
John Grisham Reading Order
12 series Β· 70 books Β· Born 1955-02-08
John Grisham transformed the legal thriller into a global phenomenon, establishing himself as one of the most commercially successful authors of the past three decades. Beginning his writing career while juggling a demanding law practice in Mississippi, he drew on his firsthand courtroom experience to craft authentic narratives featuring memorable protagonists like Jake Brigance and Mitch McDeere. His prolific output spans multiple interconnected series and standalone novels that explore crime, justice, and moral complexity, complemented by works of nonfiction that showcase his deep knowledge of the legal system.
Anthologies Series
Ongoing7 books (1998β2025)
Start with Legal Briefs, the first of 6 books in the Anthologies series.
Start this series with Legal Briefs
Buy Book 1 πΊπΈπ§ Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Legal Briefs |
| 2 | The Wavedancer Benefit: A Tribute to Frank Muller |
| 3 | Their World is Law |
| 4 | Delta Blues |
| 5 | Don't Quit Your Day Job: Acclaimed Authors and the Day Jobs They Quit |
| 6 | Fourteen Days: An Unauthorized Gathering |
| 7 | The Mysterious Bookshop Presents the Best Mystery Stories of the Year 2025 |
Camino Island Series
Ongoing3 books (2017β2024)
Start with Camino Island and read in order.
Start this series with Camino Island
Buy Book 1 πΊπΈπ§ Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Camino Island |
| 2 | Camino Winds |
| 3 | Camino Ghosts |
French Illusion Series
Complete1 book (2026β2026)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | The Law Student |
Jake Brigance Series
Likely Complete4 books (1989β2022)
Start with A Time to Kill, the first of 4 books in the Jake Brigance series.
Start this series with A Time to Kill
Buy Book 1 πΊπΈπ§ Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | A Time to Kill |
| 2 | Sycamore Row |
| 3 | A Time for Mercy |
| 4 | Homecoming |
Mitch McDeere Series
Likely Complete2 books (1991β2023)
Start with The Firm and read in order.
Start this series with The Firm
Buy Book 1 πΊπΈπ§ Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | The Firm |
| 2 | The Exchange |
Non-Fiction Series
Ongoing3 books (2006β2027)
Start with The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town and read in order.
Start this series with The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town
Buy Book 1 πΊπΈπ§ Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town |
| 2 | Framed(With: Jim McCloskey) |
| 3 | Shaken |
Rogue Lawyer Series
Complete2 books (2015β2016)
Start with Rogue Lawyer and read in order.
Start this series with Rogue Lawyer
Buy Book 1 πΊπΈπ§ Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Rogue Lawyer |
| 2 | Partners |
Short Stories/Novellas Series
Complete5 books (2011β2015)
Start with Casino, the first of 5 books in the Short Stories/Novellas series.
Start this series with Casino
Buy Book 1 πΊπΈπ§ Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Casino |
| 2 | Fetching Raymond |
| 3 | Fish Files |
| 4 | Quiet Haven |
| 5 | The Tumor |
Short Story Collections Series
Likely Complete2 books (2008β2022)
Start with Ford County and read in order.
Start this series with Ford County
Buy Book 1 πΊπΈπ§ Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Ford County |
| 2 | Sparring Partners |
Standalone Novels Series
Ongoing31 books (1992β2026)
Start with The Pelican Brief, the first of 31 books in the Standalone Novels series.
Start this series with The Pelican Brief
Buy Book 1 πΊπΈπ§ Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | The Pelican Brief |
| 2 | The Client |
| 3 | The Chamber |
| 4 | The Rainmaker |
| 5 | The Runaway Jury |
| 6 | The Partner |
| 7 | The Street Lawyer |
| 8 | The Testament |
| 9 | The Brethren |
| 10 | A Painted House |
| 11 | Skipping Christmas |
| 12 | The Summons |
| 13 | Bleachers |
| 14 | The King of Torts |
| 15 | The Last Juror |
| 16 | The Broker |
| 17 | Playing for Pizza |
| 18 | The Appeal |
| 19 | The Associate |
| 20 | The Confession |
| 21 | The Litigators |
| 22 | Calico Joe |
| 23 | The Racketeer |
| 24 | Gray Mountain |
| 25 | The Rooster Bar |
| 26 | The Reckoning |
| 27 | The Guardians |
| 28 | Sooley |
| 29 | The Boys from Biloxi |
| 30 | The Widow |
| 31 | The French Illusion |
The Whistler Series
Likely Complete3 books (2016β2021)
Start with The Whistler and read in order.
Start this series with The Whistler
Buy Book 1 πΊπΈπ§ Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | The Whistler |
| 2 | Witness to a Trial |
| 3 | The Judge's List |
Theodore Boone Series
Complete7 books (2010β2019)
Start with The Abduction, the first of 7 books in the Theodore Boone series.
Start this series with The Abduction
Buy Book 1 πΊπΈπ§ Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | The Abduction |
| 2 | Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer / Young Lawyer |
| 3 | The Accused |
| 4 | The Activist |
| 5 | The Fugitive |
| 6 | The Scandal |
| 7 | The Accomplice |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has John Grisham written?
- John Grisham has written 70 books across 12 series. Their published works span from 1989 to 2027.
- What is the first book in each John Grisham series?
- Here are the first books in John Grisham's series: Anthologies: Legal Briefs; Camino Island: Camino Island; Jake Brigance: A Time to Kill; Mitch McDeere: The Firm; Non-Fiction: The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town.
- What order should I read John Grisham's books?
- We recommend reading John Grisham's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Is John Grisham still writing new books?
- Yes, John Grisham has 4 ongoing series: Anthologies, Camino Island, Non-Fiction, Standalone Novels.

