John Grisham, the king of legal thrillers, is one of the best-selling authors of all time, withover 400 million copies soldworldwide. Before finding success as an author, he practiced law for a decade and even served for a time in the Mississippi House of Representatives. Grisham’s experiences as a lawyer and legislator deeply influenced his writing, providing authentic insights into the intricacies of the legal system.
Grisham’s stories can be a little over-the-top, and the dialogue is sometimes rather pulpy, but there’s no denying thathis plots are gripping and the legal elements of the stories are well-executed. He’s fundamentally a genre writer, but his work is elevated by the fact that it draws on real expertise. This formula has won him countless fans, who continue to devour his work (some of them have even adapted his novels into movies). Here are John Grisham’s best books, according to the users of book review site Goodreads.
20’The Reckoning' (2018)
Rating: 3.74/5
“War is hell, Pete, and we’re all casualties.“The Reckoningbegins in 1946 with the shocking murder committed by war hero Pete Banning, a decorated World War II veteran and beloved Mississippi farmer. Banning’s brutal shooting of the local Methodist pastor, Dexter Bell, sends shockwaves through the small town of Clanton, leaving townsfolk stunned and horrified. What’s more confounding is Banning’s stony silence during the investigation; he offers no reason, no defense, and no remorse for his crime.
The author builds this premise into a suspenseful courtroom drama and an exploration of buried secrets. On top of the legal thriller stuff, he brings in elements from a range of subgenres, includinga coming-of-storyand murder mystery. As a result, the plot is juicy, helping to carry the reader through the exposition-heavy sections. The characters in Grisham’s novels can be a little thin, but the second half of this one nicely fleshes out Peter’s backstory. Gripping flashbacks help reveal who he is beneath the surface.
19’A Painted House' (2001)
Rating: 3.76/5
“The truth is, no one ever gets used to the heat. You just learn to live with it.” InA Painted House, Grisham strays from his legal thriller roots to spin a tale of Southern life in the 1950s, as seen through the eyes of a seven-year-old boy named Luke Chandler. Living on a cotton farm in Arkansas, Luke’s world is full of dusty fields, unquestioned family loyalty, and the daily grind of rural life. But the arrival of two distinct groups—Mexican laborers and a family of “hill people”—upends the routine as secrets, rivalries, and tensions rise.
Luke soon finds himself entangled in adult secrets, witnessing violence, love, and lies. He must grow up fast - or drown.It adds up to a slow-paced, sentimental coming-of-age story, presumably drawing heavily from the author’s own childhood in Arkansas. In 2003, the novel was adapted into a TV series starringScott GlennandLogan Lerman.
18’The Brethren' (2000)
Rating: 3.77/5
“There was no honor among thieves, only desperate men trying to survive another day.” This darkly comic legal three disgraced former judges serving time in a minimum-security prison. From behind bars, these crooked masterminds operate a blackmail scheme targeting wealthy men through fake personal ads, a setup that allows them to pull strings from the shadows. However, their scheme takes a dangerous turn when they unwittingly ensnare a powerful presidential candidate, drawing them into a high-stakes political conspiracy. The judges bite off a lot more than they can chew.
The Brethrendeviates from Grisham’s usualheroic-lawyer-versus-powerful-baddiesformula, which pleased many fans and alienated many fans. Rather than focus on an undergo protagonist, the book alternates between the blackmail plot and the presidential election campaign. Unsurprisingly, both storylines are populated by shady characters, including lawless CIA agents. The only thing that kills the tension somewhat is the fact that actual present-day politics is, if anything, more chaotic and intense.
17’Rogue Lawyer' (2015)
Rating: 3.79/5
“I’m not crazy; I’m just not a very good lawyer.” Sebastian Rudd, the protagonist ofRogue Lawyer, is unlike any other attorney Grisham has written—a jaded, streetwise defense lawyer with a penchant for cases others wouldn’t touch. Operating out of a custom-built van due to his contempt for traditional law offices, Rudd takes on clients ranging from accused terrorists to corrupt cops, believing that even the most unsavory characters deserve a fair shot at justice.
Rudd’s cases plunge him into the underbelly of the justice system, with a smart-mouthed bodyguard as his only trusted ally.The legal proceedings are front and center here, complemented by a tangle of subplots. They involve a notorious crime lord, the kidnapped daughter of a high-ranking police officer, and Rudd’s fractious relationship with his ex-wife. Some plot developments strain credulity, but, overall, the book is commendable for cramming so much story into its 350-odd pages.
16’Camino Island' (2017)
Rating: 3.81/5
“If you’re gonna be stupid you gotta be tough.” Grisham took a departure from his usual legal thrillers withthis crime mystery novel. It revolves around the heist of rareF. Scott Fitzgeraldmanuscripts from Princeton University’s library. The stolen manuscripts find their way to Bruce Cable, an enigmatic rare books dealer running a bookstore on the idyllic Camino Island. Enter Mercer Mann, a young, struggling writer with mounting debt, who is approached by a mysterious figure and asked to infiltrate Cable’s circle and gather intelligence on the pilfered documents.
