The Boys from Biloxi by John Grisham
Biloxi was well-known for its beaches, resorts, and seafood business during most of the last century. It had a darker side, though. It was also well-known for depravity and corruption, including prostitution, gambling, illegal booze, drugs, and even contract assassinations. A small group of organized criminals, many of whom were thought to be Dixie Mafia members, dominated the vice.
Hugh Malco and Keith Rudy were pals when they were young and growing up in Biloxi in the 1960s. Yet, their lives diverged when they were teenagers. Keith’s father rose to fame as a prosecutor who was dedicated to “cleaning up the Coast.” Hugh’s father rose to prominence as the “Boss” of Biloxi’s underworld.
The Boys from Biloxi by John Grisham
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Keith continued his father’s legacy by attending law school. Hugh worked in his father’s clubs and preferred the nightlife. The conflict between the two families would take place in a courtroom.
The Boys from Biloxi is a sprawling drama of two sons of immigrant families who grow up as friends but finally find themselves in a precarious legal dispute where life itself is on the line. It is rich in history and features a wide cast of outstanding characters.
Who could ever be indifferent to a young man who loses their father in such a dreadful way? The protagonist has your support. Even more so for a son whose hero worship of a man has left such a lasting impression on him that he wants to emulate him in his career choice, the town he decides to stay in, and even after passing the bar exam, it seems that his studies still dominate his life, with his father acting as his new teacher and receiving payment for his on-going education in place of the teacher’s salary. He appears to have ambitions that are even greater than those of his father, but he is embarrassed to admit that he has already raised the bar above what his father would have allowed.
Two Croatian families who moved to the Biloxi area find success in American culture, one by establishing themselves as the region’s most powerful criminal family and the other by abiding by the law, with the male lead eventually rising to the position of the county district attorney. Where the tension is coming from is clear to see. The sons of these two families are familiar with one another, like playing baseball together, and faithfully carry on their fathers’ traditions to the very end. There is no denying that Mr Grisham is a skilled storyteller. His prose rapidly captures your attention and carries you through to the very end. The majority of his creations are intricately braided and carefully designed.
Yet this one has a more natural story that meanders among the characters like a stream does in a forest. It takes longer to get to the author’s intended point than his other books do. Just a touch different and looser, it’s still a fantastic read.
