Camino Ghosts

With an intriguing plot that combines elements of literary and historical fiction, courtroom drama and a touch of suspense thrown into the mix and its cast of interesting characters (old and new) Camino Ghosts by John Grisham is a compelling read.

The third book in the author’s Camino Island series begins with author Mercer Mann's wedding with Thomas, with whom she has been in a relationship for over three years. In attendance are Mercer’s friends from the island, among whom is Bruce Cable, owner of Bay Books. Mercer is looking for inspiration for her third novel and Bruce suggests the story of the Dark Isle – a now uninhabited island between Florida and Georgia that was once home to a community of runaway slaves. The last living show more descendant of Dark Isle, Ms. Lovely Jackson, now in her eighties, lives on Camino Island after having left Dark Isle in 1955, when she was fifteen years old, with her mother. Lovely had self-published a book about the island and its history – only a few copies of which were sold at Bruce’s bookstore. The now deserted island has caught the attention of greedy property developers with grand plans for the island, possessing both the political backing and the money to see their plans through. Lovely, who has refused any monetary compensation from the developers, plans to prove her ownership of Dark Isle, hoping to thwart their plans and protect the land where her ancestors are buried. The island is believed to be cursed and it is rumored that many who tried to step foot on the island were never seen again. Bruce encourages Mercer to meet with Lovely to discuss the possibilities of Mercer authoring a book of non-fiction about the island – a proposal Lovely eventually accepts.

As the narrative progresses we follow Mercer, as she commences her research, hoping to find facts that would help Lovely’s case; Bruce, as he taps into his vast network of contacts to gather information on the property developers and their allies; and Lovely and her legal team – retired lawyer Steven Mahon and his “ace paralegal” Diane Krug- as they prepare for the ensuing legal battle

There is no doubt that John Grisham is a master storyteller and though I’ve always been a fan of the author, I'll admit that his Camino Island books were never among my favorites. I'm glad to say Camino Ghosts changed that! The narrative moves at a consistent pace with Nalla’s story - both heartbreaking and captivating on account of the rich historical perspective and the ‘lore of the island -shared in chapters interspersed throughout the novel. I enjoyed getting to know Lovely and found the history of Dark Isle and Lovely's stories of life on the island fascinating. I've never been particularly fond of Mercer, but Bruce , as always, is an interesting character. Mahon and Diane made a formidable team and I loved Diane’s dedication and her go-getter attitude. Despite the serious themes of this novel, the author injects a healthy dose of lightheartedness (Gifford Knox was a hoot!) to keep the novel from becoming too heavy.

Definitely the strongest of all three books in the series, in my humble opinion, this exceptionally well-written, immersive novel is a departure from Grisham’s signature legal thrillers and though not a "legal thriller" per se, I did enjoy the courtroom scenes and I loved how the author chose to end the story.

I always look forward to reading more from John Grisham and now will be eagerly awaiting the next installment in this series.

Many thanks to Doubleday Books for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. show less

This third installment of Grisham’s Camino Island series finds author Mercer Mann, friend of bookshop owner Bruce Cable, stumped when trying to come up with an idea for her next book. Bruce introduces her to a small nonfiction piece written by 80 year old local resident, Lovely Jackson. Lovely, the descendent of slaves who settled on Dark Island off the coast of Camino Island, has resided on the bigger island since 1955, leaving the smaller one uninhabited. Yet, as the last inhabitant, she claims Dark Island is hers and when a big, unscrupulous corporation wants to develop Dark Island including putting a Casino on it, Bruce facilitates her fight for the home of her ancestors.

Grisham is a talented story teller and this book does not show more disappoint. A quick, compelling read, Lovely is a captivating character. Grisham does an excellent job of capturing the development frenzy that is Florida…the greed of the corporations, the questionable practices of the politicians, the disregard for the environment, the highway sprawl of businesses. He also acknowledges how the electorate can be so easily manipulated.

The history of the difference between the British and Spanish owned colonies as relates to slavery is fascinating. When you read Lovely’s account of the realities of the slave trade, you can’t help but wonder, as did Mercer, how our forebears could have tolerated such cruel treatment of those who were kidnapped and enslaved.

This does work as a standalone, although reading the first two in the series gives a broader background of the repeating characters and provides context for some of the references made in this book to action that took place in prior ones.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #DoubledayBooks for the DRC show less

Lovely Jackson was descended from a slave family and lived on Florida island until the age of fifteen. As her ancestors are buried there and she was the last to leave the island, she claims it as her own. Forward to present day and Lovely is elderly and a big corporation wants to build a casino on the island. Lovely goes to court to fight their plan. Is the fact that her ancestors were buried on island for many years enough to stop the building of the casino?

