Exceptional

I loved the book. The characters were well thought through. There were twist and turns through out the book with surprises I didn't see coming. Every page was interesting to read and never boring. Another master piece. Your going to love it.

I have to hope the errors I’m about to mention were caught before the book went to print as I read an ARC, but there were such egregious errors that I had trouble overlooking them. Namely, using “flaunt” instead of “flout,” “mike” instead of “mic” and a reference to a dead character “never seeing another day of freedom” as though he was imprisoned… and not dead! There were consecutive paragraphs that began with similar sentences or phrasing that I found to be redundant and overwritten. Like I said, I hope these mistakes were fixed before publishing, but it left a really sour taste in my mouth.

The pacing is slow and the book takes about 100 pages to get into (keep in mind it’s over 400 pages long). The story takes place over generations, and years sometimes pass between paragraphs. I found that a bit jarring and disruptive. I kept feeling like I was missing information.

I also found the prose of this off putting. The entire thing reads like a long winded summation of a riveting story, but the bird’s-eye-view narration left me begging for more details, more dialogue, more action. Thrilling storylines are wrapped up in mere sentences and half explanations; I was left wanting. I don’t think I’ve read any Grisham before, so I can’t compare it to his classics, but I was underwhelmed by this one.

While the climax is in fact, climactic, the aftermath drags in a way that tempers some of the action. The characters are interesting, specifically the villains, but because there’s no mystery, it really is just a procedural with a rather abrupt end.

The best scene was the last scene, and my wish is that the rest of the book had been written with the same elegance and urgency as that last exchange. I could write entire think-pieces on the final pages alone!

It also felt like botched commentary on some controversial topics: with Egan (women in politics/court), nepotism (Jesse and Keith), the death penalty (the little speech at the end about killing being wrong), the futility of prisons (the escape attempts and murder of prisoners), vice (the Strip), the legacy of slavery in the South (the Black prisoners at Parchman)… I could go on, but the point is that I didn’t feel anything was actually SAID about these issues, rather just presented. What stance is the author taking? None, I believe. In which case, I finished the book asking myself “What is the point?” instead of “What are the nuances and complexities of these issues?”

I imagine this would make a great weekend movie, but I don’t think I’d recommend this one. Maybe someone can recommend me a better Grisham? I won’t give up on him, but I wasn’t gripped by this one, and it took me a month or more to finish… In fact, I started writing this review before I finished the book (which I’m not sure I’ve ever done) so I wouldn’t forget all the things about it that bothered me. I’d argue that I finished the book just to post the review.

Once again Grisham delivers a quick paced thriller. The story of 2 families along the gulf coast that take very different paths. The story was full of history as well as suspense. Grisham fans will thoroughly enjoy this book.

This was typical Grisham and I loved everything about it!! The character development was amazing. I felt like I knew Keith and Hugo.

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 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.

Set in Biloxi, this book followed two boys who are friends as youngsters. One grows up to become a criminal and the other becomes a State Attorney who has to prosecute his friend.

If you like fictional legal thrillers but also like some accurate facts intermingled throughout, you’ll love this book. John Grisham’s style of laying out the setting for readers with factual history is very engaging. He elegantly paints the picture so we feel as if we are living in the story right along side the characters. I never knew the history of Biloxi and enjoyed the non-fictional history as well as the fictional backstory of these immigrant Croatian families.

Hugh and Keith grew up together. They attended school together and played baseball. Sweet boys just enjoying their childhoods but their fathers were hardcore businessmen. Hugh’s dad was a business owner who became the Boss of most criminal activity in town including brothels, bars, and all things mob related. Keith’s dad was a lawyer and Keith became a District Attorney vowing to right the wrongs of the bad guys in town. This is a recipe for disaster for this friendship.

This story contains a lot of characters, a lot of backstory, and some factual and non-factual history. I enjoyed this book and I always enjoy John Grisham’s smooth and intriguing writing. The end had me sitting there for a moment to catch my breath. Not what I expected at all. Thanks to NetGalley and DoubleDay for the ARC of this book.

I’ve read probably 3/4 of John Grisham’s books and liked most of those, but this one I just had a hard time with. It started off really great but then I was so bogged down in names and dates and events and court cases that I got lost and couldn’t get the thread. It’s not for me, but I’ll still read more by him. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Famous for its beaches, resorts, and coastal life, Biloxi also has a notorious past including gambling, prostitution, bootleg liquor, drugs, and killings. Rumors abound about the Dixie Mafia who were running these vices. The book follows the lives of two boys from immigrant families; childhood friends who start to grow apart as they age and follow in their respective father's footsteps. Grisham is an excellent story teller. At times the book felt long, but the story is compelling and an enjoyable read. There are no real hidden twists and surprises, just fantastic storytelling, and of course, legal drama.

