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Camino Island: A Novel Hardcover – June 6, 2017

4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 88,278 ratings

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#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Soak up the sun—and the intrigue—with the first novel in John Grisham’s beloved Camino series.

“A happy lark [that] provides the pleasure of a leisurely jaunt periodically jolted into high gear, just for the fun and speed of it.”—The New York Times Book Review

A gang of thieves stage a daring heist from a secure vault deep below Princeton University’s Firestone Library. Their loot is priceless, but Princeton has insured it for twenty-five million dollars.
 
Bruce Cable owns a popular bookstore in the sleepy resort town of Santa Rosa on Camino Island in Florida. He makes his real money, though, as a prominent dealer in rare books. Very few people know that he occasionally dabbles in the black market of stolen books and manuscripts.

Mercer Mann is a young novelist with a severe case of writer’s block who has recently been laid off from her teaching position. She is approached by an elegant, mysterious woman working for an even more mysterious company. A generous offer of money convinces Mercer to go undercover and infiltrate Bruce Cable’s circle of literary friends, ideally getting close enough to him to learn his secrets.

But eventually Mercer learns far too much, and there’s trouble in paradise as only John Grisham can deliver it.

Look for all of John Grisham’s rollicking Camino novels:
Camino Island
Camino Winds
Camino Ghosts
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“A delightfully lighthearted caper . . . [a] fast-moving, entertaining tale.”Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
“A happy lark [that] provides the pleasure of a leisurely jaunt periodically jolted into high gear, just for the fun and speed of it.”
The New York Times Book Review
 
“Sheer catnip . . . [Grisham] reveals an amiable, sardonic edge here that makes
Camino Island a most agreeable summer destination.”USA Today
 
“Fans will thrill with the classic chase and satisfying ending; and book lovers will wallow in ecstasy.”
The Florida Times-Union

“Grisham weaves an engaging story, with enough plot twists and hints of danger and past secrets to keep the reader involved. And for aspiring writers, he includes tidbits about publishing and book selling that provide the kind of insider’s feel that only an established author might know.”St. Louis Post-Dispatch

“Grisham twists the expected into a set of cascading surprises that fooled and entertained this reader just as he does in his legal thrillers.”
Winston-Salem Journal

About the Author

John Grisham is the author of numerous #1 bestsellers, including The Firm, A Time to Kill, The Rainmaker, The Innocent Man, The Whistler, The Boys from Biloxi, and many more. His books have been translated into nearly fifty languages. Grisham is a two-time winner of the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction and was honored with the Library of Congress Creative Achievement Award for Fiction. Grisham serves on the board of directors of the Innocence Project and Centurion Ministries, two national organizations dedicated to exonerating those who have been wrongfully convicted. Much of his fiction explores deep-seated problems in our criminal justice system. He lives on a farm in central Virginia.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Doubleday; First Edition, First Printing (June 6, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0385543026
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0385543026
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 860L
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.3 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.4 x 1.21 x 9.52 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 88,278 ratings

About the author

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John Grisham
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John Grisham is the author of forty-seven consecutive #1 bestsellers, which have been translated into nearly fifty languages. His recent books include The Boys From Biloxi, The Judge's List, Sooley, and his third Jake Brigance novel, A Time for Mercy, which is being developed by HBO as a limited series.

Grisham is a two-time winner of the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction and was honored with the Library of Congress Creative Achievement Award for Fiction.

When he's not writing, Grisham serves on the board of directors of the Innocence Project and of Centurion Ministries, two national organizations dedicated to exonerating those who have been wrongfully convicted. Much of his fiction explores deep-seated problems in our criminal justice system.

