The Boys from Biloxi

by John Grisham

For most of the last hundred years, Biloxi was known for its beaches, resorts, and seafood industry. But it had a darker side. It was also notorious for corruption and vice, everything from gambling, prostitution, bootleg liquor, and drugs to contract killings. The vice was controlled by a small cabal of mobsters, many of them rumored to be members of the Dixie Mafia.

Keith Rudy and Hugh Malco grew up in Biloxi in the sixties and were childhood friends, as well as Little League all-stars. But as teenagers, their lives took them in different directions. Keith’s father became a legendary prosecutor, determined to “clean up the Coast.” Hugh’s father became the “Boss” of Biloxi’s criminal underground. Keith went to law school and followed in his father’s footsteps. Hugh preferred the nightlife and worked in his father’s clubs. The two families were headed for a showdown, one that would happen in a courtroom.

Life itself hangs in the balance in The Boys from Biloxi, a sweeping saga rich with history and with a large cast of unforgettable characters.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Historical Fiction, Crime, Audiobook, Legal Thriller

464 pages, Hardcover

First published October 18, 2022

About the author

John Grisham is the author of more than fifty consecutive #1 bestsellers, which have been translated into nearly fifty languages. His recent books include Framed, Camino Ghosts and The Exchange: After the Firm.

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.

Reviews

[Holly B ( slowly catching up) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow burn.........

I devoured Grisham's 2021 novel, The Judge's List, unfortunately, this one dragged too long (464 pages) and I eventually lost interest.

Its about two rival families in Biloxi and the corruption that invade their coast. It is a good set-up with palpable tension between the families.

Strip clubs, gambling, shady deals, greed, and a jumping timeline. I struggled with the large cast and couldn't get interested in any particular character. Which makes me as a reader "not care" and that made this one a miss for me.

Check out the other reviews because many were fans!

Thanks to Netgalley for the arc. OUT October 18, 2022

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐

This was looong y'all. I love the introduction about Croatian immigrant families when they first settled in Biloxi, Mississippi. Generation after generation there are loads of characters. But it was well-written and grabbed my attention. Although it was long, it turned out to be entertaining and I find the history the most fascinating part of the book.

"The Boys" are childhood friends. They're third-generation (I think) Croatian Americans. Once friends now rivals, the boys follow their father's footsteps, one becomes a lawyer, and another a crime boss.

Michael Beck narrates and he did a superb job. He reads many of Grisham's novels.🎧💗

[Sujoya - theoverbookedbibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Grisham’s The Boys from Biloxi is the story of two families- the Malcos and the Rudys –both descended from Croatian immigrants who settled in Mississippi in the fishing community of Biloxi. Keith Rudy and Hugh Malco grew up together in the same community as friends and star performers in Little league baseball but gradually drifted apart as they reached the end of their school years – each of them following in their respective father’s footsteps. Hugh joins his father Lance in their family business profiting from the vice in Biloxi- illegal gambling, prostitution, the drug trade, and owner of several nightclubs along “the strip”. Keith, on the other hand, pursues a legal career inspired by his father Jesse Rudy, an upstanding citizen and honest lawyer who makes it his life’s mission to take down all illegal establishments and the mob bosses who control them. The battle between Jesse and Lance continues with Keith and Hugh - a story of good vs evil, with its share of shady characters who commit crimes and the upstanding lawyers who want to see justice served.

Grisham weaves an intricately plotted novel with its share of mob bosses, corruption, turf wars, courtroom drama and the pursuit of justice. The larger part of the story is set in the 1960s and 70s. This is a lengthy novel (450+ pages) and the pace is on the slower side gaining momentum only after the 25% mark. There is a lot that happens and several people are introduced in the course of the story. However, it should be noted that there are no major “twists” in the story. We know who the good guys are and who the bad guys are. We get to know what happens, how it happens, and who does what as it happens. But yes the sequence of events- the pursuit, arrests and subsequent legal battles make for an interesting read. Part of the narrative reads like non-fiction (which wasn't a problem for me) – more telling than actually taking the reader through the events. The courtroom scenes and legal aspects are well-written and informative – Grisham does not disappoint!

With its fantastic writing, superbly developed setting, backstories and characterizations and multigenerational plotline, The Boys from Biloxi is an engaging read that I enjoyed.

