#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE WASHINGTON POST AND NPR • Featuring one of John Grisham’s most colorful, outrageous, and vividly drawn characters yet, Rogue Lawyer showcases the master of the legal thriller at his very best. On the right side of the law—sort of—Sebastian Rudd is not your typical street lawyer. His office is a customized bulletproof … lawyer. His office is a customized bulletproof van, complete with Wi-Fi, a bar, a small fridge, and fine leather chairs. He has no firm, no partners, and only one employee: his heavily armed driver, who also so happens to be his bodyguard, law clerk, confidant, and golf caddie. Sebastian drinks small-batch bourbon and carries a gun. He defends people other lawyers won’t go near: a drug-addled, tattooed kid rumored to be in a satanic cult; a vicious crime lord on death row; a homeowner arrested for shooting at a SWAT team that mistakenly invaded his house. Why these clients? Because Sebastian believes everyone is entitled to a fair trial—even if he has to bend the law to secure one.
Praise for Rogue Lawyer
“Terrific . . . inventive . . . Grisham still makes it look easy.”—Maureen Corrigan, The Washington Post
“Sebastian Rudd is . . . a kind of twenty-first-century Philip Marlowe . . . with a blunt, rude, gravelly poetic wiseguy voice.”—Benjamin Percy, The New York Times Book Review
“Deeply engaging and entertaining . . . [Grisham finds] intense drama in the little skirmishes that play out across our legal system every day.”—Charles Finch, USA Today
“Grisham has taken a step in an intriguing new direction.”—Janet Maslin, The New York Times
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John Grisham has been a favourite author of mine for many years, but it had been a while since I had read one of his books. Barely a few pages in ROGUE LAWYER, I was reminded why I loved his work so much. His expertise in legal matters is undeniable, but it’s his natural storytelling ability that never fails to draw me in. His prose is literate while clean and crisp and infused with humour and much sarcasm.
I had failed to notice that ROGUE LAWYER is sort of a collection of short stories, and I feared I might be disappointed. I usually dislike short stories, particularly of this type. But this book is different is because it’s not one case but several that make up the book. Continuity is assured as the book follows attorney Sebastian Rudd’s life in a linear structure. The cases overlap, with one eventually dominating the narrative; it’s not a mish-mash of novellas assembled in a single volume.
ROGUE LAWYER is truly outstanding, all the characters are extremely well developed, and it never felt like fiction. Mr. Grisham’s books are always very informative, thought-provoking, and ROGUE LAWYER is certainly that. The author is as cynical and critical as ever of the flawed legal system. Some events are truly shocking and I have no reason to doubt that some of Mr. Grisham’s plot points exist in real life. Human trafficking is appalling but I was horrified that there were aspects I had never considered; it’s even worse than I thought.
The book is divided into six parts, the tension mounting steadily until the conclusion which is a real nailbiter. I always recommend John Grisham for exceptional legal thrillers, and I will continue to do so, as ROGUE LAWYER is absolutely fantastic! I hope we get to see what the future holds for the memorable Sebastian Rudd.
A highly entertaining read – the characters are interesting. When you get to the end, you want to know what will be his next adventure.
Keeps you going!
I really liked the narrator of this book, he did a good job of keeping my interest. This was a really good book. Lots of excitement and twists and turns in the book. I recommend this book!
Love John Grisham novels!
I love John Grisham books. He is by far my favorite author looking forward to his newest always
This book follows the adventures of a lawyer who has built his career taking the cases that others would not. He finds himself and his own family in danger through his exploits.
One of Grisham’s best. An absolute pleasure to read.
One of Grisham’s best. From the courtrooms to prisons to cage fighting, he draws you in and keeps you wanting more.
I found this to be one of his most realistic & informative books.
Excellent book. I think one of his best.
John Grisham creates another “character” lawyer! Fanciful but fun.
I always enjoy John Grisham’s books.
This book introduces us to Sebastian Rudd, a lawyer who handles the clients no one else wants to take on. We’re talking about an older teen accused of a horrible crime and convicted by the people of his town. Or a mobster on death row. With enemies from the ranks of the police and the clients he hasn’t been able to get off, can Sebastian navigate his life?
The book is really more of a character study with several cases taking the foreground at various points. It reads like these stories were originally published separately and brought together for this book, although I haven’t researched to know if that is true or not. The ending definitely leaves things open for more books. My issue is that I had a hard time liking many of the characters and found myself actively rooting for Sebastian to lose some of his cases. The fact that all the cops were over the top corrupt didn’t help any at all. Plus Sebastian came across as a knock off of Michael Connelly’s Mickey Haller character, and that certainly didn’t help matters at all since I love Mickey.
I have been a fan of Grisham’s since I read A Time to Kill, long before it became a Hollywood blockbuster. As someone with a legal background, I appreciate characters in the legal field so there may be some bias to my review. I’m not sure Mark Geragos or any other criminal defense lawyer would get down the way the main character in this book would, but safety first. Defending lives and living out of a secure van. This is a page turner, a must read.
Great!
Fantastic, like all his books.
One of his best yet
Typical Grisham style.
I have a bad habit of having to finish every book I start. Many times I discover a few chapters in that my initially negative reaction was wrong. Not in this case. Repetitive to the point of annoyance, if I took a drink every time Grisham pointed out the main character was under threat, I would be dead in the first section. The main themes are: (1) white people are bad; (2) cops are really bad; and (3) the only cops and judges who are good are the ones who hate cops. Self-important, cool, tough guy lawyer Matlock’s each case. Do not waste your time with this one.
it is better when is a full story, this is many on one….and the end isn’t conclusive!!!