The Whistler, by John Grisham (2016)

I bought the The Whistler while I was on holiday however as is the case with all good holidays, I found very little time to read it. As is the case with most Grisham books though, even after just a few chapters I found myself hooked. Once I was back from my break I devoured the book in just a few days and escaped into the world of Judicial Investigator Lacy Stoltz, as she explored troubling allegations of corruption.

I find Grisham’s books easy to read, not just for his clear writing style, but because of the thoughtful plot development. The Whistler was clearly about the investigation, rather than the crime. From very early on in the story readers know with certainty the guilty parties and the depths of their illicit activates. This allows readers to experience a story by asking what will happen, rather than ask what has already happened. As the investigation unfolds for both the reader and the characters at the same time, there is a genuine sense of shared curiosity and surprise which fosters a greater emotional investment and allowed me to better enjoy my reading experience.

Grisham, as always, helps further refines his story line by thoughtfully switching the narrative perspective between different characters. As a result, readers get to see the motivations and reactions of many characters which gives the book multiple dimensions and adds to the richness of character interactions. We learn of the Lacy’s professional and personal circumstances which explains her relentless pursuit of this dangerous investigation, but we also learn of the antagonists moral deterioration and underlying fear which drives her cruel conspiracy. Grisham also contrasts these many rich characters to add further depth to the story including contrasting Lucy’s single life to her word partner’s professional life, as well as contrasting the FBI’s politics with the local corruption authority Lacy works for.

Characters are tested in a connected and at times surprising plot. Grisham is unafraid to harm likeable characters and also unafraid to let unlikable characters get away. His ability to add thoughtful twists kept me reading but never feel needlessly attention grabbing. Plot points always revealed new paths for character development and the investigation. Even a shock car crash managed to both unraveled the threads of a tight conspiracy and and also developed personal relationships which helped overcome the politics of a hesitant FBI.

Something I personally enjoy about Grisham’s work as was present in this book was how he used the narrative to explore real life dynamics. When the story introduces the FBI, Grisham takes the opportunity to explore the real life agency’s priorities. When the story introduces a character framed for murder, Grisham explores the application of the death sentence. When the story discusses the Native American Casino, Grisham explores indigenous issues. As an Australian these foreign social themes offer great escapist content which feels real and goes beyond the book.

The Whistler was a fun book. It was easy to read with a thoughtful story, deep exploration of characters and quality corporate escapism that transported me to American small towns, the underworld of organized crime and through the American justice system.