John Grisham is renowned for thrilling legal dramas centered around the courtroom. You know that rush when the underdog lawyer in The Firm realizes he's in way over his head, or the moral complexity that makes A Time to Kill impossible to put down. Grisham perfected the art of the legal thriller, where justice isn't guaranteed, corruption runs deep, and one person's fight against the system keeps you turning pages long past your bedtime.
If you enjoy the suspense, courtroom battles, and ethical dilemmas in John Grisham's books, you will love these 15 authors.
Often considered the other master of the modern legal thriller, Scott Turow is an essential author for any Grisham fan. A former prosecutor, Turow’s writing is defined by its psychological depth, moral ambiguity, and authentic portrayal of the legal system's inner workings. His novels are dense, character-driven, and meticulously plotted.
His landmark novel Presumed Innocent follows prosecutor Rusty Sabich, who becomes the prime suspect in the murder of a colleague and former lover. The book is a masterclass in suspense, combining a gripping courtroom drama with a haunting exploration of betrayal and obsession.
Where Grisham often focuses on the fast-paced plot, Turow delves deeper into the psyches of his characters, making him a perfect choice for readers who love the legal world but crave rich, literary suspense.
While best known for his Harry Bosch detective series, Michael Connelly is a must-read for Grisham fans, especially for his legal thriller series featuring defense attorney Mickey Haller. Connelly’s sharp plotting and knack for suspense translate perfectly to the courtroom.
Start with The Lincoln Lawyer, which introduces the charismatic and cunning Haller, who runs his practice from the backseat of his Lincoln Town Car. When Haller takes on a seemingly straightforward case defending a wealthy Beverly Hills playboy, he’s pulled into a conspiracy that reveals a shocking connection to one of his past cases.
Connelly provides the same page-turning momentum as Grisham but grounds it in the gritty reality of criminal defense, making Haller a compelling, morally complex hero.
A fellow lawyer-turned-novelist, David Baldacci delivers the same brand of high-stakes, fast-paced thrillers as Grisham, often weaving in political and federal intrigue. His stories frequently feature ordinary people caught in vast conspiracies, fighting against powerful and corrupt institutions.
A perfect entry point is The Simple Truth. The novel centers on a Supreme Court clerk who discovers a letter from a man on death row claiming his innocence, a letter that implicates powerful figures. This discovery sets off a deadly chain of events that exposes a cover-up at the highest levels of power.
Baldacci excels at creating intricate, clock-ticking plots that will feel immediately familiar and satisfying to fans of Grisham’s conspiracy-driven stories like The Pelican Brief.
For readers who appreciate the courtroom drama and relatable characters in Grisham’s work, Lisa Scottoline is a fantastic choice. A former trial lawyer, Scottoline brings authenticity and wit to her legal thrillers, which are often set in her hometown of Philadelphia and feature smart, tough female protagonists.
Her debut, Everywhere That Mary Went, introduces Mary DiNunzio, an ambitious young lawyer who becomes the target of a terrifying stalker just as she's on the cusp of making partner. The novel expertly blends suspense with the pressures of corporate law.
Scottoline’s Rosato & Associates series is perfect for readers who love legal strategy, office politics, and characters you feel you know personally.
Steve Martini is a giant of the legal thriller genre, known for his compelling defense attorney protagonist, Paul Madriani. His novels are celebrated for their intricate plots, surprising twists, and detailed, authentic courtroom scenes that rival Grisham’s best.
Jump in with Compelling Evidence, the first in the series. Madriani is forced to defend his former mentor—and the husband of his new lover—who is accused of murdering his mistress. Madriani finds himself navigating a web of secrets where every revelation puts him in greater danger.
Martini delivers the classic legal thriller experience, packed with procedural detail and shocking reversals of fortune that will keep any Grisham fan hooked.
Brad Meltzer specializes in thrillers set within the corridors of power in Washington, D.C., blending history, conspiracy, and law. His protagonists are often young, brilliant idealists who stumble upon secrets that are far bigger and more dangerous than they could have imagined—a classic Grisham trope.
His debut novel, The Tenth Justice, follows Ben Addison, a new Supreme Court clerk who unwittingly leaks the outcome of a major case. Soon he finds himself blackmailed and caught in a conspiracy that threatens not only his career but his life.
If you love the insider details of the legal and political systems in books like The Pelican Brief, Meltzer’s work will be your next great discovery.
A contemporary of Grisham and Turow, Richard North Patterson is a master of crafting complex legal thrillers that tackle timely social and political issues. His novels are known for their sophisticated plots, nuanced characters, and dramatic courtroom showdowns.
A standout is Degree of Guilt, which tells the story of a famous television journalist who kills a celebrated author and claims it was self-defense against rape. Her case is defended by her ex-lover, a top criminal attorney, who must navigate a media firestorm and his own complicated feelings to uncover the truth.
Patterson’s work offers the same intellectual satisfaction and moral weight that make Grisham’s best novels so memorable.
For a modern, high-concept take on the legal thriller, look no further than Steve Cavanagh. His electrifying series features Eddie Flynn, a former con artist turned trial lawyer who uses his street smarts and courtroom skills to defend the innocent.
