John Grisham is an American author, specialising in writing legal thrillers and was born in 1955. He is one of America’s best known and most successful authors, and having worked in law for nearly ten years he is arguably well placed to write legal thrillers. At this moment, he has written 25 novels his first “A Time to Kill” was written in 1989 and he is still writing to this day. His first book was rejected by more than twenty publishers until one relatively low key publisher offered to produce 5000 copies, a relatively small number, especially considering how popular and successful Grisham’s writing would later become. There is normally good reason behind an author’s popularity and John Grisham is no exception- he creates suspense brilliantly in his thrillers, and although it is a cliché, in my opinion he produces brilliant ‘page turners.’

A Time To Kill

In Clanton, Mississippi a ten year old girl is beaten and raped by two white racists- the girl is rushed to hospital but the men are heard bragging about the horrific actions at a bar. Fearing that the white criminals will escape justice, the girl’s black father (Carl Lee Hailey) decides to take matters into his own hands and dispenses justice himself, however when he is arrested he dismisses his powerful attorneys and elects for a friend to defend him in court- Jake Tyler Brigance. However one of the rapists has connections with the KKK who are out for revenge- and both Carl and Jake are targets. Jake has to balance keeping his client alive, his own survival whilst trying to win a high powered trial in front of an all white jury.

The Partner

The Partner was published in 1977 and is a classic Grisham legal thriller. The main character, Patrick Lanigan is working for an insurance company and realises that they stand to gain $90 million from defrauding the government- however he isn’t due to get a cut. Gathering evidence, he plans to outthink his opponents- he fakes his own death and $90 million disappears from the insurance companies accounts. Lanigan flees and sets himself up anew abroad, but he does not realise the lengths his opponents will go to track him down and then it will end in the heaviest legal battle of his life. Lanigan is brilliant, but has he made a miscalculation?

The Confession

It stands to logic that if an innocent man is sent to prison, then by definition there is a guilty man running free. Travis Boyette abducted, raped and murdered a high school cheerleader, but he cannot believe his luck when a local football star is arrested instead and is found guilty, set for death row. However nine years later the football star is four days away from execution- would anything make Travis change his mind and save the innocent man?