John lives on a farm in central Virginia.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
88,278 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book easy to read and enjoyable. They find the characters believable and interesting. The writing style is fluid and readable. Many describe the beginning as promising and exciting. However, opinions differ on the story quality, with some finding it good and unexpected, while others feel the ending was rather boring. There are mixed reviews on the pacing, with some finding it quick and suspenseful, while others felt it was slow and lacking excitement.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

3,175 customers mention "Readability"2,592 positive583 negative

Customers find the book an enjoyable and easy read. They describe it as an interesting novel with a good reader. The story is described as nuanced and worth revisiting.

"...It didn't disappoint and was very good. I enjoyed the characters and the setting with lots of surprise twists...." Read more

"...Boring.But in the end, this is an entertaining, well-written book that taught me something about the book world and I'm glad I read it." Read more

"...few pages to go, but I don't need to read it all to say this is a wonderful book. Grisham does something a little different here...." Read more

"quick read, Enjoyed very much. Now I'm reading a continuation of the book" Read more

814 customers mention "Character development"620 positive194 negative

Customers enjoy the believable and interesting characters. They find the plots engaging without being overly descriptive. The supporting cast is also described as interesting and fun.

"...It didn't disappoint and was very good. I enjoyed the characters and the setting with lots of surprise twists...." Read more

"...I could not like her for a single second. Happily, the other characters are fresh, funny and amazing, and worth reading the book for...." Read more

"...He has learned how to set a scene and develop interesting characters among other talents...." Read more

"Very good read although, at times, it was a bit of confusion with a lot of characters...." Read more

758 customers mention "Writing quality"671 positive87 negative

Customers enjoy the writing quality of the book. They find it engaging, well-written, and easy to read. Readers appreciate the writers featured in the book, especially those who write romance novels. The writing style is fluid and readable. Overall, customers describe the book as an enjoyable, light read from a popular author.

"...Also, he gave some writing tips through the story also...." Read more

"...I loved the writers in the books, especially the lesbians who write romance novels. Perfect...." Read more

"This story was another great story written by Grisham. It is a nice cozy mystery with very little violence and a great plot." Read more

"...Thoroughly entertaining and well written if not action packed. An entertaining novel and will be reading the next in the series...." Read more

97 customers mention "Start quality"73 positive24 negative

Customers find the book has an engaging start with a nicely-plotted heist. They appreciate the good premise and first section that creates interest. The basic idea for the book is good, but it drags a bit. However, some readers find the book gets better as it progresses.

"Enjoyable easy read with a few good twistGood start to this 3 book series ready to read the next" Read more

"...down for something else, and finally picked it up, and it started getting really good...." Read more

"Oh John Grisham... So, this book started off very promising and then it petered out to a pretty spectacularly bad ending...." Read more

"...The characters were good but perhaps not as fully developed as his characters usually are...." Read more

2,460 customers mention "Story quality"1,660 positive800 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the story quality. Some find it interesting with unexpected twists and turns, while others feel it's a slow start with far-fetched events. Overall, the prose is readable and the story has suspense.

"...I enjoyed the characters and the setting with lots of surprise twists. Also, he gave some writing tips through the story also...." Read more

"...of the book, starting with Grisham's always readable prose, interesting plots, and just plain good story-telling skills...." Read more

"...I did find the epilogue ending quite unsatisfactory--it seemed like something an author might attach if he were running short on deadline and..." Read more

"...To me, this was a good story, not a great John Grisham page-turner novel like many of his legal thrillers, but it is a superb crime fiction...." Read more

619 customers mention "Pacing"337 positive282 negative

Customers have different views on the pacing. Some find it quick with short staccato sentences and plenty of suspense and action. Others feel it goes too fast, is rushed, or moves slowly without literary purpose.

"quick read, Enjoyed very much. Now I'm reading a continuation of the book" Read more

"...Something elseThe end is pointless, too rushed...." Read more

"...His ability to provide terse legal thrillers that had a great pace but also featured relatable characters proved to be an irresistible combination...." Read more

"...It fell short of five stars because it did tend to drag in spots and because the "heroine" of the story was more than a little annoying,..." Read more

353 customers mention "Interest"118 positive235 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book. Some find it fun and engaging, finishing it in one day. Others describe it as uninteresting and lacking excitement. The plot seems repetitive and slow-paced for some readers.

