John Grisham Books in Order
John Grisham has sold more than 300 million books and helped invent the modern legal thriller. His novels have filled airport bookstores for more than 35 years, and many became hit movies, from The Firm to The Pelican Brief to A Time to Kill.
With almost 50 adult books on the shelf, it’s easy to lose track. This guide lists all the John Grisham books in order of release, along with his series, his standalones, and his newest titles in 2026.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Author | John Grisham |
| First novel | A Time to Kill (1989) |
| Latest novel | The French Illusion (September 29, 2026) |
| Next novel | The Verdicts (expected October 2027) |
| Books sold | More than 300 million |
| Best-known series | Jake Brigance, Camino Island, The Firm |
Who Is John Grisham?
Grisham was a small-town lawyer in Mississippi and served in the state’s House of Representatives. He wrote A Time to Kill in his spare time after watching a court case that haunted him. The book sold few copies at first. His second novel, The Firm, became a massive bestseller in 1991, and his career took off.
Today, he lives in Virginia and still releases about one or two books a year.
John Grisham Books in Order of Release
Here’s the full list of John Grisham books in order of release for his adult fiction.
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1989 | A Time to Kill |
| 1991 | The Firm |
| 1992 | The Pelican Brief |
| 1993 | The Client |
| 1994 | The Chamber |
| 1995 | The Rainmaker |
| 1996 | The Runaway Jury |
| 1997 | The Partner |
| 1998 | The Street Lawyer |
| 1999 | The Testament |
| 2000 | The Brethren |
| 2001 | A Painted House |
| 2001 | Skipping Christmas |
| 2002 | The Summons |
| 2003 | The King of Torts |
| 2003 | Bleachers |
| 2004 | The Last Juror |
| 2005 | The Broker |
| 2007 | Playing for Pizza |
| 2008 | The Appeal |
| 2009 | The Associate |
| 2009 | Ford County (stories) |
| 2010 | The Confession |
| 2011 | The Litigators |
| 2012 | Calico Joe |
| 2012 | The Racketeer |
| 2013 | Sycamore Row |
| 2014 | Gray Mountain |
| 2015 | Rogue Lawyer |
| 2016 | The Whistler |
| 2017 | Camino Island |
| 2017 | The Rooster Bar |
| 2018 | The Reckoning |
| 2019 | The Guardians |
| 2020 | Camino Winds |
| 2020 | A Time for Mercy |
| 2021 | Sooley |
| 2021 | The Judge’s List |
| 2022 | Sparring Partners (novellas) |
| 2022 | The Boys from Biloxi |
| 2023 | The Exchange |
| 2024 | Camino Ghosts |
| 2025 | The Widow |
| 2026 | The French Illusion |
| 2027 | The Verdicts (expected) |
The Firm Series
For years, The Firm was a standalone. Then in 2023, Grisham surprised fans by bringing back Mitch McDeere in The Exchange. That turned it into The Firm series.
| # | Title | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Firm | 1991 |
| 2 | The Exchange | 2023 |
About The Firm Book
The Firm book follows Mitch McDeere, a young Harvard Law graduate who joins a rich Memphis law firm. The perks seem perfect until he learns the firm works for the mob and that no lawyer leaves alive. The 1993 movie starred Tom Cruise and helped make the book a classic.
About The Exchange
The Exchange picks up 15 years later. Mitch is now a partner at a major New York law firm. A trip to Libya puts him in danger when a colleague is kidnapped. Mitch and his wife, Abby, must find a way out once again.
The Jake Brigance Series
Jake Brigance is a small-town lawyer in Clanton, Mississippi. He’s Grisham’s most beloved character.
| # | Title | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Time to Kill | 1989 |
| 2 | Sycamore Row | 2013 |
| 3 | A Time for Mercy | 2020 |
Many other Grisham books take place in Ford County, the same fictional county where Jake lives. These include The Last Juror, The Chamber, and The Reckoning.
The Camino Island Series
These books are lighter mysteries set in the world of rare books, with bookseller Bruce Cable at the center.
| # | Title | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Camino Island | 2017 |
| 2 | Camino Winds | 2020 |
| 3 | Camino Ghosts | 2024 |
The Whistler Series
Lacy Stoltz investigates judicial misconduct in Florida.
| # | Title | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Whistler | 2016 |
| 2 | The Judge’s List | 2021 |
Theodore Boone Books for Young Readers
Grisham also writes for kids. Theodore Boone is a 13-year-old who knows the law better than most adults.
| # | Title | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kid Lawyer | 2010 |
| 2 | The Abduction | 2011 |
| 3 | The Accused | 2012 |
| 4 | The Activist | 2013 |
| 5 | The Fugitive | 2015 |
| 6 | The Scandal | 2016 |
| 7 | The Accomplice | 2019 |
Nonfiction
Grisham has written nonfiction about wrongful convictions:
- The Innocent Man (2006): The story of Ron Williamson, sent to death row for a crime he didn’t commit.
