A Book A Week

Lately, I've reignited my appreciation for John Grisham's novels. While some of his newer works have been hit or miss for me, Grisham consistently offers compelling stories with engaging characters and insightful commentary that goes beyond mere plot twists. One book that stands out from his recent releases is Camino Island. This novel diverges from Grisham's usual legal thrillers, focusing instead on a daring rare book theft and the subsequent quest to reclaim the stolen items. Even without Grisham's typical legal backdrop, the memorable characters and the enchanting tropical setting of Camino Island made it a favorite of mine. Now that the weather in South Texas has warmed up, I felt it was the perfect time to dive back into that captivating world with its sequel, Camino Winds.

In our previous encounter with Bruce Cable, the proprietor of the independent bookstore Bay Books on Camino Island, he had earned a significant sum from his involvement in the ransom of stolen F. Scott Fitzgerald manuscripts. Known as a booklover's bookseller, Bruce has always nurtured relationships with the island's resident authors, hosting popular book signings that always draw a crowd. As Camino Winds begins, Bruce is preparing to host a book launch for his friend and local author, Mercer Mann. Mercer has penned a bestseller since her involvement in the missing manuscript drama and is on the brink of releasing another. Just as Mercer's book kick-off festivities get underway, Hurricane Leo takes an unexpected turn, targeting Camino Island directly. Despite the mandatory evacuation order issued by Florida’s governor, leading most to secure their homes and evacuate, Bruce opts to remain and face the storm head-on.

The aftermath of Hurricane Leo is catastrophic, leaving behind a trail of destruction that leaves businesses, residences, and lives shattered. Among the storm's apparent casualties is Nelson Kerr, a thriller author and a friend to Bruce. Mysteriously, the injuries Nelson sustained suggest that the storm might not be the sole reason for his death. With the local police stretched thin and struggling to cope in the wake of the storm, Bruce begins to suspect that the menacing figures from Nelson’s novels might not be purely fictional. Complicating matters further, Nelson's new manuscript is reportedly stored on his computer. Could this document hold the clues to his death? As Bruce delves deeper into the mystery, the revelations he uncovers are more startling than any of Nelson’s narrative twists—and potentially more perilous.

Diving into Camino Winds, I was immediately embraced by the comforting familiarity of Grisham's characters and the setting he masterfully crafted in the preceding book. His talent lies in presenting deceptively straightforward scenarios that captivate readers. The notion of a bookseller and his associates probing a mysterious death in the aftermath of a catastrophic hurricane promised an irresistible premise. True to form, the initial half of the novel races ahead, weaving a web of suspense and punctuating it with Grisham's signature dry humor, which lightens the mood effectively.

Halfway through, however, it felt like Grisham lost his narrative direction. What starts as a concise murder mystery soon spirals into an overstuffed thriller, replete with many characters and subplots that lack genuine suspense. The plot sprawls, leaping forward in time and shifting between locations, diluting the urgency that had been so palpable in the story's earlier sections. While the conclusion neatly ties up loose ends, the absence of significant obstacles along the way makes the resolution feel unearned. Given my genuine appreciation for the initial installment, I found this sequel quite disappointing. With a third Camino installment set to release soon, one can only hope that Grisham returns to form and addresses the shortcomings of this entry.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2024, 24)