Many thanks to Doubleday Books and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two boys play baseball on opposing teams in Biloxi. Both are all-stars. Then they grow up. One follows in the footsteps of his DA father. The other learns to be a mob boss, a gangster. The stage is set for an epic showdown. John Grisham takes his time spinning this tale. After decades of bestsellers, he has our attention. Honestly, for the first third of the book I wondered if I would come up with more than an "I liked it" rating. I should not have doubted Grisham and his storytelling chops. After all, it wasn't that long ago that I listened for 10.5 hours to his basketball story, Sooley. This may be one of my favorites from Grisham. The lines between good and evil are clearly drawn from the start with an ending that is made for the big screen.

Thank you to Doubleday and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Liz]

3.5 stars, rounded down
I have often praised nonfiction for being written so that it reads as easily as fiction. But this is the first time I can remember reading fiction that read like nonfiction. It took me a while to suss out why I felt that way. But it all came down to a straightforward writing style with absolutely no descriptions or character development. It was all a sort of “here’s how it went down”. It was telling not showing. Which isn’t to say the story wasn’t interesting. It kept up a strong pace and there was lots going on. But it was all very basic.
The story tracks two families. The Malco family, headed by Lance, runs a group of bars/strip clubs along the Biloxi coast. His son follows him into the family business. The Rudys are the opposite. The father, Jesse, is a lawyer who goes on to be the district attorney. His son Keith also becomes a lawyer and enters his father’s business.
I recommend this for when you want pure entertainment with no heavy thinking required. The audiobook worked well for this purpose and Michael Beck did a great job with all the voices.

[Donna · Rating 1 out of 5]

It pains me to give John Grisham a ONE star review. I've enjoyed his legal thrillers for decades. I didn't care for this one but I enjoyed the narrator of the audio. He had a knack for voices.

So what went wrong? I'm still trying to fully answer that question myself. The set up seemed way too long.....like a slow march to nowhere. When I started this one, it sounded like a nonfiction beginning. I had to stop and double check that. It wasn't nonfiction even though it sounded kind of wikipedia-ish.

Once the set up was over, the characters were able to catch a little more light. But the biggest problem with this is that there was an incredible amount of telling. It felt like explanation after explanation....not much unfolded organically. Definitely not my favorite. So one star.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

The end should have been better and there may be a few too many characters. 6 of 10 stars

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book begins with way too much back story that eventually becomes confusing as to who is who. It is top heavy with words. So many words, so little story and totally unnecessary as the story comes down to two individuals in the end.

All you need to know is that Keith Rudy and Hugh Malco grew up as friends in Biloxi, went to the same school and played baseball together. I’ve just saved you 100+ pages to find this out.

Keith Rudy’s father became a successful lawyer and Keith followed in his footsteps.

Hugh Malco’s father became a wannabe Mafia-like gangster Boss and Hugh followed in his footsteps.

Clearly this former friendship is going to hit a bump in the road and when it does it’s going to be BIG!

The third part of the book is where it really picks up and becomes the kind of book Grisham is known for.

In the end you may be made to question your views on capital punishment, but that is as it should be.

My 3-stars is entirely for the third part of the book because the beginning was a waste of my time.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is nothing like a John Grisham novel to get the blood pumping. One of the great writers of the legal thriller, Grisham sets out to dazzle and impress readers with his varied approaches to the law. This piece mixes wonderful legal maneuvering with some generational competition, while highlighting the city of Biloxi, Mississippi. A great story that develops throughout, Grisham takes readers on an adventure like no other.

Biloxi, Mississippi has long been known for its beauty and commercial value in the South. Its residents speak of the inviting nature they possess, while those in business have long mentioned the great industries that pepper the town, as well as deep roots that families have set down over the generations. For many, Biloxi is the ideal place to live and raise a family.

Keith Rudy and Hugh Malco were prime examples of the Biloxi community spirit. While growing up on the Little League fields, Rudy and Malco were inseparable, seen as two of the great baseball stars of the time. However, as they grew older and their interests diverged, it became clear that these boys from Biloxi would be able to show just how varied the city could be. It was then that things got even more interesting.