"...This is a great missed opportunity, once he writes a book that is lawyerless and he has the talent to write interesting thrillers, he spoils..." Read more

"...This is one of Grisham’s best books, keeping you flat-footed through the end." Read more

"...in spots and because the "heroine" of the story was more than a little annoying, unbelievably so...." Read more

"...It's just not a mind blower, but is nonetheless a worthy summer read." Read more

112 customers mention "Ease of follow"65 positive47 negative

Customers have different views on the book's plot. Some find it simple to follow and enjoy, while others feel it's difficult to follow with its back-and-forth nature. The story is considered a fun and easy read by some readers. However, others felt the criminal entanglements were not easily believable, making it hard to root for the characters.

"This book has some twists that keep you guessing but an easy to follow plot...." Read more

"This is a hard book to classify. There are not enough thrills for a thriller. There is a crime, but the book is not really a crime novel...." Read more

"Starts right out and easy to follow fun story. Will read more Camino books from John Grisham great summer book" Read more

"...It is way to difficult to put down! I will not give away the storyline as some reviewers do...." Read more

"...everything I want from a summer read."
4 out of 5 stars
"...everything I want from a summer read."
John Grisham holds a special place on my bookshelf. I remember really getting into his books during high school, a time when I was finding my own way as a reader. His ability to provide terse legal thrillers that had a great pace but also featured relatable characters proved to be an irresistible combination. In more recent years, I've made a concerted effort to read a wider variety of genres and authors, but I still come back to Grisham's writing on occasion. His novel Camino Island, a book about a literary heist, has been on my TBR list forever. This week I had some extra time in between publisher-provided books, so I took advantage and finally cracked it open.The novel opens with a daring group of thieves about to make a meticulous heist from the vaults of the Princeton Library. Their target is the original, hand-written manuscripts of F. Scott Fitzgerald. The American literary icon's work is estimated to be worth millions, something the thieves are prepared to stop at nothing to steal. As luck would have it, their well-prepared heist goes off without a hitch. The group makes off with the manuscripts, leaving the university and authorities desperate to get them back.Enter our unlikely hero Mercer Mann. She was once the author of a novel that became a critical darling but never found true financial success. In the years following, Mercer struggled to write a follow-up, and any chance at building a career as a published author seems to have gone by the wayside. When we meet her, she has lost her job, has no prospects for the future, and is financially crippled by student loans. Mercer is shocked then when she is approached by a mysterious woman. She's even more rattled by the woman's request. The woman is part of a small unit within law enforcement, and she wants Mercer to go undercover to help them find the lost Fitzgerald manuscripts.The more recent output from John Grisham has been pretty hit or miss, but I was happy to discover that Camino Island is a hit. I mean let's be honest for a minute, a book about books is always a win! The setting in a small tropical town means that everyone knows everyone else, a fact that helps deepen the secrecy behind the mystery. There are whispers amongst the townspeople, but it is up to our main character to plant herself among them, build their trust, and uncover the truth behind all of the rumors. Grisham is at his best when he combines a compelling plot with great characters. Camino Island sees the author in peak form. This is everything I want from a summer read. There's a sequel to the book that was published a few years ago, so it is already going on my list of books to read next summer.
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Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2024
I read this because I got in on a discussion of the novel on social media and discovered it was set on Amelia Island, my old haunting ground. Also, I liked John Grisham books so I thought I would give it a try. It didn't disappoint and was very good. I enjoyed the characters and the setting with lots of surprise twists. Also, he gave some writing tips through the story also. Would recommend it for all who want an island getaway without all the expense... Looking forward to reading his next book in the series, Camino Winds.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2017
This might not be my favorite Grisham novel, but there's still plenty to like when it's Grisham writing the story. Set on an island in Florida, centered around a small bookstore with a national reputation, this is the story of Mercer, a thirty-something writer with writer's block who's just been let go from her college teaching job because of budget cuts. She's approached by a woman who works for the insurance company who is on the hook for 25 million dollars after five, handwritten manuscripts, by Fitzgerald, were stolen from Princeton and are suspected to be on the black market soon to disappear into the murky world of black market collectors. Mercer is hired to ingratiate herself into Bruce Cable, the owner of the bookstore on the island, because it's rumored that he has the manuscripts. Mercer spent summers on the island with her grandmother, so she has a logical 'in' and will not be suspected as a spy.

