The American Bar Association released a list of what its panel of judges has determined to be the 25 Greatest Law Novels Ever. Here are a few of my favorites that also made their list:
To Kill A Mockingbrid by Harper Lee is one of my favorite all-time books - law or not. And I'm certainly not alone. Harper Lee won the Pulitzer Prize for this novel, and Gregory Peck won an Oscar for his protrayal of Atticus Finch in the movie version. Atticus defends a black man accused of raping a white woman in depression-era Alabama. This story has themes of race, class, and justice, but it is told through the eyes of a child. If you haven't read it since high school (or maybe never did), it's worth another look.
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky is an fascinating psychological study in guilt. The main character's increasing paranoia after committing murder is something that has stayed with me for years.
A Time to Kill by John Grisham is my favorite Grisham book. This was his first book. It is based on a real-life case. The book is a story of race and revenge in the south with great characters. The movie (starring Matthew McConaughey, Sandra Bullock, and Samuel L. Jackson is also excellent.
The Firm by John Grisham is not my favorite Grisham book (that award goes to A Time to Kill), but it's an exciting read. A top graduate from Harvard Law School, Mitch McDeere is recruited to a high-paying job with great benefits. He soon discovers that his new firm is a cover-up for serious criminal activity, and that his life and career are on the line. The movie starring Tom Cruise is a faithful rendition of the book.
Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow is about a prosecutor accused of murdering his colleague/mistress. This was Turow's first novel, and it's filled with political intrigue and legal maneuvering. The movie starring Harrison Ford is a great rendition of the book.
The Stranger by Albert Camus revolves around the murder trial of Meursault. Meursault's lack of emotion is interpreted as a lack of remorse, and he is condemned to the guillotine. But facing death, he finds himself oddly comforted by the simple fact of his own life.
And here are a few on my To-Read List:
Anatomy of a Murder by Robert Traver is based on a real life case. A man kills his wife's rapist and claims the insanity defense at trial. Robert Traver was the pen name of a Michigan Supreme Court Justice, John D. Voelker. I've used the movie (starring James Stewart and directed by Otto Preminger) in my criminal law and procedure classes as a tool to teach the insanity defense.
Native Son by Richard Wright is also based on a true story. It follows the life of Bigger Thomas, a young Chicago black man whose discomfort with whites drives him deeper and deeper into trouble for reasons he cannot seem to explain, and results in him being condemned to death for two murders.
And Honorable Mention goes to:
And Honorable Mention goes to:
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote is a nonfiction true crime book written in the style of a novel. It was one of the first to be written this way, and it remains one of the best. For a great behid-the-scenes look at both this book and To Kill a Mockingbird (above), check out the movie Capote. Philip Seymour Hoffman won an Oscar for his prtrayal of the author.
Do you agree or disagree with these choices? Let me know!
If you are a writer, check out my free writer's guide revealing the Top 7 Mistakes Made by Writers of Crime, Mystery and Legal Drama.
If you are a writer, check out my free writer's guide revealing the Top 7 Mistakes Made by Writers of Crime, Mystery and Legal Drama.
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