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#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Escape to Camino Island, where bookseller Bruce Cable and novelist Mercer Mann always manage to find trouble in paradise.

Don’t miss John Grisham’s upcoming Framed, his first work of nonfiction since The Innocent Man!

Mercer Mann, a popular writer from Camino Island, is back on the beach, marrying her boyfriend, Thomas, in a seaside ceremony. Bruce Cable, infamous owner of Bay Books, performs the wedding. Afterward, Bruce tells Mercer that he has stumbled upon an incredible story. Mercer desperately needs an idea for her next novel, and Bruce now has one.

The true story is about Dark Isle, a sliver of a barrier island not far off the North Florida coast. It was settled by freed slaves three hundred years ago, and their descendants lived there until 1955, when the last one was forced to leave. That last descendant is Lovely Jackson, elderly now, who loves her birthplace and its remarkable history. But now Tidal Breeze, a huge, ruthless corporate developer, wants to build a resort and casino on the island, which Lovely knows, deep down, is rightfully hers.

Mercer befriends Lovely, and they plunge into an enormous fight over who owns Dark Isle, taking on Tidal Breeze Corporation, its lawyers, lobbyists, and powerful Florida politicians. But Lovely knows something about the island that could seriously cloud the dollar signs in the developer’s eyes: the island is cursed. It has remained uninhabited for nearly a century for some very real and very troubling reasons. The deep secrets of the past are about to collide with the enormous ambitions of the present, and the fate of Dark Isle—and Camino Island, too—hangs in the balance.

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

Review

Praise for Camino Ghosts

“Light-hearted . . . The Camino books have felt like palate cleansers for Grisham, something fun to do before tackling the weightier issues that usually form the backbone of books such as The Client. . . . Grisham makes sure the book moves like the winds that buffet his fictional island.”—Minneapolis Star Tribune

Praise for the Camino Island series

“A fresh, fun departure . . . sheer catnip . . . a most agreeable summer destination.”—USA Today

“The type of wild but smart caper that Grisham’s readers love.”—Delia Owens, bestselling author of Where the Crawdads Sing

“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

“Escapist entertainment . . . with elements of a more traditional Grisham thriller.”—Janet Maslin, The New York Times

Praise for John Grisham

“The best thriller writer alive.”—Ken Follett

About the Author

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

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Chapter One

The Passage

1.

None of the fifty or so guests wore shoes. The invitation specifically ruled them out. It was, after all, a beach wedding, and Mercer Mann, the bride, wanted sand between the toes. The suggested attire was beach chic, which may have had one meaning in Palm Beach and another in Malibu, and probably something else in the Hamptons. But on Camino Island it meant anything goes. But no shoes.

The bride herself wore a low-cut white linen gown with an entirely bare back, and since she had been on the island for the past two weeks she was superbly tanned and toned. Stunning. Thomas, her groom, was just as lean and bronzed. He wore a brand-new powder blue seersucker suit, a starched white dress shirt, no tie. And of course no shoes.

Thomas was just happy to be included. He and Mercer had been together for three years, sharing an apartment for the past two, and when Mercer finally got tired of waiting for a proposal she had asked him, three months earlier, “What are you doing on Saturday, June sixth, at seven p.m.?”

“Well, I don’t know. I’ll have to check.”

“Say nothing.”

“What?”

“Say you’re doing nothing.”

“Okay, I’m doing nothing. Why?”

“Because we’re getting married at the beach.”

Since he was not exactly a detail person, he had little input into the planning of the wedding. However, had he been detail-oriented it would not have mattered. Life with Mercer was wonderful in so many ways, not the least of which was the absence of responsibility for making decisions. The pressure was off.

A guitarist strummed love songs as the guests sipped champagne. She was a creative writing student of Mercer’s at Ole Miss and had volunteered for the wedding. A server in a straw hat topped off their glasses. He, too, was studying under Mercer, though she had yet to break the news that his fiction was too weird. If she were a blunt person she would point out that he was likely to earn more money tending bar at small weddings than trying to write novels, but she had yet to gain tenure or the ability to discourage students with little promise.

