Camino Ghosts (by John Grisham)
I’m participating in a new reading challenge on the Litsy app this year. It’s a popular and flexible monthly reading challenge called Book Spin, hosted by user @TheAromaofBooks. Participants create a personalized list of 20 books (or categories like “nonfiction” or “library book”) they’ve been meaning to read. On the second of each month, the host draws two random numbers between 1 and 20. The “Book Spin” is the first number drawn, and the goal is to read the book at that position on your list during the month. After reading, you replace the book with a new one for the next round. This encourages tackling backlist or procrastinated reads without strict rules. A Double Book Spin builds on this concept by drawing the second number in the same random selection. Participants aim to read both the Book Spin and Double Spin books that month for an extra challenge, though it’s optional.
So, I read Camino Ghosts by John Grisham because it came up on my Book Spin number this month. I had John Grisham on my Book Spin list because I have quite a few of his books to read. I enjoyed Camino Island and wanted to read another in the series. Unfortunately, I forgot there are three books in the series: Camino Island, Camino Ghosts, and Camino Winds. The cover of Camino Ghosts is stunning, so it automatically came to mind as the next book to read. I prefer to read books in the order of a series or publication, so I was a bit annoyed with myself for not checking before starting the book.
Reading them out of order didn’t disrupt my enjoyment of Camino Ghosts. I’m certain I missed some relationship updates that likely occurred in Camino Winds. Although, Grisham quickly brought me up to speed, and I continued to enjoy the story and its wonderful cast of characters.
Set in the sun-kissed paradise of Camino Island, Florida, where charismatic bookseller Bruce Cable and bestselling novelist Mercer Mann (now returning for her wedding) stumble upon a captivating new story. A greedy Miami developer sets his sights on Dark Isle, a remote, uninhabited barrier island off the North Florida coast, envisioning a grand resort. However, the island’s history is steeped in mystery and danger. Centuries ago, it was settled by escaped enslaved people and survivors of a shipwrecked African slave vessel, and it is believed to be cursed. Tales of disappearances, drownings, and real dangers have kept it empty for nearly a century. The last living descendant, the elderly Lovely Jackson, stands as the sole claimant to the island’s legacy. Bruce and Mercer find themselves drawn into a battle to preserve the island’s history against powerful forces. Blending legal intrigue and historical depth, this heartwarming page-turner is a testament to Grisham’s exceptional storytelling.
Camino Ghosts is a truly remarkable story. I’m captivated by the idyllic setting of Camino Island and the charming local bookstore. Grisham’s ability to craft significant and relevant stories is impressive. His characters are relatable and easy to care about. In this particular book, he has given the “good guys” a prominent role, and there are plenty of them to admire. The “bad guys,” on the other hand, have smaller character roles, and their interactions with the protagonists are more focused on legal matters rather than personal connections.
I had the pleasure of purchasing my signed first edition of Camino Ghosts from Square Books, an independent bookstore located in Oxford, Mississippi.
You’re welcome to check out my author event blog post when I saw John Grisham in conversation with Sue Grafton here. You can also read my reviews of other Grisham novels linked below.
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