The Whistler

Lacy is an appealing heroine: methodical, stubborn and quietly brave. The investigation requires untangling layers of shell companies, secret land deals and missing records, and Grisham makes the paperwork surprisingly exciting. When the case turns dangerous, the book shifts into a higher gear, and Lacy must decide how far she is willing to go.

The setting, Florida's Panhandle with its resorts, swamps and small courthouses, is vividly drawn, and the world of judicial oversight is one readers rarely see. Grisham handles the violence mostly offstage, and he gives the supporting characters, including the whistler and the cautious lawyer who represents him, interesting motives of their own.

The villains lack depth, and the final third relies on a fairly straightforward cat-and-mouse plot. Some readers may wish for more courtroom drama. Lacy returns in The Judge's List, which makes a good follow-up. Grisham also gives Lacy a personal life, including her relationship with a supportive brother and a cautious romance, which makes her feel real. The procedural details about how judicial complaints are handled are fascinating, and the book moves quickly from one revelation to the next, with very few slow patches. About 384 pages in the Doubleday hardcover.