Status
Checked out
Due 3 Jun 2024
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Description
For most of the last hundred years, Biloxi was known for its beaches, resorts, and seafood industry. But it had a darker side. It was also notorious for corruption and vice, everything from gambling, prostitution, bootleg liquor, and drugs to contract killings. The vice was controlled by small cabal of mobsters, many of them rumored to be members of the Dixie Mafia. Keith Rudy and Hugh Malco grew up in Biloxi in the sixties and were childhood friends, as well as Little League all-stars. But as teenagers, their lives took them in different directions. Keith's father became a legendary prosecutor, determined to "clean up the Coast." Hugh's father became the "Boss" of Biloxi's criminal underground. Keith went to law school and followed in his father's footsteps. Hugh preferred the nightlife and worked in his father's clubs. The two families were headed for a showdown, one that would happen in a courtroom. Life itself hangs in the balance in The Boys from Biloxi, a sweeping saga rich with history and with a large cast of unforgettable characters.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member sleahey
I looked forward to reading this book, and fully expected to like it. It was therefore disappointing to find it tedious and dry, reading more like a textbook than a thriller. In addition, the conflict between two families and two good friends who took divergent paths seemed to lead inevitably to
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tragedy in a downward spiral. The movie that is destined to be made of this book will perhaps introduce tension and character complexity that I found missing. Show Less
LibraryThing member Doondeck
Story seemed to be dragged out for no good reason. Not his best work
LibraryThing member fredreeca
Keith and Hugh grew up together and played baseball on championship teams. But, their lives take different turns. Keith’s father becomes a prosecutor so this leads Keith to go to law school. Hugh’s father becomes the mob boss of the coast and Hugh falls into the family business. Each on
Now, this is my favorite John Grisham cover! I love this cover. This story though, is not my favorite. And yes I have read every single one. And almost all are 5 stars. This one just seemed a bit long and drawn out. And most of his books are not like that…so…it could be me. I am thinking I am headed for a reading slump…so keep that in mind.
I enjoyed learning about all the insurance trials after hurricane Camille. I had no idea any of that occurred. Plus, the setting of Biloxi and cleaning up the coast was a very unique story line to me. Being from Mississippi, I really did not know about a lot of this…so this book had me researching. And as usual, his characters are some of the best! They are usually flawed and this book is no different. Some very real people exist in this book and I felt like I knew all of them!
And the ending…oh boy!
Need just a dang good book…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!
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opposite ends of the law with many conflicts headed their way.Now, this is my favorite John Grisham cover! I love this cover. This story though, is not my favorite. And yes I have read every single one. And almost all are 5 stars. This one just seemed a bit long and drawn out. And most of his books are not like that…so…it could be me. I am thinking I am headed for a reading slump…so keep that in mind.
I enjoyed learning about all the insurance trials after hurricane Camille. I had no idea any of that occurred. Plus, the setting of Biloxi and cleaning up the coast was a very unique story line to me. Being from Mississippi, I really did not know about a lot of this…so this book had me researching. And as usual, his characters are some of the best! They are usually flawed and this book is no different. Some very real people exist in this book and I felt like I knew all of them!
And the ending…oh boy!
Need just a dang good book…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!
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LibraryThing member GrandmaCootie
Another riveting read from the master himself, author John Grisham. What begins as an idyllic life for two boys in the sixties in Biloxi, Mississippi as childhood friends and Little League all-stars turns into something not so placid and peaceful as these boys grow up. Their fathers, both from
As always, Grisham combines his excellent writing with real life events, situations and settings, that put you right in the middle of the non-stop, thrilling action. You almost forget that this is fiction and not an historical account of life along the coast of Mississippi. The characters are believable, richly drawn, multi-dimensional, not just good or just evil. Events move inexorably forward. A sense of dread hangs over everything, even in the happy times. You know bad things will happen, but you don’t know how many, or to who, or how long-lasting.
Thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday for providing an advance copy of The Boys from Biloxi in exchange for my honest review. I was drawn in right from the start, couldn’t put it down until the shocking, satisfying conclusion, and recommend it without hesitation. All opinions are my own.
