The Boys from Biloxi: Sunday Times No 1 bestseller John Grisham returns in his most gripping thriller yet

John Grisham is nothing if not prolific. By this reviewer’s reckoning, The Boys from Biloxi is this author’s 40th novel (Hodder and Stoughton, 2022, 453 written pages). Added to this output would be the six books for younger readers, the Theodore Boone series, and his one book based on a real-life story, The Innocent Man. It is not by chance, therefore, that John Grisham is amongst the foremost writers of his time.With such a literary output, it would be easy, on occasion, for a writer to lower his/her standards. Whilst there are some Grisham novels that would disappoint a portion of readers, there are few Grisham novels that would displease all his followers. Certainly, The Boys from Biloxi is not one of these, though, admittedly, it does take some way into the novel before it really ignites the imagination.Indeed, it could be said that this is a novel of two general parts (there are four formal parts comprising a total of fifty-nine chapters).The first part focuses on relationships between individuals who essentially comprise two Croatian immigrant families, both of whom have settled in the town of Biloxi, Mississippi. Though from the same initial country, the intent for the futures of the two families are to be very different. The careers of characters portrayed by the narrative, and the individual events in the lives of these characters, gradually evaporates any commonalities they may have had. This first part of the overall story occupies around half the pages of the book.The suggested part 2 of the novel, however, is almost like a sea change in the narrative. It involves the way in which the individuals, families, the careers - of minor as well as major characters - and events bring about the interactions, tensions, hatreds, and, finally, resolutions of all these features. An individual and violent event changes the intent, direction, and focus of the novel, and provides the raison de’tre for the painstaking writing that occurred in the first part of the novel. The writing was a careful, if somewhat elaborate, painting of a general but important background – in much the same way that an artist would paint a background that enables the highlighting of the major features in a canvas painting.Part 2 is John Grisham’s writing at its most formidable and explicative. The locus is the courtroom, a scenario that he knows best and conveys with colour, detail, and drama. Certainly, this is where Grisham holds the reader in a most gripping way. Such is the development of the narrative that the reader is tempted to look ahead at outcomes. This reviewer resisted such a temptation, so that the concluding pages became, in both a literary and emotional sense, some of the most rewarding that Grisham has put on paper in a writing career that spans a quarter of a century.Overall, The Boys from Biloxi is, indeed, a powerful story, with twists and turns that illustrate and adds meaning to the saga of two families whose lives are inextricably linked by events that are personal, social, and criminal. The Boys from Biloxi is one of John Grisham’s most intense novels, with recognizable geography, vivid characters, memorable courtroom action, and an unforgettable denouement and conclusion.With this novel John Grisham shows no signs of slowing down, crunching his imagination, or failing to deliver a worthwhile read. Recommended.

Bit slow to start but enjoyed book

Characters felt real. Good story with twists and turns. Emotional. Never boring. Innocent, happy youth can take a turn for better or worse. The choice is there.

Excellent author, excellent read

Such a long buildup for 40+ odd chapters, then the climax is in the later chapters then, but feels like somewhat rushed towards the end. Took me months to go through the build-up and a few days for chapters 50+...I found it similar with another recent John Grisham book (forgot the title) but it was such a slow buildup had to skip pages. I love John Grisham but prefer more of his earlier work. Better pacing of the storylines and captured you from beginning to end.

Typical Grisham plot based in the Deep South. Long narrative with the usual legal twists and turns. Enjoyed it a lot but not one of his best.

Always a pleasure to read.

This was the best book I have read in a long while and I took my time with it instead of reading in one go. It deserved longer and got it. From the start to the finish it hooked you into their lives and how they got diverted along the way. The characters were all believable and sometimes you really felt for some of the criminals who were in it because there was nothing else for them. Great read. A couple of odd things which annoyed though towards the end when one character was supposed to be dead yet was freezing in Maine???

Great book. Kept me interested through the whole book. Another good one John!! Keep writing the good books, and I'll keep reading them.

Before I began to write this review, I looked up the number of books I'd read by John Grisham, just since I acquired my first Kindle in 2014, long after I read his earlier books, like The Firm or The Pelican Brief. The number was eleven books in ten years. That makes me a fan but not having read all his books by any stretch. This is the story of two friends born in 1948, the sons of fathers who had fought in WWII, who went to the same school together and played basketball on the same team. They grew up and eventually took two different paths in life, following in their fathers' footsteps. Lance Malco was Hugh's father. Malco's family was into every dirty business that he made available to the citizens and tourists of Biloxi. He owned bars, when liquor was illegal, and turned the bar into a house of prostitution. His fingers were into every illegal thing in the underbelly of society, like gambling and drugs. As he attained more wealth and power, eliminating his enemies was how he controlled his power.Keith's father, was Jesse Rudy and he had chosen the opposite path. He became a lawyer after struggling to put himself through university and get his law license. He built his practice with hard work and by doing the right thing while taking care of his wife and children.This book is more of a saga of two families and the way they are intertwined. There are riveting court scenes, lots of action, and quick turns culminating in a thoroughly enjoyable read.This is now one of my favourite books by John Grisham. He only gets better.

Still reading, great book so far

Not one of his best books, a story told many times before. John Grisham is better than this

Ben al jaren fan van John Grisham.