John Grisham’s Rogue Lawyer Features His Most Fascinating Protagonist Yet

No modern author is better at writing powerful legal thrillers that have attorneys as heroes and the law as their superpower than John Grisham. His 30th novel, Rogue Lawyer, is out now, and it’s a doozy.
A protagonist who sleeps in a bulletproof van
Why do we love lawyers in our thrillers? Because they know the secret codes, the passwords, the system. Lawyers can spring people from jail and punish the rich and powerful with some paperwork. They know how to cheat, when necessary, without getting caught. Sebastian Rudd, the “rogue lawyer” in Grisham’s new novel, is a distillation of the perfect lawyer character: he works out of a tricked-out bulletproof van, sleeps in a different hotel room every night, and employs a combination clerk/bodyguard because powerful people on both sides of the law want him dead. Rudd uses his legal powers to pursue justice instead of further his career—and doesn’t care if justice requires him to cheat a little, or worse.
A man accused of murdering children
A character as interesting as Rudd, from a writer like Grisham, means one thing: truly interesting cases. In Rogue Lawyer, Rudd takes on cases other lawyers wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole. He defends a mentally disabled man accused of murdering two children—not to mention a member of a satanic cult and a sexual deviant. The cases are gruesome and the fight for the truth is an uphill battle, but it’s exactly what we want to see our lawyers do: fight for justice instead of simply chasing a partnership.
A surprising story
Rudd has other cases on his plate as well, including the defense of both a homeowner who shot at police when they mistakenly raided his house, and a death-row inmate with a fearsome criminal reputation. The plot’s structure is satisfyingly complex; these seemingly separate stories not only show us exactly what kind of lawyer (and man) Rudd really is, but reveal surprising connections, leading to a finale that delivers classic Grisham twists.
A lovable loner
One thing Grisham doesn’t get enough credit for is the way his characters pull you in and make you understand exactly who they are and what motivates them. Sebastian Rudd is hilarious, profane, sarcastic, and brutally honest. A guy whose only friend is the large armed man who drives him around—to whom he refers only as Partner—is someone guaranteed to entertain you from page one on.
A real-world issue
John Grisham has never been all about the bestseller lists and the lucrative film deals—his books regularly tackle real-life issues, and thanks to his knowledge of the law and firsthand experience as both a practicing lawyer and a former state legislator, he often brings controversies to light and inspires real-world change; his novels centering on the death sentence, homelessness, and environmental law have raised public awareness and been credited with pressuring the government to change its policies. Rogue Lawyer considers the plight of the wrongly jailed, who often lack the resources to prove their innocence. Here is a novel that will make you think about a serious, real-world problem even as it entertains you in every line.