John Grisham’s novels usually involve legal thrillers, and the attorneys who star in them are usually heroes. They are out for justice and righting wrongs. In his latest novel, “The Widow,” Grisham presents an attorney who is neither hero nor fighter for justice.

Simon Latch is, as are many lawyers, just trying to get by. He works in a small Virginia town, mostly does bankruptcy cases along with simple wills, minor traffic offenses, simple divorces. A general practice lawyer, he doesn’t do criminal law, fancy estate work, or anything requiring specialized knowledge. His personal life is as dreary as his professional life. He’s on the verge of getting a divorce, and his financial situation is dire.

Simon not only has mortgages on his home and office building, he’s in debt for gambling. The $250 wills and cheap bankruptcy cases aren’t filling the coffers. He’s generously giving his wife the house and promises to pay the mortgage. He loves his kids as much as he doesn’t love his wife — which is a lot.

When an octogenarian comes into his office and asks him to prepare a will for her, it seems that it’s going to be another run-of-the-mill $250. But when she lets slip that her estate is worth millions, Simon sits up and starts scheming. She has no family, no close friends, and nobody she wants to leave her millions to. Simon desperately needs money, so he figures that as her lawyer, he should get some of it, right? The will he prepares does just that. It provides for a trust, and her loyal attorney is in charge of everything. His time will be generously reimbursed.

In the process of getting her to sign the will, Simon is wining and dining, the widow, Eleanor Barnett. She never offers to pay for a meal, but Simon is in it for the long haul. But when she’s in an accident, hospitalized, and then dies under mysterious circumstances, Simon is charged with murder. We know he didn’t do it, but who did? Was it one of her two stepsons, both sketchy types who had no relationships with her?

Grisham lulls us into the story with a rather slow start as we learn about Simon and his trials and tribulations. There are many of both. He doesn’t live a very happy life. We also meet his secretary, Matilda, who does a lot of the grunt work in his law office. Because of Simon’s greediness, he hides all information about the Barnett will from her. But as the story unfolds, the action ramps up.

There are surprises galore, from twists about the purported millionaire Eleanor Barnett to her suspected murder. By the end, we are frantically turning the pages to see how it all ends up because Grisham writes a heck of a thriller, and this is no less than what we expect. Fans will not be disappointed, and I, for one, really enjoyed the fact that this novel resounds with Grisham’s personal passion — exonerating people who have been wrongly convicted.

Please note: This review is based on the final, hardcover book provided by Doubleday, the publisher, for review purposes.