Mercer taught because she needed a salary. She had published a collection of short stories and two novels. She was searching for a third. Her last one, Tessa, had been a bestseller, and its success had prompted Viking Press to give her a two-book contract. Her editor at Viking was still waiting for the next story idea. So was Mercer. She had some money in the bank but not enough to retire, not enough to buy the freedom to write full-time with no worries.

A few of her guests had that freedom. Myra and Leigh, the grandes dames of the island’s literary mafia, had been together for decades and were living off royalties. Back in their glory days they had cranked out a hundred steamy romance novels under a dozen pseudonyms. Bob Cobb was an ex-felon who’d served time in a federal pen for bank fraud. He wrote hard-boiled crime stories, with a penchant for prison violence. When drinking, which was practically all the time, he claimed he had not pursued honest labor in twenty years. He was a writer! Perhaps the wealthiest of the group was Amy Slater, a young mother of three who’d hit pay dirt with a vampire series.

Amy and her husband, Dan, had taken a chunk of their money and built a splendid house on the beach, about half a mile from Mercer’s cottage. When they heard about the wedding, they insisted on hosting it along with the reception.

Like every bride, Mercer envisioned a lovely walk down the aisle with her father. He, though, got cut from the ceremony, as did the aisle. Mr. Mann was a complicated soul who had never spent time with his wife or daughters. When he complained that the wedding might conflict with his busy schedule, Mercer said never mind. They would have more fun without him.

Her sister, Connie, was there and could always be counted on for family drama. Her two rotten teenage girls were already sitting in the back row and staring at their phones. Her husband was gulping champagne. On the more pleasant side, her literary agent, Etta Shuttleworth, was there with her husband, as was her Viking editor, who no doubt wanted to grab a moment and inquire about the next novel, now a year overdue. Mercer was determined not to talk business. It was her wedding, and if the editor got the least bit pushy then Etta was expected to step in. Three sorority sisters from Sewanee were there, two with husbands. The third was fresh off an acrimonious divorce that Mercer had heard far too much about. All three had the hots for Thomas, and Mercer was keeping an eye on them. The fact that he was five years younger than his bride made him even sexier. Two colleagues from the Ole Miss faculty had survived the final cut of the invitation list and were spending a week on the island. Mercer got on with them well enough, but was cautious. She had invited them only to be polite. She was on her third campus in the past six years and had learned a lot about faculty politics. She was the only professor in the history of the Ole Miss English department to crack the bestseller lists with a novel, and at times she could feel the jealousy. An old pal from Chapel Hill had been invited but declined. Two friends from high school and one from kindergarten were there.

Thomas had a more stable family. His parents and siblings and their young children filled an entire row. Behind them was a rowdy bunch of college chums from his days at Grinnell.

The fake minister was Bruce Cable, owner of Bay Books and onetime lover of the bride, who began asking everyone to take a seat and squeeze closer to the front where a white wicker arch had been erected. It was laden with red and white roses and carnations and flanked by trellises on both sides. Beyond it was a hundred feet of white sand, then nothing but the Atlantic at high tide, a gorgeous view that stretched for miles until the planet curved. North Africa was four thousand miles away, a straight shot.

The guitarist kept strumming until Mercer and Thomas appeared on the boardwalk. They came down the steps, holding hands and smiling all the way to the arch where they were met by the fake minister.

It was not Bruce Cable’s first wedding. For some vague reason, Florida allowed almost anyone to buy a cheap permit from a clerk’s office, become an “officiant,” and conduct a civil wedding ceremony. Bruce had not known this, and had no interest in it whatsoever, until an old girlfriend wanted to get married on Camino Island and insisted on Bruce doing the honors.

That was the first. Mercer’s was the second. He wondered how many officiants had slept with all of their brides. Yes, on one occasion not too many years earlier he had slept with Mercer when she was spying on him, but that was ancient history. Noelle, his wife, knew about it. Thomas had been informed. Everyone was cool. It was all so civilized.

