The Boys from Biloxi

It's been six years since I've read anything from John Grisham, and I don't remember having had quite this reaction to his work before. It was only my general weariness with "legal thrillers" that caused me to stop reading Grisham in the first place, so this is the first time I've been so underwhelmed by one of his books. The Boys from Biloxi strikes me as nothing more, really, than a boilerplate rehashing of a basic plot line I've read way too many times already.

This is the story of two very different families who live on Mississippi's Gulf Coast where boys from each family bond and become fast friends over their shared expertise at youth baseball. But of course, the boys are destined to take very different courses in life because one show more is the son of a crime boss who is the dominant vice provider in Biloxi, and the other is the son of a family whose patriarch dedicates his life to fighting exactly that type of crime. Each family, by definition, becomes the mortal enemy of the other.

Keith Rudy goes to law school and follows closely in his father's crime-fighting shoes; Hugh Malco, on the other hand, becomes his father's right-hand man, especially after the old man gets sentenced to Parchman, and follows closely in his father's brutal methods of running a crime syndicate. The clash between Keith Rudy and Hugh Malco is inevitable, and it will prove to be deadly.

So with a feel to it of "been there, done that," The Boys from Biloxi is both a coming-of-age novel and a very long, multi-generational family saga (454 pages in the edition I read) that still manages to feel rushed at times. There is a whole lot of "telling" in summary fashion of major plot shifts; short chapters of six or seven pages during which entire crimes are committed and solved; and poorly developed characters that appear over and over again without ever seeming to be all that real despite the numerous opportunities Grisham has to flesh them out.

There is, in fact, so much "telling" going on and so little "showing" that the novel strikes me as more of a fully fleshed outline for a short series of novels rather than itself being one self-contained novel. But The Boys from Biloxi kept me reading for 454 pages, and for that reason alone I'm going to call this a three-star book. show less

Review of Uncorrected Proof

For Keith Rudy and Hugh Malco, baseball was their world. Born just twenty-eight days apart, the two boys dreamed of playing in the Little League World Series in Williamsport. The two boys were inseparable.

Their friendship would not stand the test of time.

With Hugh’s father, Lance, the “boss” of Biloxi’s criminal underground and Keith’s father, Jesse, a legendary prosecutor determined to clean up the Coast, Keith and Hugh find themselves drifting away from friendship to travel different paths.

What lies ahead for the two boy and their families? Will the Dixie Mafia maintain its control or will Jesse find a way to break their hold on Biloxi?

What does the future hold for the two boys from Biloxi?
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Well-defined characters, a strong sense of place, and a compelling plot all work together to pull the reader into the narrative. Early on in the telling of the tale it becomes apparent that the Rudy and Malco families are racing toward a confrontation and, as the events in the unfolding story take on a grimmer aspect, it becomes apparent that it will be catastrophic.

Through three generations, readers learn the stories of the Point and the Strip; the choices made by family members and friends clearly delineate the lines drawn as the “fight” for Biloxi reaches its climax. Both Keith and Hugh, clearly influenced by their fathers, step into roles that seem foreordained for them.

Here readers see the results of choices made, of paths followed, of friendship, of heritage. Greed, vengeance, and secrets all play a part in the telling of the tale. The complexity of the plot and the backstories of Point Cadet, the Strip, and the families make for fascinating reading. With the unfolding story weaving an inescapable web of certainty, readers are sure to “see the handwriting on the wall” and predict the outcome of the conflict between the two families. But there are a couple of surprises . . . leading to a denouement that is shattering in its simplicity.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Doubleday Books, Doubleday and NetGalley
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I stopped reading John Grisham because I got tired of the formulaic approach to most of his books. Good Guy, bad guy, courtroom intrigue and drama. I took a break despite Grisham being a really good writer. When I read a book, cover to cover, and don’t take notes, don’t highlight passages, don’t circle back, that book had my complete attention. I have just described my take on The Boys from Biloxi.

Grisham digs deep into the depravity rampant in Biloxi set against a backdrop of beautiful beaches and everyday kids who play on different teams much like their fathers, who walk on opposite sides of the law. Slow burn, slow build up, a foregone conclusion which takes years to play out, but I liked it for just those reasons.

It was more show more than I expected and a solid reunion with a very good writer. Thank you Doubleday and NetGalley for a copy. show less

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 show more 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! show less

The Boys from Biloxi by John Grisham is a very highly recommended legal thriller and the story of two families.

