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Available
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Series
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Publication
Doubleday (2020), 304 pages
Description
Fiction. Suspense. Thriller. HTML:#1 NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER �?� �??The perfect crime scene ... in the type of wild but smart caper that Grisham�??s readers love.�?��??Delia Owens, author of Where the Crawdads Sing The master of the legal thriller sweeps you away to paradise for a little sun, sand, mystery, and mayhem. With Camino Winds, America�??s favorite storyteller offers the perfect escape. Welcome back to Camino Island, where anything can happen�??even a murder in the midst of a hurricane, which might prove to be the perfect crime... Just as Bruce Cable�??s Bay Books is preparing for the return of bestselling author Mercer Mann, Hurricane Leo veers from its predicted course and heads straight for the island. Florida�??s governor orders a mandatory evacuation, and most residents board up their houses and flee to the mainland, but Bruce decides to stay and ride out the storm. The hurricane is devastating: homes and condos are leveled, hotels and storefronts ruined, streets flooded, and a dozen people lose their lives. One of the apparent victims is Nelson Kerr, a friend of Bruce�??s and an author of thrillers. But the nature of Nelson�??s injuries suggests that the storm wasn�??t the cause of his death: He has suffered several suspicious blows to the head. Who would want Nelson dead? The local police are overwhelmed in the aftermath of the storm and ill equipped to handle the case. Bruce begins to wonder if the shady characters in Nelson�??s novels might be more real than fictional. And somewhere on Nelson�??s computer is the manuscript of his new novel. Could the key to the case be right there�??in black and white? As Bruce starts to investigate, what he discovers between the lines is more shocking than any of Nelson�??s plot twists�??and far more dangerous. Camino Winds is an irresistible romp and a perfectly thrilling beach read�??# 1… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member laytonwoman3rd
Grisham returns to Camino Island, Florida, and characters he introduced us to there three years ago. I read [Camino Island] when it came out, and apparently enjoyed it, although I didn't record anything more than that about it. I have to say I was well into this novel before anything or anyone
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sounded familiar to me. What finally nudged me into partial recall was the description of the theft, ransom and return of a Fitzgerald manuscript from Princeton's library---hey!--that sounds familiar, didn't I read about that somewhere? Oh, wait, yes...that was the basis of the story of the last book, which I had completely forgotten, and the details of which are not coming back even now. Sadly, [Camino Winds] isn't likely to stick in my head any longer. The actual story could have been told in less than 100 pages, and the filler material---banter, descriptive passages, local color, romance and/or sex, etc.---which is sometimes a lot of fun in mystery/suspense novels, totally failed to spark in this one. The premise is this: a popular writer, one of Bay Books' owner Bruce Cable's stable of favorites, is found dead in the aftermath of a monster hurricane, but Bruce and his buddies are certain Nelson was murdered, not a victim of falling debris. They come up with a theory that the subject of his latest book, not yet published, has made someone nervous enough to try to stop the presses. They're right, and they manage to prove it despite very little help from State Police investigators, but the plot is full of holes and improbabilities; there is no one to love or to despise; there is little action, no tension, and no fun to be had outside of vicarious enjoyment of buckets of boiled shrimp and cold beer. Everyone involved does seem to agree that Nelson's new book will sell, although it isn't very good. Hmmm....could Grisham be having us on? Show Less
LibraryThing member terran
I agree with other reviewers that this second entry in the Camino Island series falls within the category of "Grisham lite" for me. However, it was interesting to read and had an element of fun, even if that's a strange description for a murder mystery. The fact that Bruce Cable owns a bookstore
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makes for scintillating after-dinner conversation, and riding out a hurricane definitely added some suspense. Show Less
LibraryThing member Jthierer
This was better than some of the other Grisham's I've read recently, but it suffers from a common thriller problem: the plot is interesting enough but the characters are cardboard at best and the writing tells more than it shows. That said, it was worth 3 hours of my time on a cold Saturday
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afternoon, so it couldn't have been that bad. Show Less
LibraryThing member Clara53
I always enjoy a novel with books/writing at its center. "Camino Winds" (just as its prequel "Camino Island") has that. It reads fast, like a book in this genre would. So the plot (which was quite interesting, although half way through the book slightly predictable) was the focus for me; there was
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no expectation of literary merit here; rather "basic" writing, as one reviewer put it. That said, I was somewhat impressed with the description of the ruthless hurricane Leo which was endowed with something like a living mind and which was the background of the action in the novel, although, even in this, Grisham remained his own laidback self. Show Less
LibraryThing member gypsysmom
Grisham can still keep his readers (or in this case listeners) interest even if the mysteries don't involve lengthy court cases like some of his earlier works.
A severe hurricane hits Camino Island, an idyllic spot off the east coast of Florida and wreaks devastation. There was one death that
Only John Grisham would come up with a way that involved extending life to be a fraudulent action. Usually we hear about people whose life is cut short by drugs.
