John Grisham has revealed his top seven favourite books
The American novelist is known for his best-selling legal thrillers. He has written 37 consecutive number-one fiction bestsellers and sold 300 million copies worldwide.
His novels include The Rainmaker, The Firm, The Partner, The Guardians, The Testaments, and The Client. Ten of his works have been adapted for TV and film.
Along with Tom Clancy and J. K. Rowling, Grisham is one of only three anglophone authors to have sold two million copies on the first printing.
Here’s a look at the full list of John Grisham’s favourites:
7. A Private Cathedral by James Lee Burke
“David Robicheaux is one of the most interesting detectives in contemporary fiction. Here, he’s back for the 23rd time and he takes on two Cajun crime families that try unsuccessfully to share territory. The two families have more internal problems than most. One has even sunk so low as to traffic humans. Only James Lee Burke has the voice to examine ancient curses and superstitions in the complex world of Cajun Country.” -JG
6. Deacon King Kong by James McBride
“In this wild and roaring novel, James brings together an unforgettable collection of characters from the housing projects of south Brooklyn. When the anti-hero, a man called Sportcoat, shoots and kills the neighbourhood’s favourite drug dealer, street life spins out of control.” -JG
5. The Last Trial by Scott Turow
“Sandy Stern, the fabulous criminal defence we first met in Presumed Innocent, is now 85 years old and on the brink of retirement. He takes his last case, the defence of an old friend accused of insider trading, fraud, and murder. Scott is still the master of the legal thriller, and his courtroom scenes have no equals.” -JG
4. All the Devils Are Here by Louise Penny
“A murder in Paris is a guaranteed hook. The hero, Armand Gamache, is in Paris with his family awaiting the birth of his grandchild when his godfather is hit in a deliberate attempt to kill. Gamache is drawn into the crime and must solve it. The nightmare engulfs his entire family and before long he’s not sure who to trust. With the City of Light as the backdrop every page is a delight.” -JG
3. Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
“This is a true story that was published several years ago, but I thoroughly enjoyed it for the third time. Bryan left Harvard Law School, turned down the big money, and instead went to Alabama and founded the Equal Justice Initiative, a non-profit dedicated to defending the poor and wrongfully convicted. This is a fascinating account of his early years and his grit and determination to fight injustice.” -JG
2. In the Valley: Stories and a Novella Based on Serena by Ron Rash
“This is a collection of ten stories, one of them a novella. Two, Baptism and Neighbors, were published previously to great acclaim. In the novella, Ron brings back his most famous character, Serena, from his fine novel of the same name published in 2008.” -JG
1. A Song for the Dark Times by Ian Rankin
“John Rebus, the hero in many of Ian’s books, is getting old and even crankier. He’s trying to give up booze and cigarettes, but he can’t stay out of trouble. The partner of his daughter, Samantha, goes missing, and of course Rebus is soon up to his ears in solving the crime.” -JG