“The Judge's List,” by John Grisham, Doubleday, 368 pages, Oct. 19, 2021.

In “The Whistler,” Lacy Stoltz investigated a corrupt judge who was taking millions in bribes from a crime syndicate. She put the criminals away, but only after being attacked and nearly killed.

Three years later she is tired of her work for the Florida Board on Judicial Conduct and she is ready for a change. Then she meets Jeri Crosby, who is so frightened that she uses a number of aliases. Jeri is a professor of political science.

Bryan Burke, Jeri’s father, was murdered 20 years earlier in a case that remains unsolved. Burke was a retired law professor. But Jeri has a suspect with whom she has become obsessed. Along the way, she has discovered five other victims who she believes were killed by the same person.

The suspect is brilliant, patient, and always one step ahead of law enforcement. He knows forensics, police procedure, and most important: he knows the law. He is a judge.

The Board on Judicial Conduct doesn’t do criminal investigations, but Jeri doesn’t want to call the police or FBI. But by investigating, is Lacy endangering herself? Did Jeri cause both their names to be added to the judge’s list?

This is one of John Grisham’s best novels. It is fast-moving and very intense. A big plus is that there are strong female characters and Grisham writes women characters well. This is a great thriller that Grisham fans don’t want to miss. You don’t have to read “The Whistler” first to enjoy it.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

In typical John Grisham fashion, his latest novel The Judge’s List is an action packed mystery that will leave readers shocked. The Judge’s List is a novel about lawyer Lacy Stoltz who is in charge of investigating claims against judges. When Jeri Crosby shows up and tells her she believes a publicly elected judge with a perfectly clean record is a serial killer who has been operating in the shadows for the past 20 years (with at least 8 victims) Lacy doesn’t want to believe her. Jeri’s compelling evidence forces her to get involved in what will undoubtedly be the most dangerous case of her career. I really enjoyed this unique twist on a story-- the judge is the criminal, and we start the novel knowing who is performing the crimes. The whole book follows Lacy as she tracks them down and is told from multiple points of view-- my favorite in mysteries/thrillers! I read this book so quickly and I know fans of James Patterson and John Grisham will adore it! (I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review)

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The Judges List
By: John Grisham
Thanks to NetGalley and Double Day books for ARC of this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this advance reader copy of this book all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I read my first John Grisham book in 1993 at 15 years old. I had been telling my grandma about this really hot boy who was in this new movie The Client. She said you know that’s a book right?! I’ve been obsessively waiting for the next book every year since! You were first introduced to Lacy Stoltz in The Whistlerin 2016. It’s been 3 years since her accident and the death of her colleague. She’s tired of her work on the Florida Bored of Judicial Conduct she’s ready for change in life in more ways than one. Until she meets Jeri who’s father was murdered 20 years earlier. Jeri has spent the last 20 years stocking the man whom she is sure killer her dad. Ross Bannick has killed at least 5 more times and happens to be a sitting, elected judge in Florida. And the race to proving he killed all those people begins!! Grisham has an intense way of wrapping you up in his stories. Now I sit and wait a few months until he announces his next book! This book publish tomorrow 10/19/2021.

The Judge's List is John Grisham's latest legal thriller. This one revisits Lacy, a character from his novel The Whistler. Lacy is tasked with investigating a judge who is being accused of murder by the daughter of one of his murder victims. Plenty of travel and investigation in this book keep it moving right along. Read and enjoy!

I've always enjoyed John Grisham's work and this book was no exception. Absolutely loved it and would highly recommend it to anyone.

Thank you to the publishers at Doubleday Books and Netgalley for this e-ARC of The Judge’s List!

Okay, so this was my first ever John Grisham novel (put down the pitchforks!) and I absolutely loved it! I haven’t read too many legal thrillers before, but he certainly knows how to execute one!

The Judge’s List is about a sitting judge who someone believes is guilty of not just one murder, but multiple. Lacy Stoltz works for the Florida BJC, or Board of Judicial Conduct. Her job is to look into cases of judicial misconduct and weed out the bad judges from the good. The problem with this judge is, he’s never had a record, so Lacy isn’t sure who or what to trust. But the complainant is absolutely certain of his guilt. As Lacy and her team work to uncover the judge’s possible murders, we see several other points of view, including his own. Will they uncover the killer and bring them to justice?

