The book begins with a heist in which the five original manuscripts of F. Scott Fitzgerald's five books are stolen.

It took me a little while to get into this book. I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy a book about a heist of stolen manuscripts and how the criminals got away. However, the real story was about a woman, Mercer Mann, who is recruited by the books’ insurance company to befriend the man they believed has the stolen manuscripts, and to identify where they are. Bruce Cable is the bookstore owner who forms the centre of the investigation. He is a charismatic, if slightly suspect character. It is clear from the start he operates outside of the law, and it is clear he has the manuscripts.

Mercer is a writer and teacher, and the plot centres around the literary community on Camino Island. I loved this part of the story. It had me coming up with story ideas for myself and encouraged me to start typing. Bruce is a very likeable character. My favourite, though, is Myra. She is outrageous and unapologetic. She and Leigh are very funny together. I love the way Leigh lets Myra know she is going too far: "Now, Myra." It's funny.

The way the heist story is resolved is really understated. It didn’t hold nearly as much tension as I would have liked to see. However, the very end scene, with Bruce and Mercer, is fabulous. It had me upping my star rating a little.

Overall, a good, solid Grisham. I’ll definitely read the other two in this series. I look forward to spending some more time with the inhabitants of Camino Island.

People who enjoy John Grisham. Although, it isn't his usual legal thriller. It's all based around the heist and Mercer's undercover operation to uncover the manuscripts.

The characters. The plot was a little sleepy, but the injection of characters like Myra and Leigh made it worth reading.

The beginning was a bit slow. The end (apart from the very end) was also a little slow. So, it was the middle of the book that really shone.

Read the next in the series - 'Camino Winds.'

Satisfied. Amused.

John Grisham. What can I say? The man's a powerhouse.

It's enjoyable, interesting, and funny in places.

It isn't fast=paced at all. It's a quick beach read, I would say.

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Created Jan 13, 2025 at 5:59am • Submit your own review...