Okay, first the good parts of the book, starting with Grisham's always readable prose, interesting plots, and just plain good story-telling skills. I always finish any of his books I've started and have read everything he's written, so for me, Grisham has a good track-record. This story kept me entertained throughout, and the ending was wonderful.

Now for the not-so-good parts of the book, I won't say bad, because Grisham probably couldn't write a bad book if he tried, starting with the lead character Mercer. She's as boring as one of those perfect characters out of a pulp-fiction-romance-chic-lit novels. She's slim and fit, with no visible means of exercise which at 31 does NOT happen, she wrote one wonderful, critically acclaimed first novel and then quit her tour because no one came to the first two signings(so what? You were supported by a real publisher, something most writers only dream of, stop being a baby and get out there and do the work), she gets paid and sleeps with someone she's ready to send to jail(no moral compass, yet she talks about her vampid sister's obsession with material things),she whines about how her sister's college was paid for while Mercer only got one year out of her dad before he went broke, and then says she dutifully sees him once a year and whines again about how they have nothing in common and he only talks about himself. What? Mercer is the classic example of a narcissist. I could not like her for a single second. Happily, the other characters are fresh, funny and amazing, and worth reading the book for.

If you love books, which I'm assuming most people who read even this review are, this is a fun book. I loved the writers in the books, especially the lesbians who write romance novels. Perfect. And the bookstore owner should have been the main character. The thieves are boring and I almost quit the book after the first couple of chapters of those four. Boring.

