Bleachers

There are no lawyers and no trials here. Instead Grisham writes a quiet book about memory and masculinity. As the night wears on, the men replay famous games, argue about whether Rake was a great teacher or a bully, and slowly circle around the tragedy at a summer practice years ago that cost the coach his job. Neely also has to face Cameron, the girl he hurt when he was young and careless.

The book is strongest when it lets its characters talk, sharing beer and stories and showing how small-town football can define a life long after the final whistle. Grisham clearly loves this world but does not pretend it was healthy, and the question of whether harsh coaching builds character or breaks it is left open for readers to judge.

Readers expecting a thriller may find it slight, and some side characters blur together. As a compact, heartfelt story to read in an evening or two, it lands well. Grisham keeps the prose simple and unhurried, and the closing scenes at the stadium carry real emotional weight for anyone who ever played on a team. About 240 pages in the Dell mass-market paperback.