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John Grisham is a prolific American author who has written a large number of books. Therefore, if you want to get stuck in his writing, it can be a little intimidating.
To help you get into the writing of this famed novelist, we have created a list of John Grisham’s written works. So if you want to read Grisham’s novels in order, simply follow this informative list!
Born in 1955, John Grisham is a famous American author. His work is primarily focused on crime fiction and mystery.
The reason for this is likely that Grisham was an author before he became a writer. As a result, his crime fiction writing has been imbued with a strong sense of realism.
Grisham’s debut novel was published in 1989. Since then, he has continued to write novels, many of which have achieved massive commercial success.
Grisham’s debut novel, A Time To Kill, introduces Jake Brigance, a character who features in numerous novels.
The novel was adapted into a film in 1996, which stars Matthew McConaughey as Brigance. There are also stage adaptations of it too.
The Firm is Grisham’s most well-known novel. It is this book that caused Grisham’s rise to fame. Due to the novel’s popularity, The Firm was made into a film in 1993.
It had a star-studded cast, with famed actors such as Tom Cruise and Holly Hunter. The book follows Mitch McDeere, a promising young man, who is seduced by a sinister company.
Grisham’s thriller centers around Darby Shaw, a law student who investigates the assassination of members of the Supreme Court. However, this investigation makes her a target.
Set primarily in New Orleans and Memphis, The Client is about a young boy, named Mark Sway, who becomes embroiled in mafia secrets.
Released in 1994, The Chamber is Grisham’s fifth crime thriller novel. The book is set in 1967. It explores themes such as forgiveness.
A lawyer called Adam Hall makes an appeal for his racist grandfather, who was accused of killing two young boys.
Idealistic law graduate Rudy Baylor has to face more experienced lawyers to win a case.
The Runaway Jury was published in 1996, while a film adaptation was released in 2003. Lawyer Wendall Rohr faces an immoral consultant named Rankin Fitch who uses illegal practices to manipulate the jury.
Up next, The Partner follows the life of Patrick Lanigan, who faked his death after learning of the illegal practices of his law firm. Hunted down, can Lanigan survive his encounter with the firm?
In The Street Lawyer, Michael Brock investigates claims that law firm Drake & Sweeney forcibly evicted residents. What Brock finds shocks him.
Exclusive businessman Troy Phelan struggles to find the best way to divide his estate.
After Troy’s suicide, lawyer Josh Stafford is tasked with ensuring that his claimants get what they deserve, which results in fierce legal battles.
The name of this book refers to a trio of former judges, who devise a nefarious scheme of blackmail to extort money from closeted men. This crime thriller explores the immorality of blackmail.
A Painted House is Grisham’s first novel that does not belong to the law or crime thriller genre.
Instead, the novel is told from the perspective of a seven-year-old boy who loses his innocence after being confronted by the complicated realities of life.
Another departure from the thriller genre, Skipping Christmas is a comedy novel. It follows a couple named Nora and Luther Krank who decide to forego the Christmas traditions.
This is a great book if you love festive reading.
Summoned by his father, Judge Reuben V. Atlee, law professor Ray Atlee becomes entrapped in a story of dirty money.
The King of Torts is a bestseller that was released in 2003. It is about a public defender who becomes disillusioned after he is involved in a case focused on a major pharmaceutical company.
Bleachers marks Grisham’s first experimentation with the sports genre. If you have a passion for American football, you will love this book!
Set in the 1970s, The Last Juror centers around a killer who threatens to murder the jurors if he is convicted.
The Broker is drenched with suspense. In the novel, Joel Backman, a former prisoner, tries to sell a potent surveillance system for a handsome profit.
This short story is another must-read for American football fans!
Based on real-world cases of bribery and tax evasion, The Appeal is a gripping novel about a legal battle against Krane Chemical.
Kyle McAvoy is a promising graduate, whose future may be compromised by a secret in his past. McAvoy is blackmailed with an unflattering and immoral video from 5 years ago.
In 2010, Grisham introduced the character Theodore Boone, a thirteen-year-old kid with a passion for law. This book started a series that centered around the character, which is aimed at young adults (If you like Young Adult Fiction Books, check out the works of Kiera Cass and how to read them).