Hugh Malco came from a family who wanted to use the industrious nature of Biloxi to their advantage. Hugh’s father, Lance, worked in the city’s underbelly, providing strength to the more criminally minded individuals. Clubs, booze, and skin were all part of the Lance Malco business plan, making sure that those who owed a debt never forgot to pay up. Hugh admired his father in a roundabout way and sought not only his approval, but also a chance to have a piece of the pie. Biloxi’s criminal element could not work without Malco muscle, leaving many to steer clear unless they could settle their debts swiftly.

Keith Rudy took another path when he reached his teenaged years. Living in the shadow of a father who cobbled together what little he could and attended law school, Keith had high hopes for himself. Now, with the onslaught of a massive hurricane, many around Biloxi are devastated and no one is there to help. Taking on the big insurance companies, Jesse Rudy vows to clean up the Coast from lying and cheating companies who see Mississippi as just another backwater state whose residents deserve little. Making a name for himself in the legal community, Jesse Rudy becomes synonymous with keeping everyone in their lanes and putting the law first. This helps him win the post of DA and has some wondering if he will climb all the way to the Governor’s Mansion.

When a major clean-up of Biloxi is proposed, it’s Malco and Rudy who will face-off in the courtroom. It is sure to be a dangerous endeavour, but there has to be some risk in order to find significant success. Keith and Hugh can only watch as their fathers work their angles to ensure the decision that works in their favour. These boys from Biloxi have seen a great deal in their time, but this is sure to be something monumental and worth significant repercussions for years to come!A significant event turns the case that the clash on its head, forcing Keith to reconsider his future, for the love of family.

Every John Grisham novel brings with it a uniquely alluring exploration of the law and Southern charm. This book explores not only the Mississippi flavor of growing up, but also the litigious nature of trying to keep the state clean. Grisham’s narrative abilities are on feature here, with strong direction and great foundation. Characters emerge throughout, rich with their unique personalities and flavourful banter. While plot twists may not seem plentiful, there are great aspects that emerged and are sure to keep the reader on the edge of their seats, as Grisham knows just when to toss in a surprise. Great themes and true Southern flavouring are sure to transport the reader to Grisham’s backyard.

Kudos, Mr. Grisham, for another stunning thriller that left me wanting more from the people of Biloxi!

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[Kasa Cotugno · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes, I am a fan and eagerly await my Grisham fix every year, and am therefore saddened when I don't like one of his books as much as others. The pacing is off in this one, with a laborious introduction of character and many set pieces usually centered around sporting events that could have been trimmed to speed up the action. Knowing how much he loves sports, however, I can appreciate his using this opportunity to write about them, but his trademark good vs notsogood got plowed under. This coastline city of Biloxi, MS, with its vibrant immigrant population and center of vice is really the star of the show, and those sections were dealt with utilizing his usual themes of cleanup and overcome the greedy. I'll still read him when the next one comes around.

[Lorna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Boys from Biloxi was the latest book by John Grisham, a riveting page-turner from beginning to end as we are involved in the lives of two Croation immigrant families from eastern Europe as they settled in Biloxi, Mississippi. Most of them were from Croatia where their ancestors had fished in the Adriatic Sea for centuries. The men worked the schooners and trawlers in harvesting seafood in the Gulf while the women and children shucked oysters and packed shrimp. In 1925, Biloxi shipped twenty million tons of seafood to the rest of the country boasting their city was the "Seafood Capital of the World." The immigrants lived on Point Cadet, a peninsula on the eastern edge of Biloxi.

Prohibition was still the law throughout the deep South, but on the coast, those of European descent took a dimmer view of abstience. In fact, Biloxi was never dry in spite of the Eighteenth Amendment. Biloxi became a popular destination with its allure of the beaches, delicious seafood, and a temperate climate as tourism flourished. The Gulf Coast became known as "the poor man's Riviera." But unchecked vice began to run amok as gambling in makeshift casinos began to spring up, and followed by brothels and all of the sex trade. And then there was the military base, Keesler Army Airfield with thousands of soldiers stationed on their way to the European theater or the Pacific, and later to Vietnam. And in the late 1950s, a loose-knit gang of thugs known as the Dixie Mafia began to settle in Biloxi to take over a share of the vice.

