John Grisham is a novelist, former criminal lawyer, and member of the Mississippi House of Representatives for seven years. He grew up in Mississippi and this influenced a great deal of the books that he would later write.
It was while he was working as a lawyer that he came across a case that would inspire him to write his first novel, A Time To Kill.
The book that followed his debut was The Firm which would stay on the New York Times Bestseller List for 47 weeks and be adapted into a movie.
After the success of The Firm, Grisham gave up practicing law and devoted all his time to writing novels.
To date, he has written 51 books of which 31 are standalone novels. His books are mostly legal thrillers and are very popular in that genre.
About John Grisham Books
John Grisham writes mostly legal thrillers based on his decade-long career as a criminal lawyer.
He has also written sports fiction, young adult novels, non-fiction, and short stories. One collection is Ford County which is a fictional place that features in many of his novels.
Grisham is considered one of America’s best novelists, a claim backed by the fact that he is one of only three authors to have sold 2 million copies on the first printing. J.K. Rowling and Tom Clancy are the other two authors achieving this impressive feat.
In a maximum security prison, a man is facing the death penalty for a racist bombing.
Meanwhile, a young lawyer is about to begin a brilliant legal career. But there is a family connection between the two and one is going to have to sacrifice everything.
A young well paid lawyer is tragically caught in a burning car one cold winter night.
When they buried him all that filled his coffin was ashes. But now in a shady street in Brazil, Danilo Silva is being watched. And Danilo has a history with many chapters.
Another tale of a lawyer who has it all only to lose everything. A homeless man takes nine lawyers hostage and when it’s over his blood is all over Michael Brock’s face.
Will Brock be able to leave his plush office to fight injustice for society’s powerless?
Another non-legal drama from John Grisham. Luther and Nora Krank have decided to skip Christmas this year and instead embark on a Caribbean cruise. But they soon discover that skipping Christmas is not as easy as it sounds.
John Grisham is back doing what he does best, writing about lawyers and courtroom dramas.
An elderly judge summons his two sons to discuss his estate. But before they can get there the judge dies. And only one of his sons knows the shocking secret he left behind.
Once a great quarterback, Neely Crenshaw has come back to his hometown to bury his coach, Eddie Rake.
With the rest of the guys from the glory days when the Messina Spartans were legends, Neely looks back at how he really felt about their old football coach.
Kyle McAvoy has a great future and an incredible legal mind. But he also has a dark secret that could destroy everything, and now he’s being blackmailed.
All he has to do is take a job in the world’s largest law firm but instead of working for them, he has to work against them.
After abducting and murdering a high school cheerleader, Travis Boyette watches as the local football star is sent to Death Row for the crime.
Nine years later and suffering from an inoperable brain tumor Travis decides to do the right thing, but is it too late?
Pros
Well-written and suspenseful
Cons
A vehicle for Grisham’s own views on capital punishment
Final Thoughts
John Grisham grew up wanting to be a baseball player but gave up at the age of 18 after an injury during a game. His mother encouraged him to go to college and in 1981 he graduated with a law degree.
Not only did he become a lawyer but also a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives.
All of the preceding influences and career choices would feature in his written work.
His experience of the law and how lawyers work give his novels the edge of credibility and insider knowledge.
Grisham is also able to give believable accounts of how political systems work and integrates this well into his books.
But it wasn’t just his career that influenced his work. Growing up in the south allowed him to write A Painted House so well, describing the life of a young boy growing up among the cotton fields.
Grisham also wrote comedy fiction, Skipping Christmas which was adapted as a movie.
However, it has been his legal thrillers that have been the most successful for John Grisham, eight of which have been made into well-known movies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Best John Grisham Book To Start With?
The Firm is possibly John Grisham’s most popular novel and a great way to introduce yourself to his style of writing as well as the genre that he excels in. Also a good movie.
Do John Grisham Books Need To Be Read In Order?
The majority of John Grisham’s books are standalone novels and as such can be read in any order. He has written some very short series of books including The Whistler series.
What Author Is Most Like John Grisham?
There are many well-known authors in the genre of legal thrillers including David Baldacci, Michael Connelly, Scott Turow, Lisa Scottoline, and Steve Martini.
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