The Pelican Brief cover – John Grisham Books in Order

John Grisham Books in Order: The Complete Reading Guide

October 21, 2026

John Grisham is the king of the legal thriller. A former attorney and Mississippi state legislator, he has written more than forty novels since 1989, selling hundreds of millions of copies and inspiring some of the most popular courtroom movies ever made.

The good news for new readers: most John Grisham books stand completely on their own, so you can start almost anywhere. But he does have a few connected series, and knowing which books go together makes the reading experience richer. Here is a guide to reading John Grisham in order.

Linked titles are on our shelves right now — click any of them to grab a used copy.

The Jake Brigance Series (Read These in Order)

Grisham's first novel introduced small-town Mississippi lawyer Jake Brigance, and he has returned to the character several times. These are the books that should be read in order:

The novella collection Sparring Partners (2022) also includes a Jake Brigance story. A Time to Kill was famously rejected by dozens of publishers before becoming one of the most beloved legal dramas ever written.

The Camino Island Series

A lighter, beach-read side of Grisham, following bookstore owner Bruce Cable in a Florida resort town:

As used bookstore people ourselves, we have a soft spot for a series built around a bookseller.

The Classic Standalone Thrillers (1990s)

These are the books that made Grisham a household name, and they remain great starting points:

The Firm (1991) — a young lawyer discovers his prestigious firm hides deadly secrets
The Pelican Brief (1992) — a law student's theory about two murdered justices puts her life in danger
The Client (1993) — a boy who knows too much hires a street-smart lawyer
The Chamber (1994)
The Rainmaker (1995)
The Runaway Jury (1996)
The Partner (1997)
The Street Lawyer (1998)
The Testament (1999)

The 2000s and Beyond

Grisham has published at least one book almost every year since. Highlights include The Brethren, A Painted House (a departure into literary fiction), Skipping Christmas (the basis for the movie Christmas with the Kranks), The Last Juror, The Broker, The Appeal, The Confession, The Racketeer, Gray Mountain, The Whistler, The Rooster Bar, The Reckoning, The Guardians, The Judge's List, The Boys from Biloxi, and The Exchange (2023), which finally returned to the characters from The Firm.

A few more readers love that often get overlooked: The King of Torts, The Summons, The Associate, the football novels Bleachers and Playing for Pizza, and his true-crime book The Innocent Man.

He has also written the Theodore Boone series for young readers about a thirteen-year-old aspiring lawyer — a great pick for middle schoolers who love mysteries.

Where Should a New Reader Start?

Three easy entry points:

Start with the best: A Time to Kill, then continue the Jake Brigance books in order
Start with the page-turners: The Firm or The Pelican Brief
Start light: Camino Island

John Grisham Movies on DVD

Grisham's 1990s run produced a wave of star-studded films: The Firm (Tom Cruise), The Pelican Brief (Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington), The Client (Susan Sarandon and Tommy Lee Jones), A Time to Kill (Matthew McConaughey and Samuel L. Jackson), The Rainmaker (Matt Damon), and Runaway Jury (John Cusack and Gene Hackman). Most rotate on and off streaming, which is why we keep them on disc. Browse our mystery and crime DVDs or the full movies based on books collection.

Why John Grisham Remains So Popular

Grisham writes about ordinary people caught inside a legal system that is bigger and often more corrupt than they are. His heroes are underdogs — young associates, small-town lawyers, jurors, and clients — and his villains are usually institutions. That underdog formula, paired with his insider knowledge of how courtrooms really work, keeps readers turning pages book after book.

See all our John Grisham books in stock now, or browse the mystery and thriller and suspense shelves for more. Free shipping on orders over $15.