I realized I had never read a John Grisham novel, and I like law (I watch Legal Eagle and listen to podcasts about it.) So I thought I ought to remedy that, since the guy basically invented legal thrillers. (Is there such a thing as lawyerpunk? Justicepunk?)

The style reminds me of Memory Man. Straightforward, good with tension, tight with time. All the events take place in only three or five days. (The justice system can work fast when it wants to in the Grishamverse). The story doesn’t seem like a thriller or suspense novel, but it is. It’s just about a kid who learns where a murdered body is buried. The thrill comes from the police, the federal justice system, and the press, and the mob leaning on a kid who is smart enough to seek out a lawyer.

What I love most about it is the characters. Everyone is distinct and charismatic. Some of them muddle together but you always know who’s on who’s team. No one is really a bad guy–they all think they are the main character in their story and following the right thing. The writing style itself is so simple that I’m surprised Grisham became as popular as he did, with sentences like “The hangar floor was crystallized concrete.” Lots of the imagery is described by simple sentences, non-purple prose. These days you have to be “Where the Crawdads Sing” to get popular.