A severe hurricane hits Camino Island, an idyllic spot off the east coast of Florida and wreaks devastation. There was one death that
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appears, initially, to be due to the storm but when blood spatter is found inside the victim's home it is obvious he was killed. Local bookstore owner, Bruce Cable, decides to investigate since the storm has decimated business at his store. The victim was an author and had recently finished his most recent manuscript but there was no trace of it in his condo or on his computer. Fortunately he had sent a copy to his sister in California and Cable and others read that copy. The subject was a massive health-care fraud involving an unlicensed drug that when administered to late-stage dementia patients prolonged their life allowing the owners of the nursing homes where they lived to get continued Medicaid funding. It was obvious that someone had leaked information about a real case to the author and Cable set about finding that person. Once he did the FBI were alerted and they investigated the company. As to the actual murder, it was perpetrated by a hired assassin who is brought to justice by a quirk of fate.Only John Grisham would come up with a way that involved extending life to be a fraudulent action. Usually we hear about people whose life is cut short by drugs.
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LibraryThing member out-and-about
I loved Camino Island, so this was like returning to a regular summer vacation spot. I love how clean and basic Grisham’s writing style is, and I always enjoy the twists and turns of his plots. This was more simple than the old more legal thrillers but a refreshingly light and enjoyable reading
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experience. I’ll be interested to see if we get one more set of stories out of these characters? Show Less
LibraryThing member Doondeck
Good follow up to Camino Island. Good interweaving of a number of stories and fine police procedural wrap up at the end.
LibraryThing member DrApple
Camino Winds brings back the characters of Camino Island. If you enjoyed Camino Island, you'll enjoy this. This story revolves around the death of a local author during a hurricane. Police are eager to call it an accidental death, but book store owner Bruce and his friends aren't so sure. Their
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investigation leads them into a dangerous web of fraud, deceit, and murder. Show Less
LibraryThing member beckyhaase
CAMINO WINDS by John Grisham
Wade your way through the first half of the book to get to the exciting second half. True Grisham but without the lawyers (until the final third).
A book store owner caught in the storm of the century in a small beach front Florida town, has a dinner party just before
Tautly written, full of surprises and fully fleshed out characters, this is a tale not to be missed.
5 of 5 stars.
Wade your way through the first half of the book to get to the exciting second half. True Grisham but without the lawyers (until the final third).
A book store owner caught in the storm of the century in a small beach front Florida town, has a dinner party just before
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the storm. The party serves to introduce all the main players, including the soon to be murder victim. The first half of the book lays out the ground work for the shenanigans of Bruce and his crew of would be crime solvers and sets up the intricate details of the much bigger crime than the small time murder of a best-selling author. Tautly written, full of surprises and fully fleshed out characters, this is a tale not to be missed.
5 of 5 stars.
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LibraryThing member waldhaus1
A murderer takes advantage of a hurricane. The solving of the murder by a group of friends helped by chance and a second improbable event produces an enjoyable story.
LibraryThing member Nancyjcbs
Camino Winds is the second novel set in Santa Rosa (fictionalized Fernandina Beach). Since my only travel for the near future will be done via books I was able to "visit" my sister's home. But - it's not the area's best time. A rare hurricane is barreling down on the island.
Bruce Cable, owner of
Bruce Cable, owner of
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The Book Loft, has chosen not to evacuate. Three of his friends also remain. After the storm the island is in cleanup mode. Bruce, Nick, and Bob find their friend Nelson is dead. The circumstances are unusual and a search for the truth begins. The novel varies from a story of the of Santa Rosa's residents everyday life to a thriller. I enjoyed both. Show Less
LibraryThing member Susan.Macura
Hurricane Leo brings death and destruction to Camino Island off the coast of Florida. Local bookstore owner Bruce Cable finds himself babysitting the body of friend and local author Nelson Kerr with two other friends, who out of boredom, determine that Kerr's death was not the result of the storm.
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This leads to illegal drugs used in nursing homes and more violence, making this another must read from author John Grisham. It was a great tale and a wonderful summer read! Show Less
LibraryThing member clue
Grisham's beach read for 2020 continues with the island characters introduced in [Camino Island]. The protagonist is Bruce Cable, the owner of Bay Books and a rare book dealer.