A phenomenal place to start is Thirteen, a thriller with an irresistible hook: the real killer isn't on trial; he's on the jury. As Eddie Flynn defends a Hollywood actor accused of murder, he realizes he’s in a deadly cat-and-mouse game with a brilliant psychopath who is manipulating the trial from the inside.
Cavanagh delivers clever, twisty, and incredibly fast-paced plots that capture the same "can't-put-it-down" energy of Grisham’s early work.
If you are drawn to Grisham's rich Southern settings and stories of dark, buried secrets, Greg Iles is an essential read. His novels, many featuring former prosecutor Penn Cage, are set in Natchez, Mississippi, and masterfully blend legal drama with sprawling, atmospheric suspense.
Begin with The Quiet Game, where Cage returns to his hometown for a quieter life, only to become embroiled in the decades-old unsolved murder of a Black man. As Cage digs for the truth, he uncovers a town riddled with racial tensions and deadly conspiracies.
Iles’s exploration of justice, history, and small-town corruption will strongly resonate with fans of A Time to Kill.
As a former prosecutor and current law professor, Alafair Burke brings an unparalleled level of authenticity and sharp insight to her crime novels. She excels at creating suspenseful stories that explore the complexities of the justice system from multiple perspectives.
The Ex is a superb example of her work. The novel follows a successful corporate lawyer whose life is upended when her ex-fiancé—whom she hasn’t seen in twenty years—is accused of a triple homicide, and she is the only one who can provide his alibi. Her decision to help pulls her into a web of deceit that challenges her perception of guilt and innocence.
Burke’s thrillers are intelligent, timely, and perfect for readers who appreciate the moral and legal intricacies in Grisham’s stories.
While blending crime fiction with Southern Gothic literature, John Hart’s novels feature the core themes that Grisham fans love: flawed heroes, battles for justice against overwhelming odds, and communities haunted by past sins. His writing is acclaimed for its powerful emotion and lyrical prose.
A great starting point is the award-winning The Last Child. A year after his twin sister’s mysterious disappearance, thirteen-year-old Johnny Merrimon embarks on his own dangerous investigation, uncovering dark secrets in his North Carolina town that powerful adults want to keep buried.
For readers who appreciate the deep sense of place and the focus on morality and family in books like Sycamore Row, John Hart is a phenomenal choice.
Jeffery Deaver is the king of the high-stakes, twist-filled procedural. While he focuses more on forensic investigation than courtroom drama, his work will appeal to Grisham fans who love the puzzle-solving aspect of building a case and the race-against-time suspense.
His most famous novel, The Bone Collector, introduces Lincoln Rhyme, a brilliant criminalist left quadriplegic after an on-the-job accident. From his bed, Rhyme teams up with patrol officer Amelia Sachs to hunt a sadistic serial killer who leaves cryptic clues at each crime scene.
Deaver’s genius lies in his meticulous plotting and shocking final twists, offering the same intellectual thrill as watching a brilliant lawyer dismantle a case on the stand.
William Lashner is another fantastic author from the 90s legal thriller boom, creating a cynical, down-on-his-luck protagonist who is the perfect foil to Grisham’s more idealistic heroes. His Victor Carl series is beloved for its sharp dialogue and gritty Philadelphia setting.
Start with Hostile Witness, where Carl, a lawyer struggling to pay his bills, takes on a lucrative case defending a man from a prominent family in a nasty political dispute. But what begins as a simple job soon entangles him in a world of corruption and murder where he is dangerously out of his depth.
Lashner provides a darker, more noir-inflected version of the legal thriller that Grisham fans will devour.
A veteran criminal defense attorney, Phillip Margolin brings decades of real-world courtroom experience to his novels. He is a master of the high-concept legal thriller, constructing intricate, puzzle-box plots that are loaded with shocking twists and compelling legal arguments, making him a pillar of the genre since the 1990s.
His breakout novel, Gone, But Not Forgotten, is the perfect place to start. The story begins with a series of chilling disappearances where women vanish, leaving behind only a black rose. The case goes cold, but a decade later, the pattern resumes. Defense attorney Betsy Tannenbaum finds herself defending a prominent client who seems connected to the new crimes, forcing her to unravel a conspiracy that is far more complex and terrifying than a simple copycat killing.
Margolin delivers the kind of tightly wound, surprise-laden courtroom narratives that will thrill readers who love the shocking reversals and intricate legal maneuvering in Grisham's best work.
For readers drawn to the moral weight and social commentary in Grisham's work, Dennis Lehane is an essential, if darker, choice. A master of crime fiction, Lehane explores themes of justice, community, and trauma with profound depth and literary skill.
His masterpiece, Mystic River, examines the lives of three childhood friends in a Boston neighborhood, bound by a past trauma. When one of their daughters is murdered, they are drawn back together, forcing them to confront their loyalties and the devastating cycle of violence.
While not a traditional legal thriller, it is a powerful examination of justice—both inside and outside the law—that will resonate with anyone who appreciates the thematic complexity of novels like A Time to Kill.