Calico Joe is a baseball book, but more than that it is a story. It is just what you would expect from Grisham. The book revolves around a bean ball. Joe Castle was a young phenom on a meteoric rise in the big leagues. His explosion onto the scene is historic, he just keeps getting hits. Warren Tracey is a pitcher who is barely hanging on in the big show. He has just enough success to keep him pitching for the Mets, but just barely. The only way he is distinguished is by leading the league in hit batsmen. In the amazing summer of 1973, their paths seemed destined to cross, and they did.

Paul is Warren's son. Their relationship is rocky at best, and now, many years after Warren has left the family far behind, Paul remembers back to that fateful summer, back to the events that changed all of their lives. He was there on that day. And he never played baseball again.

This is a story about baseball, and about some of the unwritten rules that sometimes govern the game. But more than that it is a story of two men whose lives were forever changed. It is a quick read, and is a tale well told. As with many of his books, it is a study in human character, in this case, a look at self-destructive tendencies, but also forgiveness and resolution. It's not a legal thriller, but is in line with some of his other little character-stories such as Playing for Pizza or Bleachers. It's a great book to pick up as baseball season gets going for another summer.