Camino Island

I always thought that Grisham was this big literary giant, but the storytelling is... kind of flat. It opened up very promising, right in the middle of the action and then it just.... was. There isn't much guesswork or mystery, it's fairly flat. The premise is that Fitzgerald's manuscripts have been stolen from Princeton's library by a bunch of amateur bad guys who want to flip them for some serious money. Enter Mercer, a broke barely getting by author who is contacted by an insurance company to act as a spy... it's as ridiculous as it sounds. Mercer has the "perfect alibi" so she was recruited to spy on the main "suspect" Bruce. Bruce wasn't the man who stole the manuscripts but he is a bookstore owner who dabbles in stolen and rare books. I mean. It was fine. Maybe I will read the next, but I am not rushing into it. 

The Boys from Biloxi

Why have I waited so long to read a John Grisham?!? I was thoroughly engrossed in this legal thriller and it wasn't as "literary" or "legally" as I thought it might be. It was very straightforward and the plot kept me engaged. Biloxi wasn't just known for it's coastal beauty and fishing, it was also known for its vices and corruption. The police and judges were in bed with the mobsters; taking cuts from the illegal drinking, gambling, and prostitution. Two young boys were raised in this environment and they couldn't lead different lives; once friends and athletes the two grow apart after high school and find themselves at opposite sides. One will become a lawyer who idealizes his father and the work he is doing to clean up Biloxi; the other a thug and mobster, one who also idolizes his father and the "empire" he built. Fast paced, I liked how this story spans over decades. The city of Biloxi also feels like a character. I definitely need to read more Grisham!

Skipping Christmas

Thankfully this was a short book. While I enjoyed the end of the book (because it was finally over), I found at hated every character because they were flat two dimensional jerks with no personality. It's like John Grisham didn't even try! Basically this couple decides that they will skip Christmas this year because their 23 year old daughter will be in Peru for a year in the Peace Corps. They'll use all the money they would have spent on decorations, foods, and gifts on a luxury ten day cruise and forget about all the fuss and drama. Their neighbors, co-workers, and friends can hardly believe it. They won't dress up their yard? They won't get a tree or help out the boy scouts? No Christmas Eve bash? After a month of playing Scrooges something unexpected happens on Christmas Eve. You'll see the twist coming from a mile away. A totally blah, not great Christmas story.