This compelling book is intricately plotted by Grisham as we learn of the friendship of two boys, both third-generation grandsons of Croation immigrants and both born and raised on "The Point." Keith Rudy and Hugh Malco grew up in the late sixties on The Point, and childhood friends and Little League All-Stars at age twelve. Baseball was their world and because of the mild weather the boys were able to play much of the year. When they were both picked for the Biloxi All-Stars both having a magical season walking away with the state title. The boys began to drift apart as they approached their high school graduation with both very divergent interests. Keith Rudy was enthralled with law as he began helping out at his father's law office. And from the time he was sixteen years old, he knew that he wanted to be a lawyer like his father, Jesse Rudy. However, Hugh Malco was becoming more interested in his father's business interests on the strip. His father, Lance Malco, owning many nightclubs and bars was interested in having his son working for him and learning the "family business."

And that sets the stage for the next twenty years as the Dixie Mafia was becoming more entrenched and taking over more and more on the Biloxi coast. This was compounded by a corrupt sheriff's department turning the other way. Despite all odds, Jesse Rudy became committed to bringing the criminal element to task, running for the position of district attorney in spite of the difficulties. And this is Grisham at his best with many criminal justice cases being tried resulting in a lot of courtroom drama. But the underlying theme is the friendship once shared by the Rudy and Malco families going back generations. The Boys from Biloxi explodes across the pages in the hands of a master storyteller. I literally could not put the book down.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1960, Biloxi, Mississippi - which has a large seafood industry - is populated largely with immigrants from Croatia, where residents had fished the Adriatic Sea for centuries.


Biloxi, Mississippi


Biloxi Seafood Festival

Biloxi also has its share of more controversial businesses, and casinos and bars that promote drinking, gambling, and prostitution are prevalent and protected by police and politicians, who take their cut of the profits.


Casino in Biloxi

Regardless of what their parents do, most 12-year-old boys in Biloxi play youth baseball, and two all-stars, Keith Rudy and Hugh Malco, are third generation grandsons of Croatian immigrants. As baseball bigshots, Hugh and Keith are close friends, though their families are very different. Hugh's father, Lance Malco, is a gangster who owns bars, casinos and brothels; and Keith's father Jesse is an attorney on the right side of the law.


Youth Baseball

In the course of this multigenerational novel we follow the lives and careers of the Malco family, especially Lance and his son Hugh; and of the Rudy family, especially Jesse and his son Keith.

Lance Malco is a member of a criminal cohort nicknamed 'The Dixie Mafia', and Lance and his thugs have to deal with rivals in the vice industry who set up their own establishments in Biloxi.



This inevitably leads to violence, beatings, shootings, and the like. It's rare for anyone to be arrested, however, because Sheriff Fats Bowman is in the pocket of the felons. When young Hugh Malco grows up, he becomes a criminal like his dad.



Jesse Rudy is a low profile lawyer until Hurricane Camille demolishes the coast of Mississippi in 1969. The insurance companies twist themselves into knots to avoid paying out on policies, and Jesse's clients, devastated homeowners, have nowhere to turn.....until Jesse takes up their cause. Jesse spends years in court fighting the insurance companies, and the exposure makes Jesse a household name in Mississippi. This inevitably helps Jesse's career, which he dedicates to wiping out the vice industry in his backyard.



In time, young Keith Rudy also becomes an attorney, and joins his father's law practice.



As adults, childhood baseball stars Hugh Malco and Keith Rudy are on opposite sides of the law, and the ramifications are important to the story.

This is a very long book with large cast of characters and a lot going on. John Grisham's books tend to be up and down for me, but I'd deem this one a solid success. I even liked the beginning, where Grisham takes his time describing Prohibition and its ramifications; the history of Croatians in Biloxi; the background of the Malco and Rudy families, going back to the great-grandparents; and more.


Croatians

I also enjoyed the other elements of the novel, including the killings (you know what I mean), disposal of bodies, robberies, FBI sting operations, confidential informants, attorney maneuvering, courtroom scenes, marriages, birth of children, and the like.

Grisham, an attorney and politician, uses his knowledge to good effect in this novel. Highly recommended.

You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com

[☮Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Those of us who have read every John Grisham novel at the same time he so prolifically shot them out for publication are probably getting to be of that age now where books with too many characters and too complex a plot are no longer enjoyable. Instead, for me anyway, they're a major turn off. Unlike my brain, John Grisham's is showing no signs of slowing down. I think this was his most complex yet, with the first few chapters introducing three generations of multiple immigrant families, and I wanted desperately to just get it over with.

