The Reckoning

Secrets. Some readers like popular authors to stay in a narrow lane and expect legal thrillers from John Grisham. His latest novel titled, The Reckoning, contains a legal case and more and may test those loyal readers who may not enjoy the “more” part. A large section of the novel is historical fiction, especially about the Bataan Death March. A third aspect of the novel involves the deep exploration of family dynamics. I think the third was the most important one for Grisham, since he ends the novel (no spoiler) with these words: “what a family.” Family dynamics involved keeping secrets from each other, with dramatic consequences. The energy in the novel comes from the ways in which Grisham draws us into the lives of a lot of family members. The plot momentum comes from the progress of legal cases with major consequences for the family. I enjoyed all aspects of the novel: the history, the trials, and the family dynamics, and I am pleased that Grisham veered outside the narrow lane with this book. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase The Reckoning from amazon.com.