I am a big fan of John Grisham; I have read all of his books. I think he writes intelligent and captivating stuff.

I won’t buy hardback books, but am happy to part with cash when the paperbacks come out. The last book, Theodore Boone: half the man twice the lawyer hit the bookshelves last month. I bought my copy in Scarborough.

It is a smaller book than his previous efforts and I polished it off in less than a week. But I was glad when I got to the end. It is not his finest work. I think it was really quite ‘amateurish’. The storyline was weak and it was more about a character than a plot. This is not what he does best. Plots that twist and thicken with the occasional surprise are hallmarks.

This book just whimpers on until we reach the (anti) climax which was wholly predictable. It was boring.

Has Grisham lost his touch? He doesn’t need the cash. Well not entirely – I found out afterwards that it was aimed at a younger audience. If I was 10 then it was probably great. But I am not – I was duped. The book wasn’t in the kiddie section of Waterstones – honest! I should have guessed when the title didn’t begin with “The”?