I'm actually sticking with this only because it's Grisham and I know his stories always get better toward the end. I'm hoping to finish it, so I'll update this review at that time, for better or worse. Right now, though, it's a struggle and feeling not worth my time.

FINISHED - UPDATE:
So I get why Grisham wrote this as it contained ALL of his typical subject matters:. Families from Mississippi, criminals from Mississippi, lawyers from Mississippi, politics, the failing prison system, the wrongs of executions --everything is here but the kitchen sink and that's probably mentioned somewhere too but I missed it. All made for a very overdone effort and much too long of a book. My 2 stars stand.

[Lydia Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Grisham you are such a great author. This book is a fun and fast read. Lots of characters spread over a long timeframe made the story quite involved but it all fits together well. Both boys follow in their fathers’ footsteps, one, Keith, becomes a lawyer while the other, Hugh, takes on jobs in his father’s casinos, gambling, getting involved with the wrong people and soon becoming a robber and killer. I am not going to spoil for you so read it. Highly recommend.

[Barry who enjoys well-written thrillers, mysteries , & espionage & loathes romance, horror & supernat · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been a very long time since I read a book by John Grisham, probably more than three years. In any case, I'm very glad that I decided to read The Boys From Biloxi which chronicles the lives of two men from the time that their greatest joy in life was playing baseball together in the 1950s (And they were both very good!) through their chosen careers. One, Jesse Rudy, became a lawyer although doing so was a real struggle as he had to drive for hours each way to Loyola Night Law School in Louisiana. The other, Hugh Malco, chose the entrepreneur route and, before he reached the age of 30, he owned several nightclubs all of which featured illegal gambling and prostitution in the rooms upstairs.

Ultimately, Hugh became the informal head of what was then called the Dixie mafia. He made a fortune through his clubs and their illegal income while Jesse decided to run for District attorney with a pledge to clean up the rampant crime on the Gulf Coast. Inevitably, the two clashed and the result was a war featuring Hugh plus all of the other club owners against Jesse who had the backing of most of the populace, the Governor and many others.

Grisham created a plot that started a little slow but once it got into high gear, it moved very nicely and which I found very engaging. His writing style is literate and conversational making it easy and enjoyable to track. One peculiarity was the lack of dialogue. For great swaths of the book, it seemed like Grisham was telling a story and including rather little conversation between the participants. The approach worked but it did strike me as a little odd from time to time. The characters were drawn with great detail and depth and, by their nature, were a little extreme.

I recommend this one-off book to anyone who enjoys a sorta good vs. pretty evil novel that spans many years.

Fini

[Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Grisham is a great storyteller. His latest novel is a terrific story --actually one of his best. Interesting and riveting right down to the last page. If it looks like it took me a long time to read it, that's completely personal. I had a lot of other things going on. Don't blame it on Grisham's book.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow, John Grisham, another incredible story. I must admit, that when I started it I wasn’t sure. It didn’t feel like the typical Grisham novel. But all the background and history that was laid out was absolutely necessary to complete the story. It helped to understand why these characters were doing what they were doing. It gave the reader a better chance to connect with the characters. It was a slow burn to begin with but once it gets to the legal side of things, it certainly kicked into gear.

This is billed as ‘Two families, One courtroom showdown’ it is so much more than that. It is an epic saga and one that deserves your time and patience. Keith Rudy and Hugh Malco grew up together in Biloxi. As kids, they played baseball together. As teenagers, their lives took very different paths. Keith follows in his father’s footsteps and goes to law school, where as Hugh also followed his fathers business into the dark and seedy nightclubs on the coast.

There is so much that I want to say about this. It is emotional and thought provoking. It was a different time and life was hard. These characters will find their way into your hearts. It is a story that will stay with me for a long time. More than a legal thriller, this bookhas so much going on and will continue to surprise you until the very end. It begs to be read.

Thank you so much to the team at Hachette Australia for my copy of this book to read. Easily 5 stars. The Boys from Biloxi is out now.

[Karen J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again John Grisham has written an incredible story. His extensive research and the ability to pull me into the depth of his story and follow the lives of his characters always captures my mind and my heart.

