I'm impressed that I made it through to the end. At first it seemed like a cool idea...guy goes down to jungle and comes out a changed man. Instead it's more about finding God within a malaria-fevered haze. Grisham entering his 'very-preachy' stage.

What a terrific book! John Grisham turns in yet another fantastic Legal Thriller that focuses on more than just the legal aspects of the story. His characters, themes, and story itself are just fascinating and riveting to read.

This book is basically HBO's "Succession" meets "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty". An old billionaire leaves his entire fortune to this woman no one has heard of, and his family all want to invalidate the will to get his money, no matter what it takes (very much like Succession). But the main lawyer of the story Nate O'Reilly is sent down to Brazil to find the woman, he realizes how difficult the task will be. The recipient of the 11 billion dollars is down in South America on a years long missionary trip helping local tribes who have never before seen Americans. Nate goes on small airplanes, boats, and hikes trying desparately to find this woman to let her know about her newfound fortune. (The adventurous travel really reminded me of Walter Mitty's story).

This is truly a brilliant story! Those elements alone made it great, but there is something else that elevated it to top fiction in my opinion: the writing of Rachel Lane!

Rachel is a missionary and doctor serving these tribes in Brazil, and Grisham uses her to absolutely nail what Christianity means and is like. It is so refreshing to read about a Christian character who actually acts Christian and to have a writer who understands not only what Christian beliefs are, but WHY Christian's hold them. This shows a level of understanding that is so rarely seen in secular literature, and I was floored by how well Grisham handled it.

There were a few scenes/chapters in the middle and near the end that could have been cut to make the story more lean and faster (certainly would have to be cut for a movie adaptation), but otherwise this novel is just fantastic in every way possible.

Overall, I loved this book, and probably will end up calling it my book of the month! 9.5 out of 10! Amazing job John Grisham!

I read this book years ago and decided to re-visit it again when it was recently donated to my Little Free Library Shed.

Because…

There is something to be said about an older Grisham novel.

And…

For this one, it may lack courtroom and enduring drama, but it is entertaining. With distinctive/flawed characters, including the one who set everything in motion, a billionaire ready to determine how his money will be divided upon his death.

But…

Instead of taking us into the courtroom as unworthy heirs and selfish attorneys duke it out for dollars, he takes us into the remote areas of Brazil, to find an unlikely one.

And…

It is those scenes of interesting tribes, menacing storms and deadly fevers, that gives this book an authentic feel.

With…

An attorney searching for an heir and his own redemption, soon the money issue will be resolved.

Even if…

The writing may be imperfect, who isn’t up for a nice jungle adventure?