‘Netty was correct – Appletree had long since disappeared after having been bought or merged with a regional brokerage firm from Florida, which had then flamed out in bankruptcy and indictments only to be scooped up by a large California discount broker who sold it to a private equity firm in New York who loaded it with debt, almost causing another bankruptcy, before it was sold to a bank in Texas that then sold it to a bank in Atlanta. After numerous name changes and different addresses, it, whatever it was, was now back home. There was no sign of anyone named Buddy.’

Since The Litigators, John Grisham has become funnier. The Widow, his latest, marks his first ever whodunit. The story centres on Netty, the titular widow, who makes Simon, the protagonist believe that she’s hiding a massive fortune. Many millions are tied up in Coke and Wal-Mart stocks. She inherited this from her deceased second husband. Wally, another local lawyer, made her an earlier will. Simon saw this as opportunistic and a money grab. The small town attorney likewise falls for the oldie’s lies and they wine and dine in the area’s finest restaurants. Netty particularly adores Tan Lu’s cookies. She never offers to pay the bill. Her spartan lifestyle doesn’t reconcile with her supposed bank balance. She lives frugally and drives an antique car. She wears no designer clothes nor has a huge wad of dollar bills. Her home ain’t fancy, certainly not a millionaire’s lair.

Will

Simon creates a new will, the estate’s sole executor. This gives him carte blanche on Ms Netty’s affairs. Netty has two stepsons via her late husbands. They are nothing but troublemakers. Meanwhile, Simon works in a quiet office on Main Street, together with Matilda, his assistant. Though divorcing, Simon lives decently. Netty’s millions make him imagine a wardrobe makeover.

He drafts and types the new will, keeping it a secret. Not even Matilda knows of his lunchtime excursions. He hides his potential windfall from the wifey, lest it gets juicy. Simon keeps his impending jackpot under wraps. He knows all too well how others can spoil the surprise.

‘The fuzzies’

He spends thousands on sports betting and is in debt. Netty’s stories have many gaps. When he tries to find proof of investment, she is always evasive. She often feigns ignorance whenever he probes into her finances. As if she’s got ‘the fuzzies’.This is reminiscent of an earlier Grisham novel, The Confession. In both books, the main characters pretend to be afflicted with memory loss as they dodge tough questions.

Simon got duped because of Netty’s stature. Ageing, then eighty five, she appeared like a meek llama. She stressed that she had no one: no friends or family that cared, no book club, and no debt. So calm and believable, Simon never suspected that he was being played.

Death by Tan Lu

Netty gets involved in a car accident and is rushed to hospital. She was never a careful driver. Her condition gradually improves until Matilda brings her Tan Lu’s finest. Suspected of pneumonia, Simon takes the lead. Ultimately, the hospital staff pulls the plug. When Netty conks out, he asks for a quick cremation, which others find suspicious. The authorities, working with a lawyer, paused the procedure at the last moment. The autopsy revealed that it wasnt pnuemonia that killed Netty. Simon is then implicated in her demise, now connected to the hideous cookies. Us readers and Simon know that he didn’t do the deed. If anybody silenced Netty, it certainly wasn’t him.

Slam Dunk!

Soon, the hounds were released. Simon is sued for Netty’s death, and for what? They find out that the widow lied about the whole fortune. There was no twenty million, all lost in her hubby’s bad business deals. Netty was a cunning and compulsive liar. She talked a big game and savoured fine dining but in no universe was wealthy. Simon is sent to prison, though all evidence is circumstantial. The stepsons smelled blood and wanted a piece of the cake. Turns out the son orchestrated this, as he was dating Matilda. The jury bites on the fake. Slam dunk! There goes Simon’s gulliver. Here I’d like to quote an excerpt from my second book:

‘Once, Gretel, one of my section mates, went to the board to solve a problem. While her output was imprecise, she changed her answer and was adamant that she got it right. Mrs Guyabano was livid.

“You’re a liar! I hate liars.”

Basket case

This fictional tale is cautionary. Before putting all your eggs in one basket, verify. The last thing you want is to be accused and sentenced for a wrongful transgression. There are no brownie points in the wheels of justice. Though Simon was no matador, the jury didn’t see it that way. They may not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he terminated Ms Netty. His actions were exploitative and the cremation, dodgy. These were not the moves of a grieving client.

Good thing Simon had friends that he could count on. Like Chub, the local club owner. Their smooth relations provided Simon some light in a dark tunnel. His former flame, Landy, was likewise there for him. Now an FBI agent, she gave him a much needed boost as he tried to clear his name. His lawyer, Raymond, moved heaven and earth to save him. He even worked pro bono. His extensive courtroom hours though weren’t enough to save Simon’s skin, nor his office or house. In this case, the novel parallels House of Sand and Fog. The adaptation starred a younger Jennifer Connelly and Ben Kingsley.

Grisham fan

There’s much to like in Grisham’s latest offering. Suspense, humour, an easy flow, and likeable characters. The middle America setting will also win hearts. Another bestseller, Grisham’s read once again debuted on the top of the list. I can see why this one is well-rated on Goodreads. Find that space in your home and pick up Grisham. Accept no substitutes.

Rating: 5/5