John Grisham is an American novelist, attorney, and politician best known for his legal thrillers. Also, he is a two-time winner of the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction and was honored with the Library of Congress Creative Achievement Award. John has sold over 300 million books worldwide, and his work has been translated into 42+ languages.
Grisham was born in Arkansas in 1955. He practiced law before turning to writing in the 1980s. He published his first novel, “A Time to Kill,” in 1989. Then he published many bestselling books, including “The Firm,” “The Pelican Brief,” “The Client,” and “The Rainmaker.” Authors like John Grisham are famous for legal cases thrillers with suspenseful plots that keep readers engaged. If you are waiting for their books, then keep scrolling.
5 Authors Like John Grisham (Thrillers Authors)
John Grisham is a popular author due to his unique style of writing legal thrillers and suspenseful storylines. Many of his books have been adapted into successful films, further increasing his popularity. He has also built a large and dedicated fanbase over the years through his consistent delivery of engaging stories.
Books recommended by John Grisham (Best John Grisham books to start with):
- A Time to Kill.
- The Firm.
- The Pelican Brief.
- The Rainmaker.
- The Client.
- The Chamber.
- The Associate.
- The Confession.
- The Litigators.
- The Partner.
I have a list for you if you want more legal thriller authors! Here are 5 more similar authors, John Grisham’s favorite authors. They will give you the vibe and theme you found in John Grisham’s books. Let’s see!
1. James Patterson
Like John Grisham, James Patterson is a bestselling American author famous for mystery, crime, and thriller novels. Born in New York in 1947, he has published over 200 books, including the popular “Alex Cross” and the “Women’s Murder Club” series. Patterson covers fast-paced and suspenseful plotlines.
His books have been adapted into films, television shows, and graphic novels. He’s among the highest-selling authors of all time, with over 350 million copies sold worldwide. In addition to writing, James is also a philanthropist and has been involved in numerous literacy initiatives to help promote the importance of reading and writing.
James Patterson’s popular books list by reading order:
Series list:
- Alex Cross.
- Women’s Murder Club.
- Maximum Ride.
- Alex Cross.
- Michael Bennett.
- Witch & Wizard.
- Private.
- When the Wind Blows.
- Honeymoon.
- Invisible.
- Zoo.
- NYPD Red.
- Billy Harney.
- Middle School.
- Instinct.
- Never Never.
- The Dangerous Days of Daniel X.
- Texas Ranger.
Non-series:
- Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas.
- Sam’s Letters to Jennifer.
- The Beach House.
- Hide and Seek.
- Sundays at Tiffany’s.
- Judge & Jury.
- The Murder House.
- The Quickie.
- Now You See Her.
- The First Lady.
- You’ve Been Warned.
- The Jester.
- First Love.
- Mistress.
- Don’t Blink.
- The Christmas Wedding.
James Patterson’s popular book by categories:
Mystery/Thriller: Along Came a Spider, Kiss the Girls, etc.
Romance: Sail, Sundays at Tiffany’s, etc.
Crime: Michael Bennett series, Women’s Murder Club series, etc.
Young Adult: Maximum Ride series, Daniel X series, etc.
Fantasy: Witch & Wizard series, Treasure Hunters series, etc.
Horror: The Angel Experiment, School’s Out Forever, etc.
Non-Fiction: The Murder of King Tut, Jack & Jill, etc.
Note: There might be some overlap between categories.
Checkout: James Patterson Books List
2. Tom Clancy
Tom Clancy was an American author best known for his military and political thrillers. He was born in Baltimore in 1947. His first novel is “The Hunt for Red October,” in 1984, which led to a successful writing career. He went on to publish several other bestselling novels, including “Red Storm Rising,” “Patriot Games,” “Clear and Present Danger,” and “The Sum of All Fears.”
Tom’s novels often feature complex and detailed depictions of military technology and intricate political intrigue. His writing style is about realism and attention to detail, reminding me of John Grisham. In 2013, he passed away, but his books continue to be popular with fans of the thriller genre.
Tom Clancy’s popular books list by reading order:
Series list:
- Jack Ryan.
- John Clark.
- Max Moore.
Non-series:
- Red Storm Rising.
- SSN.
- Into the Storm.
- Patriot Games (1981-82).
- Submarine.
- Shadow Warriors.
- Every Man a Tiger.
Tom’s popular book by categories:
Military Thriller: Red Storm Rising, The Hunt for Red October, etc.
