I was absolutely delighted when I discovered that there would be a third novel to John Grisham’s Camino Island series. “Camino Ghosts” has to be my favorite installment yet.

Bruce, Mercer, and Thomas are back and ready for their next adventure. Mercer and Thomas get married on Camino Island and Bruce gives Mercer an intriguing book to read on their honeymoon. The book is the true story of Dark Isle, a small island that was once inhabited only by freed slaves. Lovely Jackson, author of the book, is the only living former inhabitant who left there at age15. Yet, Tidal Shores, the evil land developer (this is Grisham after all) wants to have the State of Florida claim ownership is the island so it can finance a bridge that will connect Dark Isle with the main land. This will allow Tidal Shores to build Panther Cay, a casino, golf course and high end condos. Yet, Lovely is the true island’s owner and with help from Bruce, Mercer, Thomas and others, she will fight the bad guy.

What I liked most about this novel was the back story of the African slave trade and what led to Lovely’s ancestors growing roots on Dark Isle (which also happens to be haunted because of a curse). I also love Mercer and Bruce, so spending time with such complex but lovable characters is always a welcome treat. Don’t expect too many surprises to this story but if you like to root for the underdog, you will enjoy this tale (which explains adverse possession in way my property professor never could).

Thanks to John Grisham, the publisher and Net Galley for a chance to read this captivating new story.

This is very low key considering it is from John Grisham, but it is his contribution to the growing literary universe regarding tributes to those who perished under the scourge of slavery. It is also the third in a series from a writer who usually produces standalones. Returning to Camino Island, with characters encountered in two earlier novels, we encounter Lovely Jackson, descendant of slaves and only living former inhabitant of Dark Isle, having left there in 1955 at the age of 15. Enter Tidal Shores, Grisham's villain per his usual style in the form of a predatory land developer, looking to create a bridge to the island and furnishing it with casinos and high priced condos. Again, this is Grisham's usual style of big guy vs little guy. Descriptions of the original ancestor's capture and her middle passage horrors are the hardest, but the efforts of the heroes of the current age to set these events right provide smooth reading. Grisham does a fine job of "... [taking) the past, with all its complexities, and [tying] to the present, with all its conflicts." ...

Grisham is a fantastic storyteller. Even though the Camino Island series deviates from the tried and true Grisham legal thrillers - it is still a good series. Love the way Grisham weaves in small town booksellers and promotes the literacy industry.

This is the third book in the Camino Series, and I think it’s by far the best. The characters are
all well established and fit really well in the stories. The story of well-to-do developers who
appear, with dollar signs in their eyes, and are met with resistance from an elderly native lady
who knows the true story of the “abandoned” island the developers wish to turn into casinos
and condominiums, and she has the history of the island, and the support of many important
folks. Our local Bookseller, Bruce Cable features prominently in this heartwarming book, along
with the wedding of Mercer and Thomas, with Mercer taking along the book that drives the
story on her honeymoon. This is such an interesting story, with well developed characters.
While you can read the book as stand alone, it did feel like going home, reuniting with the
cast of characters.
My thanks to Doubleday Publishing and NetGalley for a download copy of this book
for review purposes.

This third installment in the series stands solidly on its own, though I found myself captivated by Lovey Jackson's compelling narrative. Her story, set against the backdrop of the brutal African slave trade, unfolds as Mercer Mann seeks inspiration for her next book. Introduced to Lovey's memoir by Bruce, Mercer embarks on a journey to bring Lovey's experiences to life. As Lovey recounts her family's struggles on Dark Isle, a sanctuary for escaped slaves, the modern-day threat of a developer encroaching on her land adds urgency to her tale. Grisham masterfully weaves historical fiction with contemporary legal drama, resulting in a riveting read that lingers long after the final page. This ARC provided by NetGalley and Doubleday Books offers a poignant exploration of resilience and justice, courtesy of John Grisham's skillful storytelling.

This is another page-turner by Grisham that had me rapidly reading so I could get to the end. The book is set on Camino Island and features a lovely bookstore run by Bruce Cable. Mercer Mann, a published author, lives part-time on the island and is a friend of Cable's. He tells her a story about a developer who's asserting ownership of a deserted island off the coast of Florida. They are backed by money and politicians who want to see a casino built on the island. Lovely Jackson claims to be the last living resident of the island. With no paperwork to prove it, a trial ensues. There are many twists and turns and some supernatural bits that are fascinating. Another Grisham winner!

It's Grisham so you already know it is going to be good. No surprise there at all!
I loved the story within the story and it kept me totally hooked. It made me want to know more of the history of slavery in Florida and any book that stimulates the reader to want to know more is a win in my book.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. I can't wait to read the next one!

John Grisham strikes again with a Camino Island book revolving around the history of enslaved of Africans and a lawsuit regarding ownership of an island. If you enjoyed the first two Camino Island books, I would recommend reading this third one in the series. An easy read.

Yet another captivating novel by John Grisham. In this moving story, we meet Lovely Jackson, the sole living descendant of a group of kidnapped Africans, whose slave ship sunk on an island off the coast of Florida. Her story, and those of her ancestors, are set in today's world of developers and their frequent disregard for both history and the future. Could not put this book down, Grisham at his best!