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immigrant families, were acquaintances but not close friends, and they took very different life paths. Starting when they were teenagers, both boys followed in their fathers’ footsteps, which put Keith on the side of the law and Hugh on the side of the mob. There is little doubt of tragedy ahead.As always, Grisham combines his excellent writing with real life events, situations and settings, that put you right in the middle of the non-stop, thrilling action. You almost forget that this is fiction and not an historical account of life along the coast of Mississippi. The characters are believable, richly drawn, multi-dimensional, not just good or just evil. Events move inexorably forward. A sense of dread hangs over everything, even in the happy times. You know bad things will happen, but you don’t know how many, or to who, or how long-lasting.
Thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday for providing an advance copy of The Boys from Biloxi in exchange for my honest review. I was drawn in right from the start, couldn’t put it down until the shocking, satisfying conclusion, and recommend it without hesitation. All opinions are my own.
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LibraryThing member kimkimkim
I stopped reading John Grisham because I got tired of the formulaic approach to most of his books. Good Guy, bad guy, courtroom intrigue and drama. I took a break despite Grisham being a really good writer. When I read a book, cover to cover, and don’t take notes, don’t highlight passages,
Grisham digs deep into the depravity rampant in Biloxi set against a backdrop of beautiful beaches and everyday kids who play on different teams much like their fathers, who walk on opposite sides of the law. Slow burn, slow build up, a foregone conclusion which takes years to play out, but I liked it for just those reasons.
It was more than I expected and a solid reunion with a very good writer. Thank you Doubleday and NetGalley for a copy.
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don’t circle back, that book had my complete attention. I have just described my take on The Boys from Biloxi. Grisham digs deep into the depravity rampant in Biloxi set against a backdrop of beautiful beaches and everyday kids who play on different teams much like their fathers, who walk on opposite sides of the law. Slow burn, slow build up, a foregone conclusion which takes years to play out, but I liked it for just those reasons.
It was more than I expected and a solid reunion with a very good writer. Thank you Doubleday and NetGalley for a copy.
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LibraryThing member thewanderingjew
The Boys From Biloxi, John Grisham, author; Michael Beck, narrator
Grisham has hit this one out of the park, and the narrator has portrayed the characters superbly, exposing both their flaws and their strengths The novel is not steeped in personal political opinions as so many books are today,
As readers, we are introduced to two immigrant families, the Malco's and the Rudy's, originally from Croatia, and we follow them as they make their way in Mississippi. As time passes, children are born. Two children are destined to meet, Lance Malco and Jesse Rudy. However, only one of these family’s follows the straight and narrow path of what can be called a law-abiding life in America, while the other develops a mob mentality and conducts life accordingly, veering off in the manner of the Mafia, in America.
Jesse and Lance both continue to live and work in Mississippi, and they go on to have two sons, as well, Keith and Hugh, respectively. Starting out as friends, the sons also travel in decidedly different directions. Once compatible with each other, the two families become enemies.
Keith’s father, Jesse Rudy, is the District Attorney. Hugh’s father, Lance Malco, is the town gangster. For years, Lance and the Sheriff have worked together to conduct their business in the “underworld”, avoiding legal consequences and confounding the efforts of many District Attorneys to rein them in. Keith Rudy grows up and is inspired to follow in his father’s footsteps, studying to be a lawyer. Hugh Malco, is inspired by his father’s power and follows in his footsteps, studying to be a hoodlum. This is the story of the convergence of their lives.
Over several decades, Grisham proceeds to lay out the decay of Biloxi, Mississippi, as it descends into a place supporting criminal behavior under the guidance and tutelage of the Malco family and its compatriots. He couples that narrative with the path taken by the Rudy family and its supporters, as they fight against the corruption that led to the heinous, but well-deserved, rising criminal reputation of Biloxi.
Although the novel is long and sometimes repetitious, it is not tedious. It is compelling as it explains, step by step, how elections can be fraudulent, how crimes are committed, how criminals get away with them, and how the wheels of the justice system are sometimes mired in a bureaucratic morass that actually prevents justice.
Grisham has hit this one out of the park, and the narrator has portrayed the characters superbly, exposing both their flaws and their strengths The novel is not steeped in personal political opinions as so many books are today,
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although the liberal side peeps through on occasion. Instead, however, of committing the sin of being too woke, it is a detailed and finely tuned story about politics, law and order, the corruption throughout both systems, and the honorable people who work hard and tirelessly to keep it safe and on the up and up. It is obvious that Grisham is well-versed in these subjects and supports the justice system, as well as a political system with elections that are free of cheating, even as he exposes the cracks that have existed within the systems, and still do exist in them, very well.As readers, we are introduced to two immigrant families, the Malco's and the Rudy's, originally from Croatia, and we follow them as they make their way in Mississippi. As time passes, children are born. Two children are destined to meet, Lance Malco and Jesse Rudy. However, only one of these family’s follows the straight and narrow path of what can be called a law-abiding life in America, while the other develops a mob mentality and conducts life accordingly, veering off in the manner of the Mafia, in America.