Political Thriller: Clear and Present Danger, The Sum of All Fears, etc.
Techno-Thriller: Patriot Games, The Bear, and the Dragon, etc.
Espionage: Without Remorse, Red Rabbit, etc.
Checkout: Tom Clancy Books List
3. Robert Ludlum
Robert Ludlum was an American author and playwright, well known for his spy novels and thrillers similar to John Grisham. He was born in 1927 and published his first novel in 1971. He wrote over 25 novels, including the popular ”Jason Bourne” series.
Some of his most famous works include “The Bourne Identity,” “The Bourne Supremacy,” and “The Bourne Ultimatum.” Robert passed away in 2001, but his legacy continues through the numerous adaptations of his work into film, television, and video games.
Robert Ludlum’s popular books list by reading order:
Series list:
- Jason Bourne.
- Matarese.
- Covert-One.
- Paul Janson.
- Road to.
Non-series:
- The Icarus Agenda.
- The Aquitaine Progression.
- The Matlock Paper.
- The Scarlatti Inheritance.
- The Gemini Contenders.
- The Rhinemann Exchange.
- The Sigma Protocol.
- The Holcroft Covenant.
- The Ambler Warning.
- The Prometheus Deception.
Robert Ludlum’s popular book by categories:
Spy Thriller: The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum, etc.
Conspiracy Novel: The Holcroft Covenant, The Scorpio Illusion, etc.
Adventure Thriller: The Icarus Agenda, The Aquitaine Progression, etc.
Checkout: Robert Ludlum Books List
4. Mark M. Bello
Mark M. Bello is an award-winning author and attorney who writes in the legal thriller genre, much like John Grisham. He is best for his works that blend elements of legal drama, crime fiction, and suspense, often drawing on his experience as a practicing attorney. He has received positive reviews for his writing style and the subject matter he tackles in his stories. Readers believe him so much because of his experience in the law sector.
Mark Bello’s popular books list by reading order:
- Zachary Blake Legal Thriller (Series).
- Betrayal at the Border.
- L’DOR V’DOR: From Generation to Generation.
Mark M. Bello’s book by categories:
Legal Thriller: The Lawyer’s Lethal Secrets, The Guardians, etc.
Mystery Thriller: The Defendant, The Good Daughter, etc.
Checkout: Mark M. Bello Books List
5. George Dawes Green
George Dawes Green is an American author, playwright, and poet. His famous novel is “The Caveman’s Valentine,” and his play is “The Sparrow.” Green was born in Savannah, Georgia, in 1950 and has written several works of fiction and poetry.
Readers can explore themes of loneliness, isolation, and the human condition. He has received critical acclaim for his writing and is considered a notable figure in contemporary American literature. If you like John Grisham, then you’ll love George Dawes Green.
George Dawes Green’s popular books list by reading order:
- The Juror.
- The Moth.
- The Kingdoms of Savannah.
- Ravens.
- The Caveman’s Valentine.
Books by categories:
Novels: The Juror, Raven, etc.
Memoirs: The Caveman’s Valentine, The Boilerplate Rhino, etc.
Plays: The Caveman’s Valentine, The Gods of Hell, etc.
Checkout: George Dawes Green Books List
If you enjoy John Grisham’s writing, here are some authors you may like:
Michael Connelly: A bestselling author of crime fiction and legal thrillers.
Scott Turow: An American author, lawyer, and legal scholar.
David Baldacci: A bestselling author of crime fiction and legal thrillers.
Brad Meltzer: An American author of crime fiction, political thrillers, and non-fiction.
Harlan Coben: Another bestselling author of mystery and thriller novels.
Karin Slaughter: A bestselling author of crime fiction and thrillers.
Those are my favorite legal thrillers authors like John Grisham, the best legal thriller author.
Here are some reasons why you should read their books:
Legal Thrillers: Their stories cover legal thrillers, which are filled with suspense, drama, and intrigue.
Engaging Stories: Their books feature complex plotlines and well-developed characters.
Accessibility: Their writing style is straightforward to understand, which makes it accessible to a wide range of readers.
Complex characters: These authors’ characters, especially the protagonist, are multi-dimensional, making them memorable.
Realistic Settings: Many of their books are set in the South and based on real-life legal cases, which adds realism to their stories.
Relevance: Their books tackle essential social and political issues, such as discrimination, corruption, and the justice system.
You should read these books if you like John Grisham. Tell me about your favorite one from these authors and explain why you love him.
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