After a devastating hurricane hits the island the suspense writer Nelson Kerr is initially included as one of the
After a devastating hurricane hits the island the suspense writer Nelson Kerr is initially included as one of the
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fatalities. On closer inspection the head wounds he received appear to be suspicious. Knowing the island police are overwhelmed and under experienced, Bruce suspects they won't do a through investigation and he's right. He begins his own and discovers Kerr's latest manuscript is a novel based on actual, unknown and very large nursing home fraud. The trail Bruce follows leads him to informants, the highest levels of the FBI and contract murderers. Show Less
LibraryThing member FormerEnglishTeacher
Reasonably good tale. Murder and intrigue enough. Plot is easy to follow, unlike some murder mysteries. Likable characters including the story’s main character, Bruce Cable, owner of Bay Books. He herds a group of writers who live and vacation on the island. He promotes their books and their
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careers, whether they are talented or not. And there are both in the group. One of the group is murdered in the middle of a huge hurricane, making solving the mystery all the harder. But Bruce won’t give up and goes to much expense and trouble to get the help he needs to bring justice for his friend. I wouldn’t call this a “page turner,” but it was interesting enough and entertaining enough to stick with for 300 or so pages. Show Less
LibraryThing member repb
A very entertaining story about a hurricane - a murder - and a dozen or so side stories going on at the same time. And through it all Grisham manages to keep control and bring it all to a very satisfying conclusion.
LibraryThing member JRlibrary
This contains spoilers. I listened to the audiobook of this.
I enjoyed Camino Winds mostly because it was nice to revisit several of the characters from Camino Island; Bruce Cable and his wife, Merced Mann and some of the literary crew from Bay books.
Hurricane Leo hits the island and wreaks
I enjoyed Camino Winds mostly because it was nice to revisit several of the characters from Camino Island; Bruce Cable and his wife, Merced Mann and some of the literary crew from Bay books.
Hurricane Leo hits the island and wreaks
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devastation. One of Cable’s boozy dinner guests, Nelson Kerr, is found dead at his home after the storm and initially everyone thinks he died during the storm from blunt force like being hit by a tree limb. However evidence raises suspicion among his literary friends and they start looking for clues. Nelson’s most recent manuscript reveals interesting information and the plot takes off after that and involves an unknown woman who has vanished, insurance fraud, a mysterious informer and misconduct at a series of nursing homes. This reads like a typical Grisham legal thriller and I actually enjoyed it more than the first book. Show Less
LibraryThing member thewanderingjew
This is the follow-up book to Camino Island. Bruce Cable is still operating his Bay Books bookstore and is still sharing his life with Noelle. She is traveling in Europe, when the book begins, to spend time with her paramour, Jean-Luc. She and Bruce have had a long standing open relationship that
Bruce is having a dinner for one of his authors, Tessa Mercer. She arrives on the island with her boyfriend, putting a cramp in Bruce’s Don Juan reputation, but he is agreeable with the arrangement and prepares a welcome dinner for her before her planned book presentation. An uninvited guest arrives later that night, which changes all their plans. A category 4 hurricane, Leo, comes barreling toward Camino Island and makes a direct hit.
When the hurricane passes, Bruce goes around to check up on the bookstore and the antique store and then on his neighbors well-being. When he is stopped and informed that one of the guests at his dinner, a friend and best selling author, Nelson Kerr, has been found dead on his property, apparently from a storm injury, Bruce and his comrades visit the crime scene. Afterwards, all three, Bruce, Bob who is an ex-con, now an author, and Nick who is a Wake Forest college student and summer employee, come to the conclusion that Nelson’s death might not have been an accident. A tree limb doesn’t generally land on a person’s head four times!
Nick has his own theory about Nelson’s death. Nick fancies himself a writer too, and Bruce thinks that although he is young and his work ethic leaves something to be desired, he has talent. Together they join forces to instigate a more complete investigation of Nelson’s death. It takes them into the murky world of illegal drugs and murder for hire. As the investigation plays out, illegal practices in nursing homes are exposed, as well. Greed and drug trafficking, along with off-shore hidden money, also play prominent roles in the story.
The story is strangely prescient since it was written before the Covid 19 virus and the suspicions of its origin in China, yet oddly enough, the illegal drug in this book was secretly manufactured in a large factory there, in China, and shipped to the United States where it was being used, illegally, in order to prolong the life of those very near death, for no conceivable reason, other than the greedy profit motive.
How the scheme is uncovered is really the basis of the story and it is filled with interesting tangents making the book more of a good story than a murder mystery. As it was in Camino Island, in the end, even the good characters want their share of the spoils. Sometimes, it became fortuitous to turn a blind eye to the situation.
There are some loose ends which are never tied up, but for the most part, the book is an interesting read, perfect for the beach or this time of quarantine. It won’t tax the brain, and it will surely entertain the reader.
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does not demand monogamy. She has a store near his where she sells antiques, but they cohabit.Bruce is having a dinner for one of his authors, Tessa Mercer. She arrives on the island with her boyfriend, putting a cramp in Bruce’s Don Juan reputation, but he is agreeable with the arrangement and prepares a welcome dinner for her before her planned book presentation. An uninvited guest arrives later that night, which changes all their plans. A category 4 hurricane, Leo, comes barreling toward Camino Island and makes a direct hit.