The Boys from Biloxi is a big sprawling book set primarily in the 1960's - '70's. It is about two rival families who have very different lives, and the sons from these families, Keith and Hugh. There is a lot of corruption depicted in the novel, and of course compelling courtroom drama too.

This is a big book (464 pages) and it started slowly for me. It did pick up speed as the story became more about the lives of Keith and Hugh. The descriptions and sense of place were particularly strong,. With a large cast of characters, John Grisham did a great job at characterization too.

I would recommend this for readers who enjoy a big sprawling read, especially anyone who is interested in Southern settings and courtroom drama.

I have loved all the John Grisham books I have read up until this one. It wasn't a "bad" book and there wasn't really anything wrong with the story, I just couldn't get into it. I didn't really connect with the characters and so I guess I didn't really care much for what happened. I felt like I kept waiting for something to happen to make it a little more exciting but to me it just felt like a very long, drawn out story that I just didn't care about.

Very good story - actually 2 family sagas - part politics, part gangland murders, part legal battles with a satisfying ending.

I am yet to find a John Grisham book that I do not love. He knows how to mix legal drama with enough of a mystery to keep you invested. I love how he makes you care about the characters, even if it is the villain. The story tells of two families in Biloxi, one on each side of the law. The way the stories tie together and the satisfying ending show Grisham's amazing storytelling ability.

Hugh Malco and Keith Rudy spent their childhoods as friends and all-star baseball players in Biloxi during the sixties, but the two will go down very different paths in life, due in part to the positions their father’s have within Biloxi society. Keith’s father became a prosecutor and district attorney determined to clean up the Biloxi coast while going after those operating businesses that rely on illegal liquor, gambling and prostitution. Hugh’s father worked his way up to become the most powerful, influential and wealthy of Biloxi’s underground criminals. The Boys from Biloxi contains the long and interconnected histories of the Malco and Rudy families, histories with the potential for serious, and possibly deathly, consequences.

I was honestly disappointed with this novel. It is such a slow build to the climax of the narrative, which was a bit of a dud. The Boys from Biloxi is such a long novel that covers so much time, but to me a lot of the background was either unnecessary or overly detailed. I liked the overall story for the most part, but there was just too much. There also seemed to be so many tangent storylines that, to be, did not seem necessary. I did like the determination and drive of many of the characters.

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 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.

I found this book to be a bit long, too wordy and too much description. Then it abruptly ends. Not one of my favorites by John Grisham

Oh, I enjoyed this!!! To be honest, I had gotten out of the habit of reading every new Grisham book as soon as it came out like I used to and hadn't even read his last few. I am SO happy I picked this one up! This is part slice of life/history lesson/courtroom drama. The story is about 2 childhood friends with completely different backgrounds, the life choices they make and the results from those choices. This is classic Good Guy vs Bad Guy and was very well done. Did get a little draggy near the middle, but overall, a really good read! Now I'm going back and reading the books I have missed!

Thank you to Doubleday Books, John Grisham and #NetGalley for this ARC!

Not my favorite book by Grisham. It was a bit slow towards the middle. It picked up with the court dramas which is Grisham’s true signature. Grisham can write court scenes like no other.
The family saga was interesting and was the draw to the book. The treat was reading about the history of Biloxi. The scenes in Mary Mahoney’s brought back joyful memories of that restaurant. Biloxi is a beautiful city with a torrid past.

The Boys from Biloxi by John Grisham is a fictional account of the history of Biloxi and the 'back bay' area. This book is so interesting for anyone who lives or maybe has lived in the Biloxi area. I Love Biloxi! I have been all around the back streets of Biloxi as I birdwatch.
The Boys from Biloxi opens with two friends Keith Rudy and Hugh Malco. As they age, life happens to take them in different directions. Life and earning a living could be hard during those years and according to their education and family prominence in the community, the boys made choices. One family made fortunes from liquor and prostitution opportunities. The other family was determined to clean up the corruption in Biloxi. My heart hurt as I read some scenes and smiled at others. This book reads like true life during those years and the growing pains of a major coastal city and the family that helped to shape the communities.
Thank you to NetGalley, John Grisham, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this new book.

Another great.read by Grisham. Not sure how he keeps dping. Well developed plot and characters. The setting comes alive in this one. Not to be missed!