Jesse and Lance both continue to live and work in Mississippi, and they go on to have two sons, as well, Keith and Hugh, respectively. Starting out as friends, the sons also travel in decidedly different directions. Once compatible with each other, the two families become enemies.
Keith’s father, Jesse Rudy, is the District Attorney. Hugh’s father, Lance Malco, is the town gangster. For years, Lance and the Sheriff have worked together to conduct their business in the “underworld”, avoiding legal consequences and confounding the efforts of many District Attorneys to rein them in. Keith Rudy grows up and is inspired to follow in his father’s footsteps, studying to be a lawyer. Hugh Malco, is inspired by his father’s power and follows in his footsteps, studying to be a hoodlum. This is the story of the convergence of their lives.
Over several decades, Grisham proceeds to lay out the decay of Biloxi, Mississippi, as it descends into a place supporting criminal behavior under the guidance and tutelage of the Malco family and its compatriots. He couples that narrative with the path taken by the Rudy family and its supporters, as they fight against the corruption that led to the heinous, but well-deserved, rising criminal reputation of Biloxi.
Although the novel is long and sometimes repetitious, it is not tedious. It is compelling as it explains, step by step, how elections can be fraudulent, how crimes are committed, how criminals get away with them, and how the wheels of the justice system are sometimes mired in a bureaucratic morass that actually prevents justice.
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LibraryThing member Judiex
Biloxi, Mississippi, was in its own world. Its beaches, resorts, and fishing drew tourists from a wide area. It was also near a major military base. While many parts of the US regulated or prohibited certain activities and products, like alcohol, prostitution, drugs, and gambling, Biloxi was wide
Keith Rudy and Hugh Malco grew up there and were friends, especially when baseball was involved. Their parents settled there after leaving Croatia, but the fathers traveled very different paths. Keith’s father was a prosecutor who was determined to get rid of all the crime. Hugh’s father was the Mob Boss. Each of the boys followed his father’s path.
Not unexpectedly, the results were both intertwined and troublesome, to say the least.
THE BOYS FROM BILOXI examines the history of the region, though not always accurately, and also deals with the aftermath of Hurricane Camille in 1969, exposing the way insurance companies dealt with compensation. NOTE: Many people do not have flood insurance and the US taxpayer is often stuck with the after costs.
Women, except for those involved in the sex trade, play a very small roll in the story. And the characters turn out exactly how we expect them to from the beginning of the book.
One part was definitely not realistic. There were many problems regarding the testimony of a key witness. The defense lawyer in this important case would have prepared her much better.
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open and home to the Dixie Mafa,Keith Rudy and Hugh Malco grew up there and were friends, especially when baseball was involved. Their parents settled there after leaving Croatia, but the fathers traveled very different paths. Keith’s father was a prosecutor who was determined to get rid of all the crime. Hugh’s father was the Mob Boss. Each of the boys followed his father’s path.
Not unexpectedly, the results were both intertwined and troublesome, to say the least.
THE BOYS FROM BILOXI examines the history of the region, though not always accurately, and also deals with the aftermath of Hurricane Camille in 1969, exposing the way insurance companies dealt with compensation. NOTE: Many people do not have flood insurance and the US taxpayer is often stuck with the after costs.
Women, except for those involved in the sex trade, play a very small roll in the story. And the characters turn out exactly how we expect them to from the beginning of the book.
One part was definitely not realistic. There were many problems regarding the testimony of a key witness. The defense lawyer in this important case would have prepared her much better.
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LibraryThing member buffalogr
A very long (14+ hours) book. Grisham digs deep into the depravity rampant in Biloxi -- the plot is complex, the writing extraordinary and the characters superb, and mostly corrupt. I have always enjoyed Grisham's books and this one was no different. Good job John.
LibraryThing member Dianekeenoy
Another great book from John Grisham!!!
LibraryThing member DrApple
When Grisham writes about. likable character, there are few authors to compare to him. When his characters are all flawed, it's not so great.
