of the industry-bashing that's been common of late (much to my dislike), and the focus is almost entirely on legal procedure that's reminiscent of earlier and, IMHO, more enjoyable works. 

On the other hand, it struck me as different enough that it may not sit well with die-hard fans. Can I call it, for instance, a "high-stakes thrill ride" as claimed in the description? Simply put, no.

Don't misunderstand; there's plenty of action, beginning the minute Lacy Stoltz, an attorney and investigator for the Florida Board on Judicial Conduct, is contacted by Greg Myers, a lawyer who claims that a Sunshine State judge is the most successful judicial thief in U.S. history. The judge, he reports, for years has been taking huge cuts from a large casino operated by the Tappacola Indian tribe, construction of which was financed by a secretive organization called the Coast Mafia. But there are complications; first, Myers was at one time disbarred, so his reputation is questionable. And, he's representing the whistle-blower only by way of an unknown intermediary, whose name he refuses to reveal (he insists he doesn't even know the name of the whistle-blower). Because of the threat to his own life, he's been on the lam for years (Myers isn't his real name); and he admits his only motivation for coming forward now is that he and his client stand to rake in millions by filing a complaint with the Board of Conduct.

Painfully aware of those limitations as well as touchy jurisdictional issues between Florida law enforcement and Native American property, Lacy and her partner, Hugo, tentatively begin to investigate. Some of the dirt they dig up early on suggests that the FBI should be called in to help, but Myers threatens to back out if that happens. So, the partners set off to learn what they can given the legal restrictions - and from the git-go run smack dab into a hornet's nest that quickly turns deadly.

As I said before, the action is pretty much nonstop after that. So why isn't it a nail-biter? I'm not sure, except to say it's the style of writing. Dialog makes the characters seem real, but everything in between is pretty much a narrative so matter-of-fact that it's almost - but not quite - to the point of bland. This "just the facts" approach keeps the plot interesting as all get-out to me, but at the same time I never felt any particular excitement or sense of imminent danger; in other words, nothing that put me on the edge of my seat. That said, though, I finished the book in a day and a half just because I didn't want to put it down - hence my dilemma in writing a review. 

In the end, I come down strongly on the side of well done. But in the final analysis, I guess other readers will just have to decide for themselves. Sorry, guys and gals, but it's the best that I can do.

The Whistler by John Grisham (Doubleday, October 2016); 384 pp.

THE TUMOR

5 stars out of 5

This short "book" (67 pages) puts the spotlight on focused ultrasound, a medical treatment procedure involving "intersecting beams of high-frequency sound concentrated accurately and precisely on tissue deep in the body..." The noninvasive procedure is in various stages of development for healing more than 50 diseases and conditions such as Parkinson's and tumors of the brain, liver, pancreas and lung.

The goal, no doubt, is to ramp up awareness of the technology and the need to speed up the approval process for more applications and financial contributions toward the cause. In the interests of full disclosure, Grisham's friend and neighbor Neal Kassell, M.D., a neurosurgeon and proponent, founded the Focused Ultrasound Foundation (based in Charlottesville, Virginia), and Grisham is on the Board of Directors. It's equally important to note that the book is free for downloading at various websites including Amazon
(http://www.amazon.com/The-Tumor-A-Non-Legal-Thriller-ebook/dp/B01AUYDNI6).

Incorporating narrative and graphics, Grisham outlines the benefits of the technology and how it has the potential to improve both quality and length of life for cancer patients who qualify for treatment. More information, including a link to a video of Grisham's TEDx presentation, can be found at the Foundation's website (links are provided in the book).

Grisham calls this the most important book he has ever written. I call it highly informative and more than worth the brief time it takes to read it. 

The Tumor: A Non-Legal Thriller by John Grisham (Focused Ultrasound Foundation, January 2016); 67 pages.

ROGUE LAWYER

4.5 stars out of 5

I love to love books by John Grisham - in large part, I'm sure, because I'm a huge fan of legal thrillers - and almost without exception, that's certainly been the case. And happily, it's true here as well. I will say that for most of the first half I concluded this is meant to be a book of short stories or vignettes that take place in the life of street lawyer Sebastian Rudd. But while each "story" might be able to stand on its own, bits and pieces of each are connected to create (aha!) a whole book. And that's not easy to pull off.

Rudd really doesn't have a home base, unless you count a tiny, well-secured apartment and the heavily armed van complete with heavy-duty bodyguard/driver that serves as his mobile (and only) office. He's got a young son and an ex-wife lawyer whose primary goal in life, it seems, is to gain sole custody plus 25% ownership in a mixed martial arts cage fighter named Tadeo. Rudd's paid work, for the most part, consists of defending bad guys (and I suppose gals) other lawyers won't touch with a 10-foot pole.

Rudd doesn't love them either, but neither does he have much respect for insurance companies, government or the criminal justice/legal system. Even if his clients are guilty - and in fact, most of them are - when he wins (and that's fairly often), he derives satisfaction in knowing he's once again stuck it to the unethical powers that be and lived to tell about it.

Given the natural tendencies of his clients, though, that last part is subject to change at any moment. Early-on clients include a teenage boy who's accused of the grisly murders of two young girls (a case thought to be a shoe-in win for the prosecution) and defense of "his" fighter Tadeo who, after losing in the ring for the first time, pounded the hell out of a referee who happened to be in the ring at the time of the judges' decision. The pounding, caught on video, proved fatal - and now Rudd is the only thing standing between his fighter and decades in jail.

If I have a complaint, it's that there's a fair amount of repetition, although that's necessary to some extent to make sure readers connect the dots among the various "stories." Still, because there seems to be a little too much of it, I'm inclined to knock this one down to 4.5 stars. The ending also left the door wide open for a sequel, and since I thoroughly enjoyed this one, if that happens it's a sure bet I'll be in line to read it as well.

Rogue Lawyer by John Grisham (Doubleday, October 2015); 354 pp.