Camino Island: A Novel

It is perhaps the greatest literary heist in history. Five original, handwritten manuscripts by F. Scott Fitzgerald have been stolen from Princeton. Thieves have committed the perfect crime, except for one ill-fated piece of evidence left at the scene. Now, the manuscripts must be carefully hidden and then quickly disposed of before months of meticulous planning are wasted. Mercer Mann, an unemployed author of modest literary success is recruited by a shadowy government agency. She now has the job of spying on Bruce Cable, a bookstore owner who may be the key to finding the documents. Returning to her childhood vacation home on Camino Island under the cover story of writing her next novel, Mercer is absorbed into the writer’s community, but is she on the right track? The closer she gets to Bruce, the harder it is for Mercer to continue her deception.

A welcome departure from John Grisham’s usual legal thrillers, Camino Island is highly recommended for readers who are interested in learning more about the rare-book trade. Don’t expect a heavy literary masterpiece; it is a fast-paced, easy read perfect for a weekend afternoon.