10 Books for Fans of John Grisham

When John Grisham's,

was published in 1989, the former attorney started a new era in legal thrillers. His engrossing plots and relatable characters have inspired countless authors to write their own thrillers set in the world of law and justice. If you're a Grisham fan, here are ten great titles you'll also enjoy.

Real-life judge Michael Ponsor brings Grisham-like insider authority to The Hanging Judge. Even though Massachusetts doesn't have the death penalty at the state level, a federal prosecutor exercises his jurisdiction to bring the first capital case there in decades. Rookie judge David Norcross finds himself at the 

2.

by Robin James

Grisham often uses small towns as the setting for his novels, allowing for the creation of charming salt-of-the-earth characters. Robin James has done the same with her Mara Brent legal thriller series. The first of them, Time of Justice, finds the small-town prosecutor putting a sexual predator on trial. With DNA 

Like Grisham, Scott Turow is an attorney-turned-novelist. He shot to fame after the publication of his first novel, Presumed Innocent. In this gripping thriller, Chief Deputy Prosecutor Rusty Sabicch is investigating a murder, and after his boss loses re-election, he inexplicably finds himself on trial for the crime.

by James Chandler

James Chandler is another attorney who has turned their experience into writing suspenseful legal fiction. As he's also a veteran of the US Army, Chandler adds depth to his literary alter ego, attorney Sam Johnstone. Johnstone debuted in Misjudged, looking for refuge at a small law firm in rural Wyoming after enduring 

5.

by Marcia Clark

While many attorneys have tried their hand at writing, most were not world-famous when they published their first novels. Marcia Clark, however, had prosecuted the "Trial of the Century" when she traded in writing legal briefs for legal thrillers. Blood Defense is one of her best and the first in her series about 

6.

by L.T. Ryan and Brian Shea

For a look at a different side of the legal process, check out the Rachel Hatch series from author L.T. Ryan and police detective Brian Shea. In the first Hatch book, Drift, we're introduced to the former Army criminal investigator at a low point in her life. After years of challenging work, she's rudderless and drifting 

If you enjoy the investigative side of the legal process, the UNSUB series is for you. Named after the FBI term for "unknown subject," the first UNSUB novel from Meg Gardiner is an intense psychological thriller inspired by the infamous Zodiac Killer case. Narcotics detective Caitlin Hendrix is on the trail of The 

Bringing things back into the courtroom is the first of twelve Rosato & Associates series, Everywhere That Mary Went, from author Lisa Scottoline. This suspenseful thriller finds the character Mary DiNunzio working her way up to partner at her prestigious law firm. She's devoted to her work until a series of 

Another fine mix of mystery and suspense, with a Grisham-worthy conspiracy thrown in, is Harlan Coben's The Stranger. The title character is a mystery man who appears out of nowhere to whisper secrets into people's ears. Who is this stranger, and how does he know all these secrets? Finding the answer proves

Shifting the scene from America to the UK, author Simon McCleave's books about Detective Inspector Ruth Hunter bring a nice twist to mystery thrillers with a law backdrop. The first Ruth Hunter book, The Snowdonia Killings, is the place to start. Escaping crime-ridden London for idyllic North Wales, Ruth can't catch

Bonus Picks! Watch and Listen to These Titles Similar to John Grisham

The Lincoln Lawyer

Adapted from Michael Connelly's series of books about idealistic lawyer Mickey Haller, the Netflix original series

hits all the right spots for Grisham fans. Charming characters, engaging plotlines, and thought-provoking looks at the law have made this one of Netflix's biggest recent hits.

The Prosecutors Podcast

If you enjoy the realism of Grisham's legal thrillers or are just fascinated by the law in general, listen to The Prosecutors podcast. Hosted by real-life prosecuting attorneys Alice LaCour and Brett Talley, The Prosecutors is an intriguing look behind the scenes at one of the most challenging jobs in the legal profession.