Criminal Law Consulting
​For Writers & Filmmakers
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Free eBook

Review:  John Grisham's "Rogue Lawyer"

4/26/2016

3 Comments

 
I’ve read and enjoyed John Grisham’s books for many years.  “A time to Kill” is one of my all-time favorite legal thrillers. 

​His latest, “Rogue Lawyer,” is high on cynicism about lawyers and the entire judicial system.  The main character, Sebastian Rudd, is a criminal defense lawyer whose ethics border on criminal (I guess that’s what makes him a “Rogue Lawyer”).  He works out of his van (a la “The Lincoln Lawyer”), and his only friend is his driver/bodyguard/paralegal.
According to Rudd, the prosecutors and police are even worse than him.  Many of his interactions with them bear this out.  No one in the book is really a good guy. 

The story is told in the first person.  The book often feels like a braggadocio telling war stories at a bar.  At times the book feels more like a collection of short stories with the same main character rather than a novel. 


​Rudd lives and works in a fictional, unnamed City and its surrounding towns.  It seems to be somewhere in the Midwest.


​The death penalty case Rudd is trying at the beginning of the book is resolved rather quickly, and then is never mentioned again.  Some of his other cases and clients come and go throughout the rest of the book.  One of the main stories involves a Mixed Martial Arts fighter that he finances.   


There are few women characters in the book.  And those few are bitchy, one-dimensional stereotypes (including the main bitch, his lesbian ex-wife).  I guess that’s the reality of Rudd’s world.  It would’ve been easy to make one or a few of the more tangential characters female, like a detective or FBI agent, but Grisham didn’t bother. 

​At the end of the day, the book was entertaining.  It would make a good summer read.  But, thankfully, it doesn’t remotely resemble the criminal justice system that I know.

​Click the image to check it out.  (And if you haven't read "A Time to Kill," what are you waiting for?

3 Comments
mybkexperience link
6/14/2021 10:34:20 am

I found this on internet and it is really very nice.
An excellent blog.
Great work!

Reply
How much does it cost to get divorce in california link
8/23/2022 02:16:06 pm

At times the book feels more like a collection of short stories with the same main character rather than a novel. Thank you, amazing post!

Reply
Orange county domestic violence lawyers link
8/23/2022 02:36:39 pm

Some of his other cases and clients come and go throughout the rest of the book. Thank you for sharing your great post!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Get your FREE E-Book revealing The Top 7 Mistakes Made by Writers of Crime, Mystery and Legal Drama:
    Send My Free E-Book!

    Author

    Blythe Leszkay is a successful and experienced criminal attorney, criminal law professor, and consultant to writers and filmmakers.  See About Me.  This blog is intended to answer common criminal law questions, dispel misconceptions, and explain misunderstood criminal law concepts.  It is also a place to discuss any crime or law related topics of interest.  Contact me for a free initial consultation on your film or writing project.

    Categories

    All
    Appeals
    Burden Of Proof
    Celebrity Crime
    Common Questions
    Constitution
    Consulting Services
    Courtroom
    Crime In The News
    Crime Novels
    Crime Tv
    Death Penalty
    Defenses
    Evidence
    Extortion
    Hate Crimes
    International Crime
    Juvenile Crime
    Legal Comedy
    Legal Definitions
    Legal Drama
    Manslaughter
    Movies
    Murder
    Search And Seizure
    Serial Killers
    Sex Crimes
    Supreme Court
    Trial
    True Crime
    Writing Tips

    RSS Feed

      Get Email Updates

    Join!
    Loading
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.