I loved the pacing and storytelling of The Judge’s List. There was just enough intrigue in the first chapter alone to keep going, and as I read, the more I needed to know how it was all going to end! While it was a bit obvious at times, I didn’t entirely expect the ending, and was somewhat disappointed but not surprised by the turn of events. This thriller is perfect for fans of the legal and justice system.

The Judge’s List releases October 19th!

The Judge's List
by John Grisham
Pub Date: October 19, 2021
Doubleday

I enjoy John Grisham books and so do many people at our library. There is often a wait list, so I was so glad when I received this ARC.
Thanks to Doubleday and NetGalley for the chance to read it early! He really is the master of the legal thriller and The Judge's List is just more evidence of that. His books always draw me in from the first few pages and leave me needing to read more.
The Judge's List sees us reunited with Lacey Stolz from The Whistler. It is 3 years later and she is almost 40 and trying to work out what she wants from life. Her job at the Florida Board on Judicial Conduct is not exciting her anymore and she is contemplating a change. That is until a mysterious phone call leads to case like no other she has ever worked on. Great book! 5stars

In the Judges List Lacy Stoltz is a investigator for the Florida Board of Judges Conduct who knows there is a killer on the loose who is very smart and head of the police and there’s a reason why someone believes it’s a sitting judge. Could it be. If you want to read a good legal thriller pick this one up I read this in 2 days I highly recommend this one by John Grisham. You get to follow the killer around and see what he does to cover his track the twist and turn will have you in awe. Again this is a good one

I thoroughly enjoyed this Lacy Stoltz investigation as a stand-alone, so it isn't imperative that you read The Whistler first.

This novel has a twisty plot, cleverly executed by a master storyteller, you just can't go wrong with Grisham! This is not some average law drama. In fact, the story gets you out of the confines of a courtroom and keeps you on the run.

I also enjoyed the intimacy created around each character, the scene flow, and the changes of POV . . . this will make a great screen adaptation.

I was especially tickled that I have either lived in or traveled to the places mentioned.

Whether you are a new or longtime fan of legal thrillers . . . I highly recommend this novel, it hooks you right from the start and keeps you guessing.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and Doubleday for an advanced copy of The Judge's List for my unbiased evaluation. 5 stars.

Lacy's story continues in this complicated legal thriller. Readers will need to pay close attention as Lacy unravels this murder mystery with help from Betty Doe. Jeri (Betty) has been stalking Judge Bannick for twenty years trying to prove that the had killed her father. But the judge is highly intelligent, detail oriented and leaves behind no clues. Fans of legal thriller will of this story.

There was a day when I waited eagerly for any Grisham novel and now I've realized it's been ten years since I've read one. Lacy Stoltz is a lawyer who works as an investigator for the Florida Board of Judicial Conduct. She is approached by a woman who claims a sitting judge murdered her father and several others over the last twenty years. The clues are only circumstantial but the method is unique. As Lacy delves in to start her own investigation the Judge becomes aware and is watching.

This is a suspenseful and fast paced read. The judge is careful and methodical but anyone can make a mistake. With any Grisham novel I'm know I'm going to learn aspects of the law. I appreciate that Grisham ties up a lot of little loose ends very neatly although maybe not in a legally satisfying way. Lacy was the investigator in a previous book from 2016 called The Whistler, but I read this easily as a stand alone. This is for any Grisham fan and those who enjoy legal thrillers. Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I received a digital Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. As a long time John Grisham fan, The Judge's List, does not disappoint. Investigator Lacy Stoltz is back searching for a serial killer, who just happens to be a sitting judge. It is a solid read, full of suspense, and an ending that I would not have predicted. 5 stars!

