I just read Sooley. Loved the descriptions of his development and basketball play. The game descriptions in the NCAA tournament were great.
He was totally likeable. He didn't deserve to die. The overedose was clearly accidental, given is aversion to drugs. Grisham could have added intrigue into getting family out, instead of killing him off.
The death of his father and the unspeakable horror his sister would have faced should have been enough tragedy for the family.