THE TRUTH ABOUT THE PAST

Renowned, best-selling author John Grisham is back with the third novel in the Camino Island Series, and, in my opinion, Camino Ghosts is another winner! This novel is set on Camino Island and also involves a story about the deserted island of Dark Isle, located off the coast of Camino Island. Grisham tells his story through the eyes of author Mercer Mann, who is trying to come up with an idea for her next novel. Her bookstore owner friend, Bruce, loans Mercer a non-fiction piece about Dark Isle written by Lovely Jackson, the last descendant to have lived there, and she claims to be the owner of the uninhabited island. Mercer’s extensive research on the Dark Isle reveals the truth of the horrific things that show more were done to enslaved people on the island. She interviewed Lovely several times to hear more of her story and learn about the area where the escaped enslaved people were able to set up a village. That was where Lovely lived with her Mother until she was fifteen in 1955. Of course, an evil corporation wants to develop the island and build a casino. From this point on, Grisham launches into the plot of one of his best legal thrillers in years! He introduces the legal team that agrees to take Lovely on as their client and fight against “the giants” - the corporations and the state government that are dead on taking control of Dark Isle. This compelling story brings out all the ugly truths about the past into the present. Grisham’s writing illustrates that greed has no limits to the damage it will cause to get what it wants. I highly recommend this novel!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this novel by Doubleday and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own and without influence. show less

A multi million dollar company has decided to build a giant resort on a deserted island between Florida and Georgia. But, Lovely Jackson stands in their way. She is the last surviving descendent of that island which has a remarkable history and is possibly cursed.

Lovely Jackson and her story just reels the reader in! I love this mystery and all the history surrounding this deserted island. The history is truly fascinating! Add in Lovely and her curse…and it is a read you won’t soon forget! And don’t think Lovely didn’t have the opposing lawyers number…oh she did!

This story started out strong with the intensity you expect from John Grisham. But the ending, it felt a bit rushed and not with the punch I expect from this author. show more But, I love John Grisham’s writing. No fluff just facts and fantastic characters.

Need a great story with sensational characters and incredible history mixed in…THIS IS IT!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review. show less

Professor/author Mercer Mann is getting married . . . on Camino Island beach. Hence the “no shoes” caveat. But before she and her new husband, Thomas, leave for their honeymoon in Scotland, bookseller Bruce Cable wants to talk with Mercer. He has an idea for a book . . . .

Dark Isle, an uninhabited island between Georgia and Florida, [one that the local folks believe is cursed], has caught a developer’s eye and, with some political maneuvering, it looks like the small barrier island will be turned into a resort.

But Lovely Jackson, the last living inhabitant of Dark Isle, claims ownership of the island. Can her claim be proved?

And just what is the history of Dark Isle?

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Third in the author’s Camino Island series, the book show more has sufficient backstory to work as a standalone [but the ongoing development of the central characters as revealed in the earlier books provides additional insight for the reader].

The book moves between the present day and the island’s past as a shelter for escaped slaves. As their unfolding stories expose horrific atrocities, violence, and abhorrent acts, the history of Dark Isle is revealed in the stories from the earliest days of slavery. As readers might expect, the emotional impact in the telling of this tale is significant.

Compelling, intriguing, and captivating, “Camino Ghosts” keeps readers spellbound as its unfolding narrative reveals that dark history and seamlessly weaves it into an extraordinary mystery for the present day. Readers will find much to appreciate in this unputdownable, thought-provoking tale.

Highly recommended. show less

Camino Ghosts, John Grisham, author; Whoopi Goldberg, narrator
The book is number three in the Camino series, but it falls short of the author's usual prowess. The choice of narrator was a failure. Her tone of voice was irritating, for some reason, and her expression actually lacked the credibility and appropriate emotion that the story seemed to require. Her presentation seemed contrived, almost as if she was working too hard to present it.
As the novel starts, we witness the wedding of Mercer and Thomas, barefoot and romantic. A guest, Bruce Cable, the bookstore owner, suggests that Mercer, an author, write her next book about an interesting island, known as Dark Isle, said to be inhabited by ghosts. The island is supposedly owned by show more Lovely Jackson, whose ancestors were slaves. She prefers to use only her first name, since the last was given to her by a master with whom she has no connection, nor does she care to remember him. She claims ownership of the cursed island, but a corporation is insisting the island does not belong to her. They demand the right to build a resort on it. The state of Florida is suing her for its possession since the development of the island promises a lucrative reward for the state.
Lovely’s family, along with the survivors from a shipwrecked slave ship, settled the island. Her history and her ancestors are still there in the burial ground. The actual proof of their residency there, however, was completely destroyed in a hurricane. Still, she won’t sell the island, she won’t relinquish her control, and she does not want it to be desecrated. To prove her right to the island, and to protect the environment, in steps a law firm to help her fight the evil corporate world, pro bono, for a charge of about five dollars.
The author described Lovely’s family’s slave history and their journey to America. He omits the fact that it was their fellow Africans that had kidnapped them and sold them to the white men, but it is mentioned that the Africans had never seen a white man until the boat arrived to take them away. The treatment of the slaves was abysmal and inhumane, as was the very practice of slavery. Chained together and locked in the holds, many had drowned when their ship sunk. Those that reached the island and survived, were able to capture their former captors as they swam to the island and what they thought was safety. The former captive slaves murdered them, only after brutally beating them in retaliation. The women and teenagers had been raped by them, and the men had been beaten mercilessly. It was retribution. They took justice into their own hands.
The author’s themes were progressive in nature. The corporate world and the politicians were guilty of trying to abuse the little guy. They did not care about the environment. They cared only about the profit motive. I found the story threads weak and thin, as they never really fully developed any theme for me, but merely hinted at them. Even though justice seemed to be served, it did not really accomplish a larger goal, other than securing the island’s future. The corporate greed still existed, the toxic men were still in charge, the environment was not better protected, and so the result was only fleeting and served the needs of Lovely, alone. It was a disappointing read. The only redeeming feature for me was the history that was presented about slavery which seemed authentic and needed to be aired. show less