Book Review: Camino Winds | John Grisham

The phrase “beach read” isn’t exactly what comes to mind when one thinks of John Grisham. King of the legal thriller, Grisham is one of the main players who put books about lawyers at center stage. When he published Camino Island in 2017, Grisham proved that there is such a thing as a “beach thriller”—no lawyers (well, barely any) in sight, but a thrilling read nonetheless set around stolen F. Scott Fitzgerald manuscripts. Featuring a writer and a rare bookseller as the lead characters engaged in a game of cat and mouse, a group of gossipy writers, and a compelling backstory all coming together in a scenic coastal town.

If you didn’t get a chance to read Camino Island, you can check out my review to learn more. You don’t need to read it first in order to read Camino Winds. However, it introduces us to the characters and the community in a way that adds richness to Camino Winds, and there are spoilers for how that book plays out. With the third book set in Camino Island, Florida coming out later this month, it’s the perfect time to catch up on the first two books!

What is Camino Winds about?

Its been several years since rare bookseller and collector Bruce Cable first met writer Mercer Mann. At the time, Mercer had one book that achieved some literary acclaim (though very little commercial success) and was struggling to write a second book. Now, Mercer’s second book is released and it has climbed the best seller charts. Thanks in some small part to Bruce, who was the reason Mercer returned to Camino Island, Florida several years ago, thus sparking memories of childhood summers on the island spent with her Aunt Tessa. That also inspired the book that has now broadcast her name across the globe.

Bruce Cable’s Bay Books is preparing for Mercer Mann’s return to Camino Island, where she will host a book event at the popular bookstore and reunite with old friends in the community. When Hurricane Leo veers off course and heads straight for Camino Island, a mandatory evacuation order is given and more residents board up their homes and flee the island. Bruce is one of the few that decides to ride out the storm.

In the devastation following the hurricane, Camino Island is in shambles. Bruce managed to save most of his books by bringing them to the second floor of the shop, but other homes, businesses, and condos weren’t so lucky. Nor was Bruce’s friend, thriller author Nelson Kerr, who is found deceased after the hurricane. Only, it seems that the hurricane isn’t the cause of death. Someone murdered Nelson just as the storm rolled through.

Bruce and his friends Bob and Nick puzzle over it. Who would want Nelson dead? With the local police overwhelmed in the aftermath of the hurricane, Bruce commits to doing what he can to find out who murdered Nelson and why. The further he looks into Nelson’s life leading up to his murder, the more convinced Bruce becomes that the subject of Nelson’s latest thriller may be more truth than fiction, and the key to solving his murder may be on the unpublished manuscript housed on Nelson’s computer, written out in black and white. And it looks like these people were up to much more than murder…

What did I think?

This is another fantastic thriller featuring a bookish spin, a scenic community, and nary a lawyer in sight (particularly since the former lawyer, Nelson, winds up dead). This series has proven Grisham’s chops outside of the legal thriller. He writes with his signature exciting stories, interesting lead characters, and concise plotting.

In many ways, writer Mercer Mann was the central character in Camino Island, followed by Bruce. However, in Camino Winds, Bruce is definitely the main character and we only get a few guest appearances by Mercer. That is actually one of my few complaints with Camino Winds—not enough Mercer and definitely not enough dynamic between her and Bruce!

The book opens with Mercer’s arrival and the hurricane. The first chunk of the book details the aftermath of the hurricane, and read more like a disaster thriller than anything else. Once they find Nelson’s body, it takes a bit before the case gets rolling, but once it does it’s hard to put down until you find out how it will all unfold and what Nelson uncovered that led to his death.

What to make of Bruce?

If you’re new to Bruce Cable, he’s a roguish character known equally for his seersucker suits, passion for running his bookshop, and flings with writers coming through the area. If Bruce were in any other author’s books, he would likely attract some criticism due to his philandering ways. Somehow, Grisham avoids this entirely. Perhaps it is Bruce’s well-established open relationship with his partner Noelle (though there is gossip around whether they are married or not). While Bruce may be a bit of a philanderer, Noelle also has another serious partner in France whom she’s spending time with as the book opens.

Bruce’s character is presented more as good-natured gossip fodder for the community that adores his shop and friendship. This book also showcases Bruce’s charm that the reader saw in Camino Island. A lot can be forgiven from a character who charms not only the other characters, but the reader themselves. To add to that, Camino Winds emphasizes much more than the prior book how Bruce will do anything for his friends. In this case, Bruce won’t stand for Nelson’s murder to go unsolved or be brushed aside as an accident. He invests his own time, money, and safety trying to find the person or people responsible.

Who are the other central characters?

With Mercer unfortunately fading to only a small cameo (this is actually my main gripe with the book—I needed more Mercer!) and Noelle being overseas, Bruce needed some other characters to round out the novel. Fans of Camino Island may have expected Myra and Leigh—a humorous writing duo who were breakout stars for their cameo in the first book. But alas, they were smart and evacuated the island.

Instead, the book brings Bob Cobb back from his brief role in Camino Island. Bob is an ex-con who writes prison books that are best sellers. Bob is a bit of a ladies’ man himself, though without Bruce’s charm. But it is Bob that offers the first clue—a woman he met just before the hurricane and spent a weekend with left to go to Nelson’s house just before she died, leading them to rightly conclude she must be the murderer. The only question is, why?

The other central character who debuts in Camino Winds is a college student named Nick Sutton who works summers at Bruce’s book store and veraciously consumed mystery books. Nick is endlessly entertaining, as Bruce laments how lazy Nick can be and unambitious, while at the same time uplifting Nick for drawing on his extensive experience reading mysteries to actually be able to clock several key clues that lead to the solution. I would reckon that with Camino Ghosts coming out soon and how Nick’s story ends in Camino Winds, this may not be the last we see of Nick Sutton.

What did I think of the mystery?

This wasn’t a run of the mill murder mystery that Bruce and friends are solving. It quickly becomes apparent that the likely murderer was hired, suggesting that something much bigger is at play. Eventually it becomes clear that Nelson’s latest manuscript may hold the key, but Grisham can’t help but protect Bruce by not allowing him to read the book and offer plausible deniability if he is ever subpoenaed.

The mystery itself involves a medical conspiracy that was fascinating and felt like fiction that is not too far off from the truth. It’s an interesting case that I don’t want to spoil, but a much bigger plot is at play. To solve it, Elaine and her investigation company from Camino Island make a return, up to their same tricks and shady dealings to get to the truth. The mystery itself kept me hooked, and this turned into a bit of a conspiracy thriller before all was said and done. Although, is it a conspiracy if its true?

Final Thoughts

I’ve greatly enjoyed both Camino Island and Camino Winds. Bruce is a great character and I loved Mercer in the first book. I did find her role in the second book to be a bit of a disappointment, though it also suited her character not wanting to get involved. I can’t complain too much! I’m looking forward to Camino Ghosts and will be curious which characters will be the stars. Surely Bruce will be at the forefront—he’s another all-time character that is too good to waste. I also reckon Nick will make a return, as will the gaggle of gossipy writers on the island. I hope Mercer also comes back—we know from this book she isn’t as keen on Camino Island as Bruce is. I’m also curious about her latest boyfriend who is a former investigative journalist. He could definitely add more to the plot if he’s still around in book three!