It is interesting that the first book I read this year that I am listing for my Cannonball Read run is book in a genre I don’t normally read. I am a big sci-fi and fantasy geek, with a lot of paranormal romance thrown in. A legal drama is a far cry from my usual fare. However, this book was recommended by someone and I decided to give it a shot.
The plot was gripping almost from the start with one of the most unusual beginnings I have seen. It amazed me how a character that is only in the book for a few pages can dominate the entire book even after his death. The pacing felt brisk enough, and I only found myself getting impatient a few times. Mr. Grisham was a little wordy with his description of the Brazilian rainforest, and a few passages felt repetitive. That might have been intentional as it helped set the impression of the slower, less hectic pace in that part of the world versus the frenzy of the bits of the story that took place in the US.
One of the things that stick out in my mind for this book is the characters. I am amazed that the entire book is filled with characters I dislike. I can’t think of one character I truly felt a connection with. A large part might be due to the heavy religious themes some of the characters go through that don’t resonate with me. However, even with disliking most characters, I had to know what happened. I had to keep reading to find out the ending. This is, in my mind, a major accomplishment of the author, to have me invest time when I don’t invest my emotions.
Overall I really liked this book and was pleasantly surprised, though the ending left me feeling gutted.