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"The French Illusion"| Reviewed by Pat Sainz
John Grisham’s newest book “The French Illusion” is haunting. This is not because it’s about ghosts or is a horror story. It’s haunting because it brings back so much to remember and learn from the Iraq War (2003-2011) and also leads the reader to think about the safety of current travel abroad.
Kudos to Grisham for writing a historical fiction novel that includes foreign kidnappings, the experiences of detainees in Guantanamo Bay, and the inner workings of the CIA and FBI. A romance story is in there, too.
The first chapter, appropriately titled “Honeymoon,” tells of Chelsea and Paul, both in their late 20’s, experiencing a marvelous week in Paris following their splashy wedding in Annapolis. Chelsea broadcasts practically every minute of their honeymoon on social media. When her Instagram and Facebook messages suddenly stop, her friends and family begin to wonder what has happened.
Paul and Chelsea have been kidnapped in a seamless operation that no one notices even though it happened in the middle of the day in an outdoor restaurant. Then the videos to the families begin. The pair are apart but filmed in dire circumstances. A ransom is paid. Only Chelsea is released.
Months pass without Paul’s release. Chelsea, home with her parents, struggles to keep Paul’s disappearance secret as the kidnappers have instructed. Friends are frustrated; reporters begin asking questions when they are alerted to his disappearance.
In the chapter titled “Search,” the FBI and the CIA become involved. Several kidnappings of Americans exactly like that of Chelsea and Paul, all in Paris, have secretly occurred over several years. All the men have ties to the military. None of the men have been released.
Parisian authorities don't want the kidnappings to come to light because it will affect tourism. The CIA and the FBI don’t want to advertise their inability to find the victims. Plus, the thugs responsible for the kidnappings threaten to kill their hostages if there is any publicity.
An FBI agent who works undercover develops a plan to replicate the kidnappings. It’s a last-ditch measure to solve the crimes. It’s also an elaborate scheme that requires the help of a brave person who might likely lose his life.
Grisham’s book leads the reader to have many follow-up questions; the mark of a good book, in my opinion. What don’t we know about the current dangers of traveling abroad? What don’t we know about terrorism threats to our own country? Will we ever know? How much information is kept from us to “protect” us? How often does the withholding of public information occur to keep tourism alive.
I researched information from the U.S Department of State Travel Advisories site regarding threat levels to United States travelers going to other countries. France is a level 2 due to terrorism threats. (Caution). Jamaica is a level 3. (Reconsider travel) Haiti is level 4. (Don’t travel). The United States gives itself a 1, but other countries give us a level 2 or 3 mostly because of the current immigration policies.
Questions about Guantanamo Bay and the military’s treatment of the prisoners surface. Men who were captured from Central and South Asia, North Africa and the Middle East and imprisoned by the US military at Guantanamo Bay following the September 11 attack in the United States have a bearing on Grisham’s thrilling plotline.
“The French Illusion” bears the hallmarks of a John Grisham book
With its focus on crime and the inner workings of federal departments, thrilling escapades, the build-up to heart-stopping excitement, and a little romance thrown in.