The second of Grisham’s novels published in 2010, The Confession explores the heartbreaking story of Dont Drumm, who was wrongly accused of killing a cheerleader.
In The Litigators, a graduate of Harvard Law School turns against his former law firm. This novel received mixed reviews, likely in part because it covers similar ground as other Grisham novels, such as The Associate.
In the second book in the series, Theodore Boone aims to find his best friend, April Finnemore, who has recently gone missing.
Another sports novel, Grisham’s Calico Joe centers around baseball. It blends reality and fiction to cover real-world and fictional baseball players alike.
The third book in the Theodore Boone series was released shortly after the second. After he is accused of stealing tablet computers, Theodore must prove his innocence.
The Racketeer is a best-selling crime thriller. This is a story of revenge that you will struggle to put down!
The second book in the Jake Brigance series, Sycamore Row is a sequel to Grisham’s debut novel, A Time to Kill.
In the fourth Theodore Boone novel, the protagonist becomes an activist to prevent planned roadworks that threaten the livelihood of his friend’s family.
Gray Mountain follows Samantha Kofer, a lawyer whose firm is hit badly by the Great Recession.
Addictive to read, the fifth book in the Theodore Boone series is about Thedore’s quest to bring accused murderer Pete Duffy to justice.
Sebastian Rudd is not a traditional lawyer. Instead, this street lawyer defends people without any other options. The book explores the many wacky causes of this non-conformist street lawyer.
The Whistler is a gripping exploration of Native American gaming. Located in Florida, the novel examines the moral issues surrounding a casino founded by a Native American tribe.
After teachers are accused of cheating on standardized tests, Theodore Boone is eager to investigate.
Starting the Camino Island series, this crime thriller is about the case of valuable stolen books written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. An investigation is launched to retrieve these sought-after manuscripts.
The Rooster Bar is a novel that explores three disillusioned third-year law students.
They soon realize that they have been manipulated into attending a school with a poor reputation. Can these three students make a successful career?
Set in 1946, The Reckoning is a murder mystery. War hero Pete Banning is murdered, but who committed the crime? Find out by reading this magnificent murder mystery!
Set in Florida, The Guardians follows Cullen Post as he investigates Quincy Miller. Miller was accused of killing Keith Russo, a lawyer. Yet, Miller attests that he is innocent. What Cullen Post finds will shock you!
When his troubled friend Woody is wrongly accused of a crime, Theodore Boone aims to prove his innocence. Alongside The Guardians, this was the second book Grisham published in 2019.
The sequel to Camino Island, Camino Winds explores the death of Nelson Kerr. When a hurricane hits, it is assumed that this is the cause of Kerr’s death. But further investigation suggests otherwise.
Jake Brigance returns in A Time For Mercy. As an attorney for an accused sixteen-year-old murderer, Brigance discovers that the case is more complex than it seems.
The next novel is about the narrative of promising basketball player Samuel Sooleymon. Divided by his troubled home life and his passion for sports, Samuel has some tough choices to make.
Lacy Stoltz investigates corrupt judges, which soon makes her a target. Stoltz’s investigation leads to the discovery of a list of names, which are the victims of a powerful judge. Is Stoltz next?
Yet another novel set in Mississippi, The Boys from Biloxi is an intimate tale of two immigrant sons who took very different paths.
While one boy became a prosecutor, the other became entrenched in the criminal underworld.
Grisham’s most recently published work is Sparring Partners, a novella that tells multiple stories centered around the law. This allows Grisham to not only have a range of narratives but also different tones.
John Grisham’s novels can be broken down into different series.
Books within the same series tend to focus on the same character and explore the same narrative. As a result, if you enjoyed one of the books in a series, you may want to read the others.
Here is a comprehensive breakdown of the various John Grisham book series:
The Theodore Boone series is the most prolific. Yet, because these books are aimed at younger readers, they tend to be shorter than the average Grisham novel.
The majority of Grisham’s novels are standalone.
John Grisham is one of the most popular modern authors. Part of the reason for his popularity is how prolific he is. As you can see from this list, Grisham regularly releases novels.
Few other writers can release books this frequently.
Another reason for Grisham’s success is his high-quality writing. His novels are gripping and contain interesting narratives.
Not to mention, they contain realistic story elements thanks to Grisham’s past as a lawyer!