I received an ARC for free and gave my honest opinion voluntarily.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

“Camino Ghosts” marks the return to the sun-drenched suspense of Camino Island, where John Grisham once again weaves a tale of mystery and intrigue. In this third installment, we find the familiar duo, Bruce Cable and Mercer Mann, embroiled in a new web of danger and deceit.

Grisham’s mastery of legal drama takes a backseat to the lush, atmospheric setting of the island, which becomes a character in its own right. The narrative is a cocktail of tension and leisure, as the reader is transported to a world where the stakes are high, but the ocean’s lull is never far away.

The plot centers around a deserted island caught in the crosshairs of a corporate giant, with only the enigmatic Lovely Jackson standing in its way. Grisham expertly crafts a narrative that is as much about the ghosts of the past as it is about the tangible threats of the present.

The prose is crisp, the dialogue snappy, and the pacing relentless. “Camino Ghosts” is a testament to Grisham’s ability to evolve as a storyteller, offering a perfect escape for those who seek both thrills and thoughtfulness in their reading.

Camino Ghosts by John Grisham takes readers back to Camino Island with characters Bruce Cable, owner of Bay Books and budding author, Mercer Mann. This latest storyline has them helping Lovely Jackson, a descendent of a slave family, claim her rightful ownership of Dark Isle with a battle against some developers. Camino Ghosts has some fun twists and turns and it adds a bit of historical reference. Most authors have a hard time with the last book in the trilogy but Grisham nailed it with this one. Thanks NetGalley for my advanced copy!

Another fantastic book by John Grisham ,a true page turner.A book I hated to put down couldn’t wait to get back to,#netgalley#doubledaybooks

WOW - This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope There is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked!

4.5 stars out of 5.

I was really excited to get this ARC and it did not disappoint. This is the third book in the series but I think it could be read as a standalone. The other 2 books in the series are just as good so I would recommend reading those first if you can. I love John Grisham's writing style, he drew me in from start to finish. The characters were all well developed and the plot was different from anything I have recently read. It seems Mr. Grisham did a lot of research for this book because the story was remarkable and I just loved Lovey Jackson's story. I did not want this story to end and I will remember this book for a while.

Camino Ghosts explores The African Slave trades and all the brutality people faced. In the book, Mercer Mann is looking for an idea for her next book. Bruce gives her a book written by a local, Lovey Jackson, who claimed to have grown up on Dark Isle. We get a peak at Lovey's book which describes the horrors of the slave trade and how her ancestors landed on Dark Isle. Lovey and her mother were the last known occupants but ended up leaving due to not being able to sustain living there on their own. Lovey is now 80 years old and Mercer convinces her to let her write her story. While all this is happening, a developer is trying to steal the land of Dark Isle from Lovey to build a resort so she hires a lawyer to help her keep her island.

Overall, this book was really fantastic and I am so happy I was able to get an ARC. Thank you net galley and Doubleday Books. Also, a big thank you to John Grisham for writing such an incredible, touching story.

We’re back on Camino Island with Bruce, Mercer and the other great characters in the group. Camino Island is marvelous storytelling, combining past and present problems, written in the mesmerizing way of Grisham’s style allowing us to feel we’re there in the middle of the action.
Mercer needs a new book idea so Bruce gives her a pamphlet written by Lovely Jackson, the last surviving member of Dark Isle which consisted of runaway slaves and their future generations. Lovely recounts the original history of the now uninhabitable Island as she claims ownership but she’s challenged by a huge corporation with a vast team of lawyers who are set on developing the Island into yet another report and golf course. An exciting book that is impossible to put down. This is my favorite in the series and one of my all time favorite Grisham novels. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher.

Camino Ghost is the third book in this series, and easily the best. When developers try to stake claim to an uninhabited island off the coast of Florida, book store owner Bruce Cable contacts the last known resident, an elderly descendant of slaves and author of a book about her experiences on the island in an effort to thwart the development. What follows is a fascinating tale of slave trading, island curses, and the fight to preserve the island. Featuring author John Grisham’s trademark courtroom battles, absolutely fascinating characters and a story that flows so easily, the plot totally engages the reader from start to finish. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Camino Ghosts is the third installment in the Camino Island series, but I have not read the two previous books and picked this one up and read it without any back knowledge of the other two books. I was not lost at any time in this book so I feel that it can be a stand alone. I did fall in love with the characters of Camino Island though and was anxious to read about them.

Bruce Cable is the local bookstore owner on the island and enjoys getting to know and support the local authors. When he contacts Mercer Mann, a local author that only stays on the island when she is not doing her teaching job. Mercer is looking for her next big hit after having one previously She just hasn't found what that is going to be yet. When Bruce has an idea of his own, he calls Mercer and asks her if he can meet with her before she heads off the island. Mercer agrees and is glad she did so.