Biloxi, Mississippi, is known for its beaches, resorts and seafood industry, but it is also know for gambling, liquor, and prostitution which is run by a small group with tacit approval by the local police. Keith Rudy and Hugh Malco, two sons from Croatian immigrant families grow up as friends in Biloxi in the 1960s, head in different directions as teens, and find themselves on opposites sides of the law as adults. Hugh’s father, Lance, became the “Boss” of Biloxi’s criminal underground. Keith's father Jesse, became a lawyer determined to take down the illegal establishments plaguing Biloxi.

The narrative of The Boys show more from Biloxi is the kind of intricately plotted and detail oriented story that will grab you and pull you into the lives of these fully realized characters. Rather than a story with lots of twists and surprises, this is a legal thriller, but more essentially it is a family drama spanning generations and decades while covering the history of Biloxi and the fictional families involved in this saga. The enjoyment is the details of the story, who does what over the decades, the choices the characters make as well as the consequences of these choices. The novel starts out at an even pace before it takes off and picks up speed.

The writing is excellent in all areas: the quality of the writing, the complexity of the plot, the establishing of the setting, the development of the characters, the corruption, and the courtroom scenes. Everything on the pages springs to life under Grisham's hands and these characters and the story become real. It should be mentioned that the novel is populated with male characters, with females taking a secondary role, but it works as the focus of the novel is on fathers and sons as well as the male dominated social circle that dominated the area.

I loved this long family saga that is rich in details and atmosphere while creating a tense and compelling drama.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Knopf Doubleday via NetGalley.
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The Boys From Biloxi, John Grisham, author; Michael Beck, narrator
Grisham has hit this one out of the park, and the narrator has portrayed the characters superbly, exposing both their flaws and their strengths The novel is not steeped in personal political opinions as so many books are today, although the liberal side peeps through on occasion. Instead, however, of committing the sin of being too woke, it is a detailed and finely tuned story about politics, law and order, the corruption throughout both systems, and the honorable people who work hard and tirelessly to keep it safe and on the up and up. It is obvious that Grisham is well-versed in these subjects and supports the justice system, as well as a political system with elections show more that are free of cheating, even as he exposes the cracks that have existed within the systems, and still do exist in them, very well.
As readers, we are introduced to two immigrant families, the Malco's and the Rudy's, originally from Croatia, and we follow them as they make their way in Mississippi. As time passes, children are born. Two children are destined to meet, Lance Malco and Jesse Rudy. However, only one of these family’s follows the straight and narrow path of what can be called a law-abiding life in America, while the other develops a mob mentality and conducts life accordingly, veering off in the manner of the Mafia, in America.
Jesse and Lance both continue to live and work in Mississippi, and they go on to have two sons, as well, Keith and Hugh, respectively. Starting out as friends, the sons also travel in decidedly different directions. Once compatible with each other, the two families become enemies.
Keith’s father, Jesse Rudy, is the District Attorney. Hugh’s father, Lance Malco, is the town gangster. For years, Lance and the Sheriff have worked together to conduct their business in the “underworld”, avoiding legal consequences and confounding the efforts of many District Attorneys to rein them in. Keith Rudy grows up and is inspired to follow in his father’s footsteps, studying to be a lawyer. Hugh Malco, is inspired by his father’s power and follows in his footsteps, studying to be a hoodlum. This is the story of the convergence of their lives.
Over several decades, Grisham proceeds to lay out the decay of Biloxi, Mississippi, as it descends into a place supporting criminal behavior under the guidance and tutelage of the Malco family and its compatriots. He couples that narrative with the path taken by the Rudy family and its supporters, as they fight against the corruption that led to the heinous, but well-deserved, rising criminal reputation of Biloxi.
Although the novel is long and sometimes repetitious, it is not tedious. It is compelling as it explains, step by step, how elections can be fraudulent, how crimes are committed, how criminals get away with them, and how the wheels of the justice system are sometimes mired in a bureaucratic morass that actually prevents justice. show less

Another one down. This one was given to me by my second job’s boss. It was okay. First time reading John Grisham, didn’t know what to expect. I also own The Judge’s List. It is about 45 down on my book list though.
This novel is based in Biloxi and set in the mid-1900s. It cover’s a few generations worth of immigrants and how they settled into southern life. About three generations down, now the two boys are best friends and are the main characters. But as they grow older they grow apart and go their separate ways, with two very different careers. Until one gets in trouble and the other has to make an important decision regarding his old friend.
I really like Grisham’s writing style. It is smooth and flows well. He definitely show more took the time to plot out the story line and his characters. I liked the setting and how detailed he got with the families and careers.
I wasn’t a fan of the ending. I can’t give it away though since I don’t like to give spoilers. That is the only complaint I have about this book.

★★★★ I always knock a star if I don’t like the ending. ☹ But I definitely recommend to give it a shot! show less