Camino Winds
Overview: Welcome back to Camino Island in this book Camino Winds, where anything can happen—even a murder in the midst of a hurricane, which might prove to be the perfect crime . . .
Just as Bruce Cable’s Bay Books is preparing for the return of bestselling author Mercer Mann, Hurricane Leo veers from its predicted course and heads straight for the island. Florida’s governor orders a mandatory evacuation, and most residents board up their houses and flee to the mainland, but Bruce decides to stay and ride out the storm.
The hurricane is devastating: homes and condos are leveled, hotels and storefronts ruined, streets flooded, and a dozen people lose their lives. One of the apparent victims is Nelson Kerr, a friend of Bruce’s and an author of thrillers. But the nature of Nelson’s injuries suggests that the storm wasn’t the cause of his death: He has suffered several suspicious blows to the head.
Who would want Nelson dead? The local police are overwhelmed in the aftermath of the storm and ill equipped to handle the case. Bruce begins to wonder if the shady characters in Nelson’s novels might be more real than fictional. And somewhere on Nelson’s computer is the manuscript of his new novel. Could the key to the case be right there—in black and white? As Bruce starts to investigate, what he discovers between the lines is more shocking than any of Nelson’s plot twists—and far more dangerous.
Pages: 304 Pages
Writer: John Grisham
Recommendations: #1 Lawyer, The By James Patterson & Nancy Allen – Edge, The By David Baldacci
Book Review: Camino Winds by John Grisham — A Storm, a Murder, and an Island of Secrets
If you enjoyed Camino Island, John Grisham’s first visit to the sleepy literary haven off the Florida coast, Camino Winds delivers another engaging dose of mystery, humor, and island intrigue. This time, Grisham ups the stakes with a deadly storm, a suspicious death, and a reluctant hero who gets pulled into something much darker than expected.
The story picks up after the events of Camino Island, as a powerful hurricane barrels toward the island — a storm unlike anything the locals have ever seen. In its devastating wake, the community is left reeling: homes destroyed, lives lost, and one death that doesn’t seem accidental. When local authorities find themselves overwhelmed by disaster recovery, and state police can’t provide help, bookstore owner Bruce Cable is once again drawn into a dangerous mystery he never asked for.
With the help of an old acquaintance, Bruce begins to unravel a case that blends literary circles, criminal motives, and the chaos left behind by the storm. What begins as curiosity turns into a full-blown investigation, revealing that even paradise can have a dark side.
My Thoughts on this book
Overall, Camino Winds is an enjoyable follow-up that captures the charm and tone of its predecessor. It balances Grisham’s signature legal-mystery style with moments of wit, small-town drama, and a surprisingly dark undercurrent.
There were a few times when the story seemed to drift, but Grisham quickly steers it back to the main mystery. While it doesn’t pack many shocking twists, the familiarity of the plot can actually be comforting — a steady, satisfying read for fans of Grisham’s coastal tales.
If you’re a fan of Camino Island or enjoy mysteries that mix crime, community, and a touch of literary flair, Camino Winds is a solid addition to your reading list. I’m looking forward to returning to Camino Island for whatever storm — or story — Grisham brews up next.