Grisham spins yarns. That's what he does. Colorful characters, vivid scenes, excitement, adventure, cliffhangers, and endings that sort of limp into view and disappear. This book probably embraces that more than any of his others. It's less of a coherent story and more of a collection of slices of life that show the messiness of life. I got it for Christmas, picked it up the next morning, and finished it that night. Loved it.