LibraryThing member JanaRose1
This book follows two families from the same area in Biloxi, Mississippi. Keith's father becomes a prosecutor, determined to clean up the gulf. Hugh's father became a crime boss, specializing in liquor, gambling, and prostitution. Keith follows in his father's footsteps, taking an interest in
I'm a big fan of John Grisham however this book just did not work. There was very little movement in the book, The story bogged down during the build-up phase and at times felt very stagnant. When something finally happened, it was very predictable. Overall, a bust.
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politics and going to law school. Hugh takes after his father, dabbling in crime and prostitutes. Eventually, the two families come head to head.I'm a big fan of John Grisham however this book just did not work. There was very little movement in the book, The story bogged down during the build-up phase and at times felt very stagnant. When something finally happened, it was very predictable. Overall, a bust.
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LibraryThing member creighley
For most of the last hundred years, Biloxi was known for its beaches, resorts, and seafood industry. But it had a darker side. It was notorious for corruption and vice, everything from gambling, prostitution, bootleg liquor, and drugs to contract killings. The vice was controlled by small cabal of
Keith Rudy and Hugh Malco grew up in Biloxi in the sixties and were childhood friends as well as little league all-stars. But, as teenagers their lives took them in different directions. Keith’s father became a legendary prosecutor, determined “to clean up the coast.” Hugh’s father became the “Boss” of Biloxi’s criminal underworld. Keith went to law school and followed in his father’s footsteps. Hugh preferred to work in his father’s nightclubs. The two families were headed for a showdown, one that would end up in a courtroom.
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mobsters, many of them rumored to be embers of the Dixie Mafia. Keith Rudy and Hugh Malco grew up in Biloxi in the sixties and were childhood friends as well as little league all-stars. But, as teenagers their lives took them in different directions. Keith’s father became a legendary prosecutor, determined “to clean up the coast.” Hugh’s father became the “Boss” of Biloxi’s criminal underworld. Keith went to law school and followed in his father’s footsteps. Hugh preferred to work in his father’s nightclubs. The two families were headed for a showdown, one that would end up in a courtroom.
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LibraryThing member tamidale
John Grisham’s novels never disappoint! This latest story is set in Biloxi, on the gulf coast of Mississippi, and gives a history of how the darker side of Biloxi came to be in control—at least until Jesse Rudy got involved.
I loved how Grisham gave a history of the two main families, going back
The Malco family and the Rudy family were thrown together when their boys went to school and played Little League baseball. Hugh Malco and Keith Rudy were close childhood friends, but as they grew up, their paths began to separate as it so often does with teenagers.
Hugh’s father owned some profitable night clubs with questionable activities. Keith’s father became a lawyer and eventually a prosector. By this time, the boys were into young adulthood and this is the point the story really heats up.
The ending was both shocking and predictable, but it touched my heart due to the fact that life is often similar for childhood friends when they end up on different paths. With all the bad blood between the Malco and Rudy family, the ending was one that came full circle for the two boys.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for allowing me to read and review this book. I am happy to recommend it and give an honest review.
I loved how Grisham gave a history of the two main families, going back
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three generations to where they came from, what their fathers did for a living and their family life. Many similarities were to be found.The Malco family and the Rudy family were thrown together when their boys went to school and played Little League baseball. Hugh Malco and Keith Rudy were close childhood friends, but as they grew up, their paths began to separate as it so often does with teenagers.
Hugh’s father owned some profitable night clubs with questionable activities. Keith’s father became a lawyer and eventually a prosector. By this time, the boys were into young adulthood and this is the point the story really heats up.
The ending was both shocking and predictable, but it touched my heart due to the fact that life is often similar for childhood friends when they end up on different paths. With all the bad blood between the Malco and Rudy family, the ending was one that came full circle for the two boys.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for allowing me to read and review this book. I am happy to recommend it and give an honest review.
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LibraryThing member grumpydan
Set in Biloxi, Mississippi, the Biloxi boys, Keith and Jesse, who grew up in the point but their life choices take them on different paths. They play baseball as young kids, but one follows a criminal lifestyle while the other becomes a lawyer. From that you can see they will have more than one
I enjoy John Grisham’s books and that’s why I chose to read this one. This one goes through decades of history (both Biloxi and the families) before it gets to the point of the story. There is also a lot of courtroom drama. But it was long and slow and my interest waned. I was totally put off by the ending.
