I do enjoy a good courtroom scene: the tension, the legal jousting, the drama of the impending outcome. And Grisham does this kind of thing as well as anyone I’ve come across. But here, though there is a court case, most of the action takes place outside of the courtroom. Simon Latch is a lawyer in a small Virginian town. He’s reached his forties but considers himself a bit of a failure: his marriage is on the rocks, he has no money in the bank and his caseload largely comprises of the drafting of wills and a few small bankruptcy cases. He’s not going to get rich any time soon. But one day, a lady in her eighties walks into his office, and he suddenly senses the opportunity to take on a case that will earn him more than he ever thought he could dream of. As Eleanor Barnett tells her story, it becomes apparent that she’s a thrifty widow with a stack of company shares and is in need of a new will. Managing her estate following her death would be rich pickings indeed, via the huge fees he’d charge for his services. It’s hard to say whether I liked Simon or not. He’s had some bad luck, but most of it seems to be of his own making. Also, at his core, he comes across as a self-serving guy who’s only tenuously interested in the welfare of others. That said, he does have some redeeming qualities: he loves his kids and, in truth, he’s fundamentally honest. There are a number of strands here as the story plays out, and I genuinely found it hard to predict how it would all finally unfold. I found it entertaining, sometimes amusing, and overall pretty satisfying. The courtroom action was great – I just wish there was a little more of it.

Simon Latch thought he had hit the jackpot when he was asked to draft the will of 85 year old Eleanor Barnett. She was a rich widow with no claims on her estate so Simon was expecting a big payout that would wipe out his debts. Things do not go according to plan and Simon finds himself facing prison for murder. The only way forward is to turn detective and track down the real killer. Once again Grisham shows that he can tell a good story. I skipped over the detailed descriptions of gambling which detracted from the main story and the ending seemed rushed. Overall, this was an engaging and enjoyable read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Simon is a small-town lawyer whose greed leads him to get involved in a murder case with possibly awful consequences. The story takes a while to take off and it's very much a tale about the American justice system with some interesting characters (and their foibles)and a tad more description than necessary. It's the first Grisham novel that I've read in many many years and, although enjoyable enough, I find that I haven't missed his work. Fans will certainly find it entertaining and engaging. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.