My book for July was Camino Ghosts by John Grisham. Somewhat unbelievably, this is the 39rd book by John Grisham that I have read in the last thirty-three years. I am not sure that this is something that I should be proud of...
The majority of the book is set on a Florida island from two previous Grisham books: Camino Winds (2020) and Camino Island (2017). Many of the characters from these two books return.
Grisham weaves together two narratives: the present-day life of the island’s inhabitants and the harrowing experiences of Nalla, a young woman shipwrecked on a nearby island a century ago. The plot touches on maroon communities.
Maroon communities are groups of formerly enslaved Africans and their descendants who escaped in the Americas and established self-governing communities. Maroons created their own cultures, governments, trade, and military defenses to protect themselves from European and American oppressors. They lived in remote areas, such as mountains and tropical terrains, to avoid the sight and control of plantation owners and colonial officials.
I enjoyed the book. It marks a departure from the legal thrillers that made him a household name. While the familiar setting of Camino Island remains, the story takes a darker turn. It delves into the neighboring island’s past. I will continue to read Grisham novels as filler between more ambitious books. They serve as a nice mindless break.
You need to stop being embarrassed for reading the Grisham books. They are good fillers between the more serious books.
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