Bruce thinks that Mercer is just the person to re-write a decade old mystery that has left many asking what needs to be done with a deserted island. Lovely Jackson is an older woman that claims she is the sole heir to the Dark Isle, a deserted island that developers are itching to get their hands on. Lovely says that her ancestors are buried on the island though and that she is the only one left. Lovely wrote a book and self published it some years earlier and Bruce has sold it in his store for her but has only sold a handful of her books. Bruce gives one to Mercer to read on her flight to her honeymoon so that she can see if it is something that she might be interested in taking on. Mercer is so captivated by the book that she doesn't want to put it down. There is a lot of history in the book that Lovely wrote.

Lovely's book tells about how her ancestors were slaves and were put on boats by the hundreds. She tells about their living conditions and how they were treated. Lovely recounts what she has been told by her ancestors and add some new information to the story as well. When Mercer sits down to talk with Lovely about what she wrote in her book, she is captivated by her stories. Mercer does her best to recount what Lovely tells her into a book that she hopes will be a best seller. There ends up being a court case during the time that Mercer is writing the book too that will decide if Lovely has any rights to the land since there is no paperwork to show that she is the last of her people left and the Dark Isle belongs to her.

I thought this was a very interesting take on what the slaves had to go through. I am sure much research had to go into this book to make it what it was. It was interesting to me as well that an author wrote about another author writing a book. Who better to know what all goes into a best seller anyway! I am sure you will fall in love with the characters of this book as I did and enjoy this read as well.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and all opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book and allowing me to read it.

This was a real page turner, I couldn’t put it down and loved every second of it. I can’t stop thinking about the ending. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

There’s something you should probably know before you read this review. Camino Ghosts is comprised of many small elements that individually mean a lot to me. There are characters I feel I know. There are mentions of Ole Miss, a place I have far too many memories of. Most significantly, I’ve been to Bay Books, the bookstore at the heart of Grisham’s fictional Camino Island.

It’s not named Bay Books in real life like it is on Camino Island, though. In Oxford, Mississippi sits a bookstore called Square Books. I first encountered Square Books as a child, escaping into the stacks. I spent more than a few high school days cross-legged on their oriental rugs digging for my latest pretentious read. Post-grad, I visited the store on anxious breaks, lingering on the staircase lined with signed Grisham first editions. Finding Square Books in Camino Ghosts was such a treat. It made me fall in love with Camino Island and Bay Books at record speed.

Camino Ghosts is the third installment in the Camino Island series, but it easily reads as a standalone. Mercer Mann is a local author in Camino Island, and she’s desperate for a new book idea. Her good friend and local bookstore owner Bruce Cable has an idea for Mercer that might just blow the top off a decades-old mystery. A woman in town, Lovely Jackson, claims to be the sole heir to the mysterious Dark Isle. Lovely is the last of the line of a group of enslaved people who were brought from Africa to America by boat and shipwrecked on Dark Isle. When a property developer wants to develop the island with a casino and a stream of condos, Bruce and Mercer know someone needs to step in.

Mercer and Bruce are both such great characters. Mercer effortlessly pairs crime-solving and writing. She’s like a modern-day Jessica Fletcher, if Jessica was sun-tanned and a bit of a Southern socialite. Bruce feels like every wind-swept, highly educated Southern gentleman I’ve met, and I mean that in the best way. Bruce, Mercer, and the other recurring characters on Camino Island are all delightful. However, Camino Ghosts shines when Lovely Jackson and Dark Isle are on the page.

Grisham does a remarkable job building tension on Dark Isle, leaving readers unsure if outside forces or supernatural causes are causing the deaths on Dark Isle. It’s unsettling at times, but never to the point of horror. Camino Ghosts also has a novel within a novel, as Lovely writes the story of her Nalla, her great-grandmother who crashed on Dark Isle. Lovely’s book is intense, but its balance of terror, trauma, and survival is incredibly impactful. I also love that Lovely is the one to share the story of her people with the reader.

Final Thoughts:

Camino Ghosts is heart-wrenching and powerful. With a remarkable story and a mystery that borders on the speculative, Camino Ghosts is one of Grisham’s finest works yet. I know Dark Isles, Nalla, and Lovely will stay with me for quite some time.

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Thanks to Doubleday for providing me with an advanced review copy! All the above thoughts are my own.

A return to Camino Island and bookseller Bruce and author/professor Mercer. In this case, they're not really the center of the story, but ones who facilitate someone else's story coming about. Bruce introduces Mercer to Lovely, an 80-year old black woman,s the last descendant of nearby Dark Isle, an island sanctuary for escaped African slaves going back two and a half centuries, and the author of a book detailing the history of the island as was handed down to her during her time living there. At this juncture a rich major Florida developer has its sights on the island, abandoned as they believe decades ago. Though Lovely swears she's its last descendant and rightful heir to the property, it will take a lot of finesse from an environmental lawyer and other residents of Camino Island to save Dark Isle.
Much like the last Camino Island book, this wasn't really a legal thriller. It was more of a historical fiction/adventure tale that featured Grisham's patented courtroom writing. Featuring the history of what the Africans went through in establishing their hidden colony in Lovely's memoir is the more historical and adventure aspects of the book, while the modern day attempts to stop the developers are lighter legal fare than Grisham's more robust legal thrillers. It was enjoyable, especially if you liked the previous Camino books.