When the hurricane passes, Bruce goes around to check up on the bookstore and the antique store and then on his neighbors well-being. When he is stopped and informed that one of the guests at his dinner, a friend and best selling author, Nelson Kerr, has been found dead on his property, apparently from a storm injury, Bruce and his comrades visit the crime scene. Afterwards, all three, Bruce, Bob who is an ex-con, now an author, and Nick who is a Wake Forest college student and summer employee, come to the conclusion that Nelson’s death might not have been an accident. A tree limb doesn’t generally land on a person’s head four times!
Nick has his own theory about Nelson’s death. Nick fancies himself a writer too, and Bruce thinks that although he is young and his work ethic leaves something to be desired, he has talent. Together they join forces to instigate a more complete investigation of Nelson’s death. It takes them into the murky world of illegal drugs and murder for hire. As the investigation plays out, illegal practices in nursing homes are exposed, as well. Greed and drug trafficking, along with off-shore hidden money, also play prominent roles in the story.
The story is strangely prescient since it was written before the Covid 19 virus and the suspicions of its origin in China, yet oddly enough, the illegal drug in this book was secretly manufactured in a large factory there, in China, and shipped to the United States where it was being used, illegally, in order to prolong the life of those very near death, for no conceivable reason, other than the greedy profit motive.
How the scheme is uncovered is really the basis of the story and it is filled with interesting tangents making the book more of a good story than a murder mystery. As it was in Camino Island, in the end, even the good characters want their share of the spoils. Sometimes, it became fortuitous to turn a blind eye to the situation.
There are some loose ends which are never tied up, but for the most part, the book is an interesting read, perfect for the beach or this time of quarantine. It won’t tax the brain, and it will surely entertain the reader.
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LibraryThing member Andy_DiMartino
Triumphant return to Camino Island!!! Looking forward to the next visit!!!
LibraryThing member dara85
Bruce Cable, bookstore owner from the book Camino Island returns. Camino Island has a hurricane. Many houses and businesses on the island are destroyed or badly damaged. Nelson Kerr, author and a friend of Bruce’s appears to have been killed during the storm. His death is suspicious and Bruce and
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his friends investigate and find it was related to the book he was writing. Show Less
LibraryThing member addunn3
A followup to the Camino Island book. Bookstore owner helps organize the solution to a murder of one of his writers during hurricane Leo. Fast paced, but not particularly well developed characters.
LibraryThing member nyiper
This one was fun and seemed quite different from his usual lawyer ones. Definitely liked Nick....maybe he can come back somehow in the future.....unfortunately, I missed reading Camino Island so I need to go back and read that one!!!!
LibraryThing member OscarWilde87
Camino Winds is the sequel to Grisham's Camino Island and is set on said island. Protagonist and owner of Bay Books Bruce Cable prepares for a reading of one of his famous authors when there are news that Hurricane Leo is heading directly towards the island. At first he does not believe that the
I found the novel to be a page-turner and I also liked the characters a lot. However, the plot was not the most intriguing to my taste. Yet overall, an enjoyable summer read. 3.5 stars.
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island will be hit by the hurricane, but when it is clear that landfall is inevitable, he makes some preparations but decides to stay on the island and not evacuate to a safer place like most others. Bruce Cable survives the hurricane unscathed at his home and without much damage to his property. Other parts of the island are more severely hit. Exploring the island the protagonist finds a writer, Nelson Kerr, dead in his house. Bruce's temp Nick quickly realizes that Kerr did not fall victim to the hurricane but was killed. Slowly, a national conspiracy that was to be the subject of Kerr's next book, is unraveled. A big nursing home company is involved in Medicare and Medicaid fraud as they prolong the lives of their dementia patients with the help of an unapproved Chinese drug in order to cash in more money for the care of those patients.I found the novel to be a page-turner and I also liked the characters a lot. However, the plot was not the most intriguing to my taste. Yet overall, an enjoyable summer read. 3.5 stars.
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LibraryThing member Al-G
This was a dsappointing sequel to a really good first book. The plot was fairly predictable and the revelations came long after I concluded what had happened. I like the characters Grisham created in the first book, but only part of them are really involved in this one and the interactions seem
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superficial and less well developed. I had higher hopes for this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member foof2you
Standard Grisham writing, interesting story. Instead of lawyers it is about the nursing home industry. A quick read which I like. I found out after starting to read this book that it was a sequel to Camino Island. I did not feel that I had to read that book prior to reading this one. Good book.
LibraryThing member sunnydrk
Bruce is the focus of this book. Mercer is barely in it. I love the eccentric characters that come alive on Camino Island. A mysterious death is the focus of this book.
Original language
English
Physical description
9.53 inches
ISBN
0385545932 / 9780385545938
Other editions
Camino Winds Copy #2 by John Grisham (Hardcover)
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