Well aware of Bruce’s tendency to go off-script, Mercer had carefully written their vows. Thomas, surprisingly, had been consulted and even added some language of his own. A former student from UNC rose and read a poem, an impenetrable hodgepodge in free verse that was supposed to heighten the romantic mood but instead caused the crowd to gaze at the waves breaking gently along the shore. Bruce managed to re-focus things by giving brief bios of the bride and groom and got a few laughs. The guitar player could also sing and she delighted the crowd with an impressive version of “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love).” Connie read a scene from Tessa, Mercer’s last novel, that was based loosely on their grandmother. In the story, Tessa walked the same stretch of beach every morning looking for turtle eggs laid the night before. She guarded the surf and dunes as if she owned them, and several in the crowd remembered her well. It was a poignant piece about a person who had greatly influenced the bride.

Bruce then got them through the vows, which, in his learned opinion, were a bit on the wordy side, a recurring problem with Mercer’s prose and one he was determined to correct. He loved his writers and nurtured them all, but he was also a tough critic. Oh well, it wasn’t his wedding.

They swapped rings, had a kiss, and bowed to the crowd as husband and wife. The crowd stood and applauded.

The entire service lasted twenty-two minutes.

The photography took longer, then everyone climbed onto the boardwalk and followed Mercer and Thomas over the dunes to the pool where more champagne was waiting. They had their first dance to “My Girl.” The DJ followed it with more Motown and the dancing caught on. Almost ten minutes passed before the first drunk, Connie’s husband, fell in the pool.

Review:

4.8 out of 5

95.38% of customers are satisfied

5.0 out of 5 stars ...definitely the best of the three Camino Island books.

H.B.R. · July 28, 2024

Book Review – Camino Ghost – John GrishamFamous author John Grisham’s third book in the Camino Island series, “Camino Ghost” is a compelling story that explores the horrors of slavery and African culture. It is an excellent historical fiction tale that brings the characters and island life to existence. The absorbing plot and strong storyline make for an engaging read. The genuine story is about Dark Isle, a sliver of a barrier island not far off the North Florida coast. It was settled by freed slaves three hundred years ago, and their descendants lived there until 1955, until the last one was forced to leave. That last inheritor is an elderly black woman now, who loves her birthplace and its remarkable history. But now a huge, ruthless corporate developer wants to build a casino and resort on the island, which the elderly black woman believes is rightfully hers. The elderly black lady teams up with an author friend and plunges into an enormous fight over who rightfully owns the island. Together, they take on the heartless corporation, its lawyers, lobbyists, and powerful Florida politicians. The delivery of the fictional Black History tale reels the reader in. As usual, Grisham knows how to blend the right amount of seriousness, humor, and suspense to make the tale neutral and entertaining. The subject matter is quite fascinating and kept me eagerly reading to find out what happened next. The book is consistent - of course - with Grisham’s ‘top shelf’ storytelling. It kept me interested enough to finish in less than two days – which usually takes me a week to read. I really like Camino Ghost and consider it the best of the three Camino Island books in the series.

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining

c. · September 13, 2024

As all the Camino books, it's entertaining, with a light plot that refers to somewhat current events. This one however, seemed that the plot was cut short or simplified.. Too easy a win for the home team....

5.0 out of 5 stars Camino Ghosts

D. · September 30, 2024

This was a very touching, informative, and even enlightening work of fiction based on likely reality. How mankind could have been so downright evil is almost incomprehensible. I hope we will read this, imagine ourselves in this situation, and become better and more caring human beings.

5.0 out of 5 stars Another awesome story

s. · September 26, 2024

The story had me captivated from the beginning. Gresham writes so fluidly that one chapter rolls into the next. All of his Camino books have been a delight to read, but I found this one to be the most captivating..

5.0 out of 5 stars It was Lovely

K.V. · September 20, 2024

I was hesitant to even purchase this continuation of “Camino…”, even though I have read just about everything John Grisham has written. I had grown board with all the “…Isle” characters, so predictable. I relented, and John Grisham did not disappoint. A raft of new characters and a great story, well told.