More Lacy Stoltz. More Lacy Stoltz. More Lacy Stoltz. This second book in the Whistler series gives Lacy a tricky dilemma to untangle. A woman wants to remain anonymous while reporting a sitting judge guilty of multiple murders. A serial killer is on the loose and this sociopath has on-line skills that keep him ahead of law enforcement while highly capable of tracking down his victims. Who will be next? Jeri Crosby, the woman who has been tracking him since her father's death twenty years ago? Lacy Stoltz, the interim director for the Board on Judicial Conduct? This rises to the top of the pack for me in the field of Grisham's novels. I enjoy a woman protagonist and in this one we get two. There is plenty of cloak and dagger as well as a thrilling game of cat and mouse in multiple contexts. Finally, this is a legal thriller without any political strings attached. It is just downright entertaining. Mr. Grisham, please give us another Lacy Stoltz book soon. With the future she has planned, there would be many ways for her to stumble upon another legal dilemma to untangle.

A big thank you to Doubleday and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I haven't read a John Grisham novel in a long time, but the description of this one intrigued me. It was a different take on a legal thriller - Lacey Stoltz works for the Florida Board of Judicial Conduct. A woman who wishes to remain anonymous comes forward with a complaint against a sitting judge: that he's a serial killer. Lacey and her team, by law, have to investigate the complaint. Apparently it's the second Lacey Stoltz book, but it works well as a standalone.

I wouldn't say this novel was particularly fast-paced. It got bogged down with what seemed like tangent descriptions: Lacey and her boyfriend, Lacey and her brother, Jeri and her daughter, etc. Some reviewers have said the ending was predictable, but I honestly thought it was going to go a different way. Overall, a solid legal thriller.

I haven't read him for a long time. This book kept me in suspense with trying to get the murder. I loved lacy and Jaci trying to stop the judge. I'm surprised that he wasn't caught either but he was patient and went after people. Overall a good book. I haven't read him in a long time and this good to read him again.

Classic Grisham -- this worked really well. A fun read.

(short reviews are my thing)
Review copy provided by publisher.

This novel is definitely one of John Grisham's best.. With great characters, a fabulous plot, and wonderful writing, he has created a book that cannot be put down. It's a page turner for sure!
How a child's damaged soul can produce such an evil sociopathic man of wealth and professional standing is what Grisham explores in this outstanding novel.
I highly recommend, "The Judge's List"!

<b>”When you murder someone you make ten mistakes. If you can think of seven of them you’re a genius.”</b>

Grisham takes us on another ride through the legal community, this time accompanied by a very invested arm-chair detective and a lawyer who investigates misconduct involving judges.

Lacy’s job usually involves investigating judges that are accused of fraud, drinking on the job or taking bribes. She’s bored with her day-to-day grind and her 3 year relationship with an FBI agent is at a standstill. Until one day, Betty Roe, shows up with a cloak and dagger accusation regarding murder and a sitting judge with a spotless record. And it’s Lacy’s job to investigate.

This novel, as most of Grisham’s, was well thought-out, fast-paced (though it did have a few slow moments), and in the end, deeply satisfying.

Grisham is back in his sweet spot with The Judge’s List, this novel is a cat and mouse game as the judicial commission tries to investigate a judge who may be a serial killer. We’ve met Lacy before in The Whistler and she’s now been dragged into another criminal case. She is contacted by a woman whose father was murdered decades ago and she is convinced the killer is a former student of his with a grudge. In fact, she thinks he's acted on lots of grudges and left several bodies in his wake.

Grisham departs slightly from a legal procedural but provides us with a detailed mystery that has several twists and turns. The path the accuser has taken to unravel the judge's complex criminal history is so impressive even the FBI is wow-ed in this one. You'll be intrigued by the extent the judge takes to cover his tracks, shocked by the shallow grudges and certainly surprised by the ending.

Thanks to Doubleday for a copy of this novel. All opinions above are my own.

Fans of Lacy Stoltz will welcome this second entry in Grisham’s series, which also works well as a stand-alone novel. When he’s ‘on,’ John Grisham knows how to write good legal thrillers, and he almost gets it right in The Judge’s List. Were the ending not so predictable, the book might have been worthy of 5 stars. Regrettably, the suspense of Lacy’s personal future exceeded that of the thriller’s conclusion. The Judge’s List is fine company on a dreary afternoon but it does not stand out among contemporary legal thrillers.