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confrontation in adulthood.I enjoy John Grisham’s books and that’s why I chose to read this one. This one goes through decades of history (both Biloxi and the families) before it gets to the point of the story. There is also a lot of courtroom drama. But it was long and slow and my interest waned. I was totally put off by the ending.
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LibraryThing member lewilliams
Hugh Malco and Keith Rudy are childhood friends, almost inseparable until Malco decides to follow his father's and help him in his crime enterprises and Keith eventually turns his attention the being a lawyer. The two families are headed for a showdown and the tension is as thick as a London fog.
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This is one of Grisham's best reads. Show Less
LibraryThing member jfe16
Review of Uncorrected Proof
For Keith Rudy and Hugh Malco, baseball was their world. Born just twenty-eight days apart, the two boys dreamed of playing in the Little League World Series in Williamsport. The two boys were inseparable.
Their friendship would not stand the test of time.
With Hugh’s
What lies ahead for the two boy and their families? Will the Dixie Mafia maintain its control or will Jesse find a way to break their hold on Biloxi?
What does the future hold for the two boys from Biloxi?
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Well-defined characters, a strong sense of place, and a compelling plot all work together to pull the reader into the narrative. Early on in the telling of the tale it becomes apparent that the Rudy and Malco families are racing toward a confrontation and, as the events in the unfolding story take on a grimmer aspect, it becomes apparent that it will be catastrophic.
Through three generations, readers learn the stories of the Point and the Strip; the choices made by family members and friends clearly delineate the lines drawn as the “fight” for Biloxi reaches its climax. Both Keith and Hugh, clearly influenced by their fathers, step into roles that seem foreordained for them.
Here readers see the results of choices made, of paths followed, of friendship, of heritage. Greed, vengeance, and secrets all play a part in the telling of the tale. The complexity of the plot and the backstories of Point Cadet, the Strip, and the families make for fascinating reading. With the unfolding story weaving an inescapable web of certainty, readers are sure to “see the handwriting on the wall” and predict the outcome of the conflict between the two families. But there are a couple of surprises . . . leading to a denouement that is shattering in its simplicity.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this eBook from Doubleday Books, Doubleday and NetGalley
#TheBoysfromBiloxi #NetGalley
For Keith Rudy and Hugh Malco, baseball was their world. Born just twenty-eight days apart, the two boys dreamed of playing in the Little League World Series in Williamsport. The two boys were inseparable.
Their friendship would not stand the test of time.
With Hugh’s
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father, Lance, the “boss” of Biloxi’s criminal underground and Keith’s father, Jesse, a legendary prosecutor determined to clean up the Coast, Keith and Hugh find themselves drifting away from friendship to travel different paths. What lies ahead for the two boy and their families? Will the Dixie Mafia maintain its control or will Jesse find a way to break their hold on Biloxi?
What does the future hold for the two boys from Biloxi?
=========
Well-defined characters, a strong sense of place, and a compelling plot all work together to pull the reader into the narrative. Early on in the telling of the tale it becomes apparent that the Rudy and Malco families are racing toward a confrontation and, as the events in the unfolding story take on a grimmer aspect, it becomes apparent that it will be catastrophic.
Through three generations, readers learn the stories of the Point and the Strip; the choices made by family members and friends clearly delineate the lines drawn as the “fight” for Biloxi reaches its climax. Both Keith and Hugh, clearly influenced by their fathers, step into roles that seem foreordained for them.
Here readers see the results of choices made, of paths followed, of friendship, of heritage. Greed, vengeance, and secrets all play a part in the telling of the tale. The complexity of the plot and the backstories of Point Cadet, the Strip, and the families make for fascinating reading. With the unfolding story weaving an inescapable web of certainty, readers are sure to “see the handwriting on the wall” and predict the outcome of the conflict between the two families. But there are a couple of surprises . . . leading to a denouement that is shattering in its simplicity.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this eBook from Doubleday Books, Doubleday and NetGalley
#TheBoysfromBiloxi #NetGalley
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LibraryThing member JosephKing6602
A bit too much like his other books; follows a predictable story-line; ok….not his best
LibraryThing member malcrf
Difficult to know exactly how to rate this. It was light-weight and cliched, but I did keep turning the pages, so maybe it should have got a 3.5 or a 3.25. It will be soon forgotten, and I wouldn't contemplate re-reading it, but it probably should have saved for a holiday or a long flight.
BTW there
BTW there
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are some obvious 'bloopers' in this edition, perhaps editorial review wasn't that strong. Show Less
LibraryThing member shazjhb
Long winded. Some interesting things but so preachy.
