It’s been four decades since John Grisham was a small-town Mississippi lawyer, but that experience continues to provide material for his bestselling novels.

That was true of his first, “A Time to Kill,” published in 1989, and it’s true of his latest, “The Widow,” which he discussed during the Minnesota Star Tribune and MPR News’ Talking Volumes on Oct. 23. In the book, lawyer Simon Latch stumbles into what may be a golden opportunity or a career-ender: An elderly woman wants help with a will, claiming she has millions of dollars socked away. But is she telling the truth? And will her family learn of the secret wealth?

“I never had a wealthy client come in for a will and surprise me with his or her net worth,” Grisham, 70, said by phone from his Virginia home. (His drawl remains pure Miss

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