But in the end, this is an entertaining, well-written book that taught me something about the book world and I'm glad I read it.
62 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2024
I still have a few pages to go, but I don't need to read it all to say this is a wonderful book. Grisham does something a little different here. There is no one protagonist that we either root for or wish for a quick and not-so-painless comeuppance. This is an ensemble piece. Some characters are quickly disposed of once their usefulness has ended. Others appear to be central to the plot, but aren't sympathetic enough that the reader feels emotionally invested in how the story ends for them.
Ultimately, "Camino Island" is commentary about the underworld of stealing, concealing and marketing valuable pieces of art, and the myriad efforts of identifying and tracking the culprits as well as recovering the properties.
Bravo. I look forward to reading the other Camino books.
Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2017
Introduction
Camino Island is a novel about the theft of five original, hand-written F. Scott Fitzgerald manuscripts from Princeton’s Firestone Library by five cunning yet nerdy guys, well except the one psychopath, which goes south rather quickly after the heist, when the FBI discovers a small drop of blood left by one of the thieves.
There are rumors that Bruce Cable, a Camino Island bookstore owner bought the manuscripts. Elaine, an investigator for a mysterious and covert company hired by an insurance company that holds a policy on the manuscripts for $25 million, hires Mercer Mann. Mercer is a down-on-her-luck writer, who has just lost her teaching job. Elaine wants her to get close to Bruce and his wife, Noelle Bonnet, an antique dealer, to possibly discover if they have the manuscripts.
Summary of Camino Island a Novel
Mercer is the “perfect” woman for the job as she is young and beautiful, newly unemployed and up to her eyeballs in student debt. Elaine offers to pay off for her, plus $100,000 for a six-month assignment, during which time she can finish the novel she has not even started writing yet and is three years overdue. She will get half up front and the other half at completion. Another component that makes her ideal for the situation is that she spent nearly every summer with her grandmother, Tessa on Camino Island. Though she has not been back since her grandmother’s passing, the beach cottage is still in the family and available for use.
Mercer fits right in with the crowd of Bruce’s friends on the island, mostly writers with storied pasts and stories about each other, as writers are notorious gossips. At least, they are in this story. Her plan to spend the six months writing her passed due novel does not necessarily go as planned. However, the discussion she has with Bruce about writing turns into a story that draws them closer together. One of Bruce’s past girlfriends was writing a story about a love triangle between F. Scott Fitzgerald, his wife Zelda, and Ernest Hemingway before his ex-girlfriend committed suicide and he begins giving Mercer the details.
While Noelle is in France buying antiques, they have a romantic fling. Despite Bruce and Noelle’s open marriage, Mercer feels a bit guilty about it, but not enough to stop.
Narration
The narrator is the storyteller, the bard, or Mr. Grisham, whichever you please.
Setting
The first setting of this novel is the Firestone Library at Princeton, then the cabin in the Poconos where the thieves hide out for a while, but the setting for most of the story is modern day Florida, Camino Island, in the small, sleepy tourist town of Santa Rosa.
Theme
To me, the overall theme of this novel is not to let greed rule your life. The thieves wind up dead, in jail, or on the run because of greed. Mercer sells her moral standing to discover if Bruce has the manuscripts, mainly because she has no job, no money, and a ton of student debt. Elaine’s company and the insurance company do not want to pay the $25 million they insured the books for, and Bruce gives up a cushy, comfortable, and prosperous life on a resort island and possibly risks everything for the excitement of dealing in stolen goods.
Genre
This is a crime fiction dealing with rare books and manuscripts.
Author
As all Grisham fans know, he is a notable trial defense and courtroom drama writer with very few exceptions. From his very first novel, A Time to Kill to The Rooster Bar, and some top-rated titles in between, such as The Frim, Sycamore Row (the sequel to A Time to Kill), and The Pelican Brief most are courtroom dramas. Many of these titles became major motion pictures. Even his Young Adult (YA) series of Theodore Boone books were courtroom drama based. And yes, he did stray from the genre with Playing for Pizza, Calico Joe, The Tumor, and a few others, but crime drama or legal thriller, at least to me, is his forte! After all, he was an attorney.
Well, this is not the usual John Grisham courtroom drama, but you could refer to it as a legal thriller because much of the storyline deals with criminal elements within the underground rare books and art trade.
My Opinion & Recommendation
My favorite character was Bruce Cable. I cannot imagine having a more perfect life than as the owner of a successful bookstore and coffee where you are the barrister. I mean come on, you can wear any outfit you want, even with a bowtie if you are into such things, and no one thinks you are weird because, hey you own a bookstore. You go to “work,” make some coffee, grab whatever book you choose from the shelf, and sit down and read until someone comes in. You have a huge collection of first edition books autographed by the authors, most of whom you know personally; and then, you meet and marry a beautiful and beguiling antique dealer, who fills your home with Provençal furnishing. I could not imagine wanting much more, but then there are the nefarious deals with rare books to keep things exciting.
To me, this was a good story, not a great John Grisham page-turner novel like many of his legal thrillers, but it is a superb crime fiction. If you are looking for a compelling story that forces you to turn the page in anticipation, this is not it. Although, I do believe it is a must-read for all Grisham fans, and it did not become a New York Times Bestseller and reach number one just because it was Grisham who wrote it; still and all, I'm sure that helped. Plus, his going on tour for the first time in twenty-five years to publicize the book probably helped as well.
I think non-Grisham fans would probably like this book much more than his regulars because it is such a departure from courtroom dramas and legal thrillers. Someone that is not expecting a cutting-edge courtroom battle would perhaps be more in tuned to the book. Nevertheless, I do think anyone would enjoy the story, but not if you are waiting for a page-turner. Camino Island: A Novel
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Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2024
quick read, Enjoyed very much. Now I'm reading a continuation of the book