[NILTON TEIXEIRA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant!

This was a page turning and compelling read for me, sometimes repetitive in parts, but it’s development was skillfully done.
I just couldn’t stop reading.
It’s what I wanted from Grisham, after so many disappointments.
But this one, although around his favourite topic, the law, it is told in a different way.
It’s more like a documentary, with few dialogues.
There is no character development and because you are a “listener” you don’t really feel involved with the characters (or at least I didn’t), but the characters are unforgettable.
It’s all about telling a story, which spans decades, beginning before World War II and ending in Mississippi in the mid 1980s.
The story focuses on the criminal activities in the state of Mississippi.
The novel centers on two lifelong friends whose lives intersect on numerous occasions.
There are plenty of riveting courtroom scenes.
This one was very entertaining (for me).
I played the audiobook while reading the ebook. The narration is very slow and I didn’t like the narrator’s voice at normal speed, but I loved listening it at 1.50x (and sometimes at 1.75x).

The book has a total of 59 chapters.
Audiobook narrated by Michael Beck: 17 hours 22 minutes (at normal speed)
Ebook: 496 pages (135k words)
Hardcover (Doubleday): 464 pages

[Taury · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Boys from Biloxi by John Grisham was a book about big city mob crime in the 60s. It followed 2 families. 1 family went to the Left the other went to the Right. Mob vs Attorney. My mind drifted in and out of the book. When it was good I couldn’t put it down. When it drug I was ready to DNF. I am glad I finished it! Might be better in read form rather than audio.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

This was difficult to get through, not because it was bad.. the story is interesting enough. It's the writing style, this is very much a tell you instead of show you kind of novel so much so that it reads almost like nonfiction.

[Celia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read much John Grisham, but I promise you this one will NOT be my last. Characters (even the bad guys) were captivating. I could not put the book down.

The book is about vice on the Mississippi Coast in the 60's, 70's, 80's. It is a classic example of good versus evil. Two young boys are fast friends as twelve year olds. But their friendship fractures as they grow up and go their separate ways. Keith Rudy is the son of Jesse Rudy, who became DA of Harrison County. Hugh Malco is the son of Lance Malco who owned clubs on the coast that trafficked in prostitution and gambling. The fathers were bitter enemies and their conflicts are what this story is about.

Early on the book mentions the Dixie Mafia.

The author's note states the following:

"In the middle of the last century, there were a few gangs of outlaws who moved around the South causing trouble. They bought and sold anything that was illegal, and they had a nasty penchant for violence. It was never clear if their activities were related. Someone, probably in law enforcement, tagged them as the “Dixie Mafia,” and the legend was born.

A few of these characters did indeed settle along the Gulf Coast around 1950, no doubt attracted by the casual attitude toward vice. Biloxi’s colorful history of its seafood industry and the immigrants who built it are accurately described. Everything else is pure fiction."

I would not have attempted this book except for the convincing review written by my friend Deacon Tom. TY Tom for pointing me to this riveting read.

5 stars

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been one of my annual late Fall rituals. The leaves are falling, and where I live the snow is falling too. College football and winter holidays are in full gear. It’s time to build a fire in our fireplace, open the new John Grisham novel, “The Boys from Biloxi”, and escape into the legal world of fiction.

Over the last couple of years, it seems that Grisham’s been changing things up and trying new approaches rather than just relying on his normal underdog-do-gooder fighting the evil and powerful corporate villains. This time out, Grisham really changes things up again and goes back to his historical Mississippi setting, storytelling style. But there are other reasons this one is different.

“The Boys from Biloxi” reads more like a historical or documentary of the Mississippi coast, than a novel, at times. It covers the crime and corruption in Biloxi from the 1940’s through the 1980’s, which included gambling, strip clubs, prostitution, local law enforcement, drugs, and of course, the Dixie mafia. I’ve heard other readers comment on how much it feels like a Don Winslow novel.

“The Boys from Biloxi” is the story of two childhood friends, Keith Rudy and Hugh Malco, their fathers, and their families. Keith and Hugh are third generation grandsons of two Croatian immigrant families, settling in the Biloxi suburb of “The Point”. While Keith and Hugh growing up playing baseball and doing everything together, Keith’s father, Jesse, spends his evenings going to law school to provide a better future for his family, and Hugh’s father, Lance, finds himself building his night clubs into a powerful crime syndicate.