The genre switch-up is a welcome change of pace. It seems to reenergize Grisham’s storytelling. The resort-town setting is also refreshing; instead of navigating the dark corridors of courthouses found in his 20-plus novels, Grisham takes us to a tranquil island off the coast of Florida.The result is a light genre read that may appeal to readers beyond just fans of legal thrillers.
15’Camino Winds' (2020)
“Murder in paradise was never part of the plan.“Camino Windsis the sequel toCamino Island, bringing together a hurricane and a murder mystery. After a devastating storm hits the Florida coast, Mercer Mann and her friends find themselves amid a crime investigation when one of their own, writer Nelson Kerr, is found dead. Initially assumed to be a casualty of the hurricane, Nelson’s death soon reveals signs of foul play, leading bookstore owner Bruce Cable and his circle of amateur sleuths on a chase to unmask the killer.
Like the first book,this is a thriller with a literary twist and a picturesque backdrop.Some will find it a bit too repetitive, while others will enjoy the return to what madeCamino Islandso appealing. It’s a quirky blend of whodunit and tropical noir. In general, the book was well-received by critics, who praised the suspense and tight plotting.
14’The Chamber' (1994)
Rating: 3.84/5
“I’ve spent my life hating people, and look what I have to show for it.” Thefilm adaptation of this legal dramawas panned by critics but the novel was received more warmly. It’s a darker tale from Grisham, exploring hate crimes, capital punishment, and the possibility of redemption. At the heart of the narrative is young attorney Adam Hall, who takes on the seemingly impossible task of saving his grandfather, Sam Cayhall, from the gas chamber.
Sam, a former Ku Klux Klan member, has been convicted of a horrific 1967 bombing that killed two Jewish children. As Adam investigates, he uncovers painful family secrets and finds himself confronted with ethical dilemmas. The book stumbles at times - some of the dialogue is a little wooden, and the bleakness can be a little wearisome - but its strongest point is the complex, almost sympathetic way it depicts Sam. He’s no stock villain, andthe novel resists easy moral answers.
13’The Street Lawyer' (1998)
Rating: 3.88/5
“I didn’t dare think of the future; the past was still happening.” Attorney Michael Brock’s career trajectory takes a sharp turn when he is taken hostage by a homeless man named DeVon Hardy, who ultimately dies during the incident. This traumatic experience awakens Michael to the stark realities of inequality and homelessness. Motivated by a newfound sense of justice, he leaves his lucrative job to work for Mordecai Green, a passionate advocate for the homeless. However, this decision quickly presents him with tough challenges.
The Street Lawyerfeatures most of Grisham’s hallmarks: an idealistic protagonist, a propulsive plot, and contemporarysocial issues woven into the narrativeto add relevance. Grisham keeps the story going, forever adding in tense new plot developments just as things start to get stale. On the more negative side, the characters feel underdeveloped and thin, which hobbles the story somewhat. Some of the prose is clunky andthe themes, while interesting, would’ve benefited from deeper exploration.
12’The Racketeer' (2012)
Rating: 3.89/5
“You realize how tough you are, how you may function and survive because you have no choice.” The main character in this one is Malcolm Bannister, a disgraced former attorney serving a ten-year sentence for a crime he didn’t commit. The novel kicks off with the mysterious murder of Judge Raymond Fawcett and his secretary, found dead in a secluded lakeside cabin. Malcolm, who possesses inside information about the crime, strikes a deal with the FBI to secure his release in exchange for revealing the identity of the real culprit.
The Racketeerboasts one of Grisham’s most enjoyable mysteries(it’s even unclear who the title is meant to refer to). It’s a juicy fusion of revenge thriller and cryptic puzzle, hitting the reader with one plot twist after the other. Perhaps for this reason, it resonated with readers more than usual and was a massive hit, becoming one of the bestselling books of the year.
11’The Testament' (1999)
Rating: 3.90.5
“You disgrace yourself so many times you become immune to it.“The Testamentbegins with the death of billionaire Troy Phelan, who, in a shocking twist, leaves his vast fortune not to his grasping family but to an illegitimate daughter, Rachel Lane, a missionary living in the Brazilian Pantanal. Washed-up attorney Nate O’Riley is tasked with finding Rachel and delivering the news of her inheritance. His journey takes him deep into the jungle, where he faces trials both physical and spiritual.
This isa solid adventure story, benefiting enormously from the Amazon setting. It’s got all the usual Grisham good stuff: suspense, devilish lawyers, eye-watering sums of money, and a rollicking story. Unfortunately, the book is cluttered with too many characters, most of whom aren’t that memorable. Plus, the ending is hurried, making it a little unsatisfying. That said, those who enjoy a good jungle escapade should find enough here to justify a read.