Top reviews from other countries

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Dennis Ceci
5.0 out of 5 stars Great story line
Reviewed in Canada on November 20, 2024
Enjoyed whole series
susan williams
5.0 out of 5 stars great book
Reviewed in Spain on April 28, 2024
Good plot and keeps you from putting it down.
Gill Mather Author
5.0 out of 5 stars Massively enjoyable; highly readable
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 25, 2024
John Grisham has been a favourite author on and off over the years. I bought Camino Island in a Bookbub promotion and it was terrific. I simply couldn’t put it down. It’s a very clever book, especially given the author’s note at the end to the effect that he knows little about the bookshop trade or the market in rare books.

It starts with a successful theft six months ago of the five original hand-written manuscripts of F. Scott Fitzgerald from Princeton University by a gang of five. One of them gets away with the manuscripts and in a panic quickly offloads them for too little money and later tries to get them back.

Bruce Cable over about twenty years has honed a very successful well-known bookshop on Camino Island, a holiday resort in Florida. I’ve no idea whether Camino Island is real or fictional but the book makes it sound idyllic. Not really the marrying kind, he and a successful dealer in Provençal furniture and effects, Noelle, form a relationship and tell people they’re married though it isn't clear whether they are married or not. It’s an open relationship and Cable is a laid-back, likeable character and massively supportive of writers.

Mercer Mann is a woman of thirty-one who’s just been laid off as a lecturer by the University of North Carolina. She published a successful novel some years ago and also a book of short stories but hasn’t been able to write anything much since. Though she comes from a monied family, she has no money herself and in fact is in debt, which worries her a lot. She has an older sister but they’re not close. Her parents are unsatisfactory, the mother absent and the father a spendthrift womaniser who’s got through his fortune.

Her happiest times as a child were summers spent with her maternal grandmother, Tessa, at Tessa’s beach cottage on Camino Island, beachcombing and turtle-watching. She knows of Cable’s bookshop, Bay Books, having gone there a few times with Tessa and nearly visited on a book tour to promote her own book, but cancelled the tour before getting to Bay Books.

Tessa died in a boating accident about ten years ago and Mercer hasn’t visited the cottage since though she owns half of one-third of the cottage. Other family members vacation at the cottage.

Mercer is approached by a woman who at first gives a false name and offers her a teaching job. The woman soon admits to being Elaine Shelby and the job is something different. Elaine works for a company specialising in security and investigations. They’ve been working with the FBI to find the Fitzgerald manuscripts. Elaine offers Mercer $100,000 to work for them for six months. Elaine appears to know all about Mercer and her company seems to have vast resources, including technical and surveillance, at its disposal. The plan is for Mercer to spend the time at the cottage claiming to be writing her second novel and to inveigle herself into Cable’s inner circle of friends with a view to finding out as much as possible. Mercer is told that Cable’s main source of income is as a dealer in first editions and rare books and is suspected of having the Fitzgerald manuscripts. As an added incentive, Elaine says they’ll pay off Mercer’s student debt which clinches it for her.

So that’s the background. Mercer does successfully worm her way into Cable’s set and enjoys the dinners and social side while still writing very little. She likes Cable a lot, also his friends and Noelle and becomes somewhat compromised.

The characters are so well drawn, they leap off the page. Mercer is a little flat, but that’s understandable since the main story is told from her POV.
Loredana Vocale
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfetto ottimo imballaggio
Reviewed in Italy on October 5, 2022
Perfetto ottimo imballaggio
lilian Ferreira
5.0 out of 5 stars O interesse da narrativa
Reviewed in Brazil on July 12, 2020
Gostei demais do livro. E um Grisham diferente , mas sempre bem escrito.