Jesse’s law career leads him into becoming a District Attorney and before you know it, he is facing off against Lance, who has become a mob boss with connections to local enforcement on his side. Keith follows in his father’s footsteps as a lawyer, while Hugh joins his father and the family business, operating in the shady and violent world of crime. It’s only a matter of time until their paths cross again, in an explosive and violent conflict that will last decades and shatter their family relationships forever.

It's important for readers to understand that this book is the absolute definition of the descriptive term “Slow burn”. It starts slow with lots of background and history, and takes much longer to get going than most of Grisham’s prior books. You must be patient with this one because there’s a lot of buildup in the first half that doesn’t take off until the final third of the book. I know this is not something that we’ve experienced with a Grisham book, this time patience is a requirement.

If you hang in there and keep reading, there are several things to like about “The Boys from Biloxi”. Once the story get’s going the plotting is pretty good. Let’s face it. Grisham is a master writer and his writing style just demands your attention is such a fluid and effortless manner. His descriptions are brief, focused, and vivid. His dialogs are sharp and flow like a Robert B. Parker Spenser novel at its best. More importantly. Like Stephen King, Grisham is a pure in heart storyteller, and his storytelling skills are pretty flawless – smooth and flowing prose with no wasted or unnecessary words, a constant focus on moving the conflict forward.

Now, that doesn’t mean there was not some areas where the book could have been better. As much as Grisham focused on the male characters, instilling depth and authenticity, the female characters seemed to play secondary roles and lacked opportunities for development. Egan Clement, Keith’s sisters and mother, and Hugh’s mother could have played bigger roles and strengthened their impact, but almost all of the time they were either secondary characters or spent time offstage. For me, I really wanted to see more of Egan and experience more development with her character. Most of the time, she was just there supporting the men. That was a missed opportunity to strengthen the story.

Overall, even with the somewhat dramatic change in style being more like a historical documentary than crime fiction, this was still a pretty enjoyable and entertaining book. Although some readers might complain about it being a slow burn and requiring a great deal of patience, for me, it paid off pretty strongly in the end, and pulled on my emotional heart strings.

Truth be told, Grisham sets such a high bar for his readers that sometimes it’s hard to review his work with full objectively, since beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. I believe that that the key to Grisham’s continued success is his exemplary power to tell a captivating tale and this one was, although different in style and approach, was still a strong and well-delivered read.

See you again next year, John…

[William de_Rham · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m finding this a difficult novel to engage with. While it’s strong in its descriptions of Biloxi, Mississippi, and the lawlessness and corruption of its “Strip,” it’s not a great piece of storytelling. The writing is mostly expository with very little attention to character development or dialogue. While we learn a lot about rival mobs that own nightclubs offering illegal liquor, gambling, strip tease, prostitution, and even cockfighting, and about the devastating effects of hurricane Camille and what it's like to live through such a hurricane, the “heroes” and “villains” seem more stereotypical than real. At times, I was reminded more of a non-fiction history book or magazine article than a novel.

[Bam cooks the books · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3-3.5 stars. John Grisham's latest courtroom drama starts off slowly, developing the story of two immigrant families who come to settle in Biloxi, Mississippi. Over the years, both have sons who play sports together and become friends. Unfortunately the path those two families follow veers off in opposite directions--one becoming wealthy by ill-gotten gains; the other wanting to bring down local corruption through the law. Their battle ends up in court...but not everyone plays by the rules.

A slow-burn drama with an overly-large cast of characters that does require some patience while Grisham gets to the exciting part, his trademark courtroom scenes. The ending felt like a letdown. No surprises. Not my favorite of his novels.

[Rebecca · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a disappointing attempt at what? History of Biloxi? Courtroom drama? I am over two thirds of the way through the book and there has been no character development or plot or even courtroom drama. I grew up on the Coast during the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies, knew about the history of Biloxi and the "Strip" and the local characters and events, and I have yet to identify one single person or place that this book was supposedly based upon. It jumps around and is disjointed. Yes, there are legendary stories about Biloxi and its characters but this is not it. I loved Runaway Jury but please, stick to baseball, Mr. Grisham, and leave our beloved Coast alone.

[Jeanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This for me was too long. Too much detail in 3rd person telling and not enough anything from within the prime characters' thoughts, "eyes". But that's Grisham's style. As if a narrator outsider is telling you the tale. And for me they seemed real in their youths (baseball, sports, boxing etc.) but didn't work for me after adulthood.

I know I am outlier about Grisham fiction. But I prefer a much more in head character development than a telling of their biography or job skills or actions more personal in nature etc. And that only occurs with Keith rarely here.

Because I have visited Biloxi several times during the first decade of this century and 1 time for length at Gulf Shores in Alabama, not that far away. And because I did visit before and just after Katrina in that entire area- I knew much of the demographics and some of the places / structures. And know that his tale is not far from reality. Mary Mahoney's is the oldest restaurant in the USA proper. It was there before the Louisiana Purchase. He doesn't tell you of Beauvoir or any other places of greatest tourist or beach scenes. Beautiful beach.

Hugh seemed so dark that the last 1/2 of the book became more like reading a court or grift, criminal cabal case. In an age where horrific was terrible but not on the scales it is now. Not with corrupt authority or with various treatments of reaction for the more special among us. Chicago has been worse for most of my lifetime. But I thought the periods of 1960's, 1970's was especially accurate for here and path progressions. Both.

In Grisham writing I can never approach a 4 star rating. I've tried over many years and have omitted his works for eons. It is because you have very dry telling and hardly any knowing. For instance, in this book, you never once got to know Keith's wife. Actually none of the women were developed. They become a one or two syndrome name. Either angels or nasty crazies for the most part. But you never see "them" really, at all. Worse than Dickens- saints with halos or demons with purpose? I know others do not feel that way. But for me, that is fiction written for "knowing" at a grade school level. You may know the important soul aim or ambition or reaction but you NEVER know the person. All the law, court, punishment chapter lengths make it even more distant from any personality.

Well, I have visited Biloxi and hope that the next hurricane doesn't wipe all the structures out again. Lots of history and interesting views there, regardless. In this one the background of Croatian immigrant experiences and the first 100 pages were far superior to the rest.

[JR · Rating 3 out of 5]

This felt really different to me. Just didn’t have the typical Grisham feel. I’m not sure what it was. It was a good story. A bit dragged out at times with a lot more characters than there probably should have been. I thought this story would really be about a big battle between the 2 boys, growing up, leading to this epic showdown but there was hardly any interaction at all and was more a story about the family and their history in the same town. It was really more of a story about the fathers than the sons. So I was bit disappointed with that. The last 100 pages got me back somewhat but the damage was already done. This was just ok

[Jonathan K (Max Outlier) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 2.85

Having read numerous books by this author, I was disappointed that he uses the age old, best friends become adversaries approach which is one of the most overused premises in storytelling.

Keith Rudy and Hugh Malco grew up together in Biloxi, MS and bonded playing baseball, though their personas were diametrically opposed. The studious type, Keith focused on his studies while Hugh preferred sports, girls and risk taking. After graduation, Keith went to college and studied law, while Hugh got involved with crime. Keith eventually becomes D.A while Hugh's criminal operations expand and soon they're on a collision course completer with contract killing, sheriff on the take and FBI agents.

There's really not much more to say about this other than its tedious, predictable and not worth reading. Sorry Mr. Grisham but this pitch missed the plate entirely.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Grisham is a good story teller. This one is about two boys who are descendants of Croatian immigrants who settled in the Biloxi area of Mississippi. Keith Rudy and Hugh Malco were all stars in Little league baseball. As they got older it became apparent that they were not destined for the major leagues and followed in their father’s footsteps.

Hugh's father, Lance, owned several clubs and he started working in them. He gravitated to the nightlife and the liquor, gambling, and prostitution that went with the clubs. Keith's father, Jesse, started out working in the seafood industry but went to school at night to study law. He became a lawyer and eventually district attorney who vowed to clean up the vice in Biloxi. Keith loved the law and started working in his father's law office after graduating law school.

Keith and Hugh were childhood friends but are destined to meet in court as adults when their lives took different directions. The story starts out a bit slow but builds when things come to a showdown. Good vs evil. Ultimate consequences of choices made in life. Bright lights and the fast life or working hard and raising a family. Interesting characters.