- Framed (2024): True stories of wrongful convictions, written with Jim McCloskey of Centurion Ministries.
The Newest Grisham Books
The Widow (2025)
The Widow came out in October 2025. It’s billed as Grisham’s first true whodunit. A small-town lawyer, Simon Latch, takes on an elderly widow as a client and soon finds himself accused of murder.
The French Illusion (2026)
The French Illusion was published on September 29, 2026. On their Paris honeymoon, newlyweds Paul and Chelsea Tanner are kidnapped during a trip to the countryside. The FBI, CIA, and French intelligence all get involved, and a young lawyer is recruited as bait. It’s Grisham’s first real step into international espionage. A short prequel ebook, The Law Student, came out on September 8, 2026.
The Verdicts (2027)
Grisham’s next novel, The Verdicts, is expected in October 2027. It will bring back Simon Latch from The Widow.
Best Grisham Books to Start With
If you’re new to Grisham books, these are great entry points:
- The Firm: The book that made him famous.
- A Time to Kill: His most emotional courtroom drama.
- The Pelican Brief: A fast thriller about a law student who uncovers a conspiracy.
- The Runaway Jury: A clever look at jury tampering.
- The Rainmaker: A young lawyer takes on a powerful insurance company.
- Camino Island: A lighter read for fans of mysteries.
Grisham Books Turned Into Movies
| Book | Movie Year | Star |
|---|---|---|
| The Firm | 1993 | Tom Cruise |
| The Pelican Brief | 1993 | Julia Roberts, Denzel Washington |
| The Client | 1994 | Susan Sarandon |
| A Time to Kill | 1996 | Matthew McConaughey |
| The Rainmaker | 1997 | Matt Damon |
| Runaway Jury | 2003 | John Cusack, Gene Hackman |
Should You Read Grisham in Order?
Most Grisham books are standalones, so you can start almost anywhere. Reading the John Grisham books in order of release lets you see how his style has changed, from tense legal thrillers to sports stories, mysteries, and now spy fiction.
For his series, though, order matters. Read A Time to Kill before Sycamore Row, and The Firm before The Exchange. If you enjoy series fiction, you might also like the Mitch Rapp books. Here’s our full guide to Mitch Rapp Books in Order.
Why Grisham Remains Popular
Grisham writes in a clear, fast style. His heroes are often underdogs fighting powerful systems, and his plots move fast. He also shines a light on real problems in the justice system, like wrongful convictions and the death penalty. That mix of entertainment and meaning has kept readers coming back for decades.
How to Use This List
There are two smart ways to read the John Grisham books in order. The first is by release date, using the main table above. The second is by series, reading each group of linked books together. Both work, since the standalones don’t depend on each other.
If you’re tracking which titles you’ve read, print the list of John Grisham books in order and check them off. With more than 45 adult novels, a checklist helps.
Quick Picks by Mood
- Want courtroom drama? Try A Time to Kill, The Runaway Jury, or Sycamore Row.
- Want a chase thriller? Try The Firm, The Pelican Brief, or The Client.
- Want something lighter? Try Skipping Christmas, Playing for Pizza, or Camino Island.
- Want something new? Try The Widow or The French Illusion.
Fans who read the John Grisham books in order often say the middle years, from The Firm to The Testament, are his strongest run.
Final Thoughts
The John Grisham books in order cover almost four decades of legal drama, from A Time to Kill in 1989 to The French Illusion in 2026. Whether you pick up The Firm book, dive into the Jake Brigance trilogy, or try his new spy thriller, there’s a Grisham story for every reader.
With The Verdicts on the way in 2027, the list keeps growing.
Key Takeaways
- The John Grisham books in order start with A Time to Kill (1989) and The Firm (1991).
- His newest novel, The French Illusion, came out September 29, 2026.
- The Firm series includes The Firm (1991) and The Exchange (2023).
- The Jake Brigance series includes A Time to Kill, Sycamore Row, and A Time for Mercy.
- The Camino Island series has three books, the latest being Camino Ghosts (2024).
- His next novel, The Verdicts, is expected in October 2027.
- Most Grisham books are standalones, so you can start with almost any title.
