I received this book from NetGalley.

Keith Rudy and Hugh Malco grew up in Biloxi living two streets apart. They played baseball, listened to baseball games, and dreamed of playing professionally. They played against each other and with each other. Being part of the team was the foundation for their early friendship. As they grew older and moved into high school, their friendship continued. Keith’s father, Jesse, was from a poor family. He put himself through college and law school. In the early years of his career, Jesse scrimped and saved to provide for his family and offer legal services to his community. Hugh’s father ran businesses connected to the criminal underground. Bars, prostitutes, and drugs were the foundation of Hugh’s life. As life continued for both boys, their bond broke as they found themselves on opposite sides of the law. Hugh was attracted to the power his father had and never wanted to continue his education. Keith saw the respect his father had in the community, and his father’s passion for helping people, and decided that he wanted to do the same.

There is a feeling of tragedy accompanying Hugh. I’m not sure if it is something I’ve projected onto him or if it is part of his character in the book. Watching him turn away from being a law-abiding citizen to a criminal is painful. Many opportunities arise for Hugh to do the right thing. He fails to do so. Hugh is the foil for Keith, the dark to his light. Keith feels the drive to serve.

This is a legal thriller. John Grisham presents his story much as a lawyer lays out his case, methodically. He makes no judgment on either family, profiling both. Keith and Hugh are products of their environment but they also make their own decisions leading to their futures. Watching the paths these two travel diverge and then converge again is bittersweet. Do not expect a perfect happy ending, no glory days of reminiscing. The ending is expected, sad, and yet inevitable. Grisham pulls no punches and yet he delivers a book that captures you at the beginning and enthralls you to the end.

My Rating: 🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻/5