LibraryThing member zmagic69
I haven’t read a Grisham book in awhile, but this one sounded interesting so I got it.
It is quite long and it reads like a nonfiction story. The problem for me was I never became very vested in the characters. They were rather one dimensional and either they were good or they were bad. Which is
That being said the last 200 pages were really good and the ending was not what I expected. So 4 stars is accurate, and I may try his next book.
It is quite long and it reads like a nonfiction story. The problem for me was I never became very vested in the characters. They were rather one dimensional and either they were good or they were bad. Which is
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realistic considering the topic of all forms of Vice being sold.That being said the last 200 pages were really good and the ending was not what I expected. So 4 stars is accurate, and I may try his next book.
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LibraryThing member msudawgs
This Grisham book feels a little different than others. It is still about law and crimes, but their is more historical fiction involved. I enjoyed the larger number of characters that were involved in the story and the multiple generations. I agree with some reviewers that the characters were
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mostly one dimensional, good or bad. The latter third of the book gave some twists that I was not expecting. There are usually some parts of the plot that can be figured out, but most in this book were not easy to see. I like not knowing where the story is going. I also like to try to figure out what is going to happen. With this book, most of the time I was wrong; that makes it enjoyable for me. Show Less
LibraryThing member maryreinert
Set in Biloxi, this is the story of two boys growing up together but who take very different paths in life. Hugh Malco's father is a known mobster owning and operating bars that hide gambling and prostitution. Keith Rudy's father is a first- generation lawyer who is determined to put an end to the
The story was readable with the expected twists of a Grisham novel. There are some interesting side characters such as a bomb maker who gets injured while delivering a bomb that does kill Keith's father, and a big thug side kick of the Malco's.
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Malco crime syndicate. The story was readable with the expected twists of a Grisham novel. There are some interesting side characters such as a bomb maker who gets injured while delivering a bomb that does kill Keith's father, and a big thug side kick of the Malco's.
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LibraryThing member imyknott
This was a story of two families – the Malco family and the Rudy family. Concentrating initially on the growing up of the two sons and how their backgrounds dictated their futures. Hugh Malco followed his father into crime whilst Keith Rudy followed his father into the legal profession. The story
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about how the boys developed and how their families took different routes in life was quite good, but it did not live up to the high standard of other John Grishams' books. Show Less
LibraryThing member drthubbie
John Grisham is a remarkable story teller.
LibraryThing member srms.reads
John Grisham’s The Boys from Biloxi is the story of two families- the Malcos and the Rudys –both descended from Croatian immigrants who settled in Mississippi in the fishing community of Biloxi. Keith Rudy and Hugh Malco grew up together in the same community as friends and star performers in
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Little league baseball but gradually drifted apart as they reached the end of their school years – each of them following in their respective father’s footsteps. Hugh joins his father Lance in their family business profiting from the vice in Biloxi- illegal gambling, prostitution, the drug trade, and owner of several nightclubs along “the strip”. Keith, on the other hand, pursues a legal career inspired by his father Jesse Rudy, an upstanding citizen and honest lawyer who makes it his life’s mission to take down all illegal establishments and the mob bosses who control them. The battle between Jesse and Lance continues with Keith and Hugh - a story of good vs evil, with its share of shady characters who commit crimes and the upstanding lawyers who want to see justice served. Grisham weaves an intricately plotted novel with its share of mob bosses, corruption, turf wars, courtroom drama and the pursuit of justice. The larger part of the story is set in the 1960s and 70s. This is a lengthy novel (450 pages) and the pace is on the slower side gaining momentum only after the 25% mark. There is a lot that happens and several people are introduced in the course of the story. However, it should be noted that there are no major “twists” in the story. We know who the good guys are and who the bad guys are. We get to know what happens, how it happens, and who does what as it happens. But yes the sequence of events- the pursuit, arrests and subsequent legal battles make for an interesting read. Part of the narrative reads like non-fiction (which wasn't a problem for me) – more telling than actually taking the reader through the events. The courtroom scenes and legal aspects are well-written and informative – Grisham does not disappoint!
With its fantastic writing, superbly developed setting, backstories and characterizations and multigenerational plotline, The Boys from Biloxi is an engaging read that I enjoyed.
Many thanks to Doubleday Books and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
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Awards
Audie Award (Finalist — Thriller/Suspense — 2023)