5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating. Best Of Grisham In Recent Times.

V.J. · May 30, 2024

The Best By Grisham in Recent Times. With His Exceptional Story Telling Abilities Grisham Keeps You Glued To The Book Till You Have Read The Last Page. This is Not Just A Legal Thriller, But A Combination of It With Historical Fiction and Human Drama. My Eyes Were Moist While Reading the Last Chapters. By the Time We Finish Reading ItWe Are Bound To Fall In Love With All The Central Characters of The Book, Especially With Lovely Jackson. Yes Grisham, Named Her Lovely For A Reason. She Will Haunt Us For Sure For Couple of Days.This is His Third Book Of The Camino Island Series And The Best Of The Three In My Opinion. The Central Characters of The Story Bay Books Owner Bruce Cable & Budding Author Mercer Mann Takes The Central Stage Again. The Subplots Does Deal with Legal Battles and The Book Publishing Industry Again With Most of The Camino Island Folks Appearing Once Again. However The Main Plot - The Last Of The Descendants and An Octogenarian's Fight To Preserve The Graves Of Her African Ancestors Who Were Brought Into America As Slaves in 1700s who along with Escaped Slaves Survive To Setup A Colony For Themselves and Lived and Died On An Island Called Dark Isle Without Any Interaction With The Outside World - Is Really Captivating.Grisham Proves Again Why He Is A Master Story Teller. Under the Guise of a Legal Thriller, With his Exceptional Writing Skills He Not Only Keeps The Readers Interested All Through The Book But also makes them more Knowledgeable to give lot of thought On Many Topics Like Slavery, Explosion Of Commercial Developments and Their Influence On Political and Legal Systems, Non Profit Agencies Work and Book Publishing Industry etc.,There Is A Lot More.. If You Are Grisham Fan Like Me, Grab A Copy And Start Reading. If Not, Then Also.. Grab A Copy And Start Reading. You Will Become One.

4.0 out of 5 stars Going in Circles

J.R.P. · October 6, 2024

Good story, a few interesting characters but sometimes it was a big yawn

5.0 out of 5 stars Good book

K.C. · September 30, 2024

Great stories. Interesting all the way through. Please keep up the stories. All of his books keep my interest all the way to the end .

An entertaining romp.

A.C. · June 2, 2024

As expected, this book was a pleasurable romp. A quick and easy read, jam-packed with David vs Goliath sentiment and colorful characters. Even though I have a pretty good idea of what to expect all the way through, it's still thrilling to have it all unfold. Brilliant, as usual.

Eine spannende Geschichte über Sklaverei

B. · October 13, 2024

Geht bis in die heutige Zeit und macht da Buch sehr interessant

The new Grisham "Camino Ghost" is fantastic again.

L.G.L.A. · September 26, 2024

John Grisham's "Camino Ghost" has just arrived.He is one of the authors whose books I have "all". And as I was leafing through it I noticed that the new book is fantastic. //Acaba de llegar "Camino Ghost" de John Grisham.Es uno de los autores de los que tengo “todos” los libros. Y en cuanto lo hojeé, me di cuenta de que el nuevo libro era fantástico.

Grisham is back to his brilliant best

A.R. · September 21, 2024

I thought the “imagined world” of Camino had out-lived its initial appeal. The characters boring and predictable.But the master storyteller of our time has pulled out a piece of feel-good wizardry that leaves many questions unanswered but still works. Brilliantly. And makes you feel good.Still a fan. Still wondering how Grisham pulls this off, time and again. But hey, as long as he keeps writing I’ll keep reading. And enjoying his genius. I almost never read fiction now, but every new Grisham draws me back. May his keyboard never get old.

Anche questo bello.

e.m. · September 6, 2024

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Camino Ghosts: A Novel

Name: Camino Ghosts: A Novel
Brand: Doubleday
SKU: U0385545991
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Rating: 4.5 (13 reviews)

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