HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: When I was a little girl, I loved to watch Perry Mason with my stepfather, who was a brilliant lawyer. But there was one condition: my sister and I could not talk during Perry. We could not say a word. We could not ask a question, or comment. Complete silence. During the commercials we could ask what immaterial meant, or irrelevant, but when Perry came back on, not a peep.
And then it was the lawyer's turn. And if it was Perry for the defense (with Della Street's wise help), except for that one time, the so-called criminal would be set free. Because that was justice, and Perry's super skills as a lawyer. And oh, yeah, the REAL criminal would break down on the stand under Perry's withering questioning, and the REAL bad guy would be brought to justice.
These days legal thrillers are a little different, it’s not quite as clear who is bad and good. In fact, in THE MURDER LIST, that’s my whole theme: if the defense thinks they’re the good guys, and the prosecution thinks they're the good guys, how can that be?
(And I’m sure you’ll be hearing more about THE MURDER LIST--pub date next Tuesday!-- around these parts soon.)
Ever since then, legal thrillers, or at least books and movies that involve the law, have been my very favorite. To Kill A Mockingbird of course, and Compulsion, 12 Angry Men, Anatomy of a Murder. Witness for the Prosecution. The Verdict. Presumed Innocent, of course. And the fabulous Tracy and Hepburn movie Adam’s Rib— which is even more fabulous today.
And now, The Lincoln Lawyer, and Miracle Creek, even the crazy high concept Thirteen. And anything David Ellis writes. So many more! But I will leave those to you to name.And it’s difficult to define legal thriller, anyway. One fabulous early reader of THE MURDER LIST said "If John Grisham and Lisa Scottoline had a book baby, this would be it!"
I love that more than anything.
Okay, Reds and readers… Do you read legal thrillers? What does that mean to you? What have been your favorites in years past, and what new ones on the horizon?
Did I say it's brilliant? I was gobsmacked?? PS I also LOVED Lincoln Lawyer, And anything by Scott Turow. And I cannot wait to read THE MURDER LIST!
LUCY BURDETTE: Yes I enjoy legal thrillers too. Have read many of those mentioned and looking forward to Hank's!
DEBORAH CROMBIE: I remember watching Perry Mason! I think I liked it more than my folks, though. I've mentioned before that I loved a British book called The Verdict by Nick Stone--definitely a legal thriller.
I loved The Lincoln Lawyer. I haven't read Defending Jacob, it's on my list. But not before THE MURDER LIST!
JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: What, no love for LA LAW? I was dating Ross when that show was popular, and he and all the rest of the law students loved it - probably because the lawyers spent more time on their sexy private lives than with their noses buried in casebooks.
PS: I've already read THE MURDER LIST and won't give anything away, except to say readers are in for a wicked treat.
AND NOW:
AND the winner of LAYOVER by David Bell is Jess Montgomery! EMail Hank at h ryan at whdh dot com
HALLIE's SWEEPS: Register between now and 8/22 to win a copy of all of her suspense novels--from CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR to NEVER TELL A LIE. This sweeps is open to the US only, 18 years of age or older. https://a.pgtb.me/7hKMJ1
JENN"S GIVEAWAY: My publisher is offering 15 copies of WORD TO THE WISE on GoodReads:
Go to: http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/295978-word-to-the-wise
DEBS' E-SALE: My publisher is offering TO DWELL IN DARKNESS, Kincaid/James #16 all the month of August for $1.99 on Kindle! https://www.amazon.com/Dwell-Darkness-Novel-Duncan-Kincaid-ebook/dp/B00DB3A4B8?fbclid=IwAR2cgFjG0h1HV1SXOy5OBV5KiTCEGu8s_zZOPACczg7BKFm_fnp-xNo8aHw
JULIA'S EBOOK SALE: The first book in the Clare Fergusson/ Russ Van Alstyne series is on sale for $2.99 in all ebook formats! Kindle: amzn.to/2LXuDXk iBooks: apple.co/2GGQHkB Nook: bit.ly/2YkAext
Kobo: bit.ly/32ZVmrD
HANK'S FREE SNEAK PEEK AND AUDIO BOOK: My publisher is offering you a huge portion of THE MURDER LIST as a free download right here: http://bit.ly/MurderListPrvw
AND here's a free snippet of the fab Angela Dawe reading the audio book! https://read.macmillan.com/lp/the-murder-list-audiobook/
HANK's LAUNCH PARTY! For The Murder List
Tuesday, August 20 at 7 pm at Brookline Booksmith
Wednesday Aug 21 7 pm RJ Julia . Madison CT (With editor Kristin Sevick)
Thursday Aug 22 7 pm An Unlikely Story, Plainville MA
Saturday Aug 23 2pm . Poisoned Pen Bookstore Scottsdale AZ (ticketed event with true crime writer Billy Jensen)
MORE HERE : http://hankphillippiryan.com/events.php
I love watching Perry Mason!
ReplyDeleteI also enjoy reading legal thrillers. [And “The Murder List” is amazing.]
“To Kill a Mockingbird” tops my list of favorites . . . .
Of course! And, my dear darling ‘Joan, thank you for your incredible review! It makes such a difference!
DeleteI've read most of John Grisham's early works, as well as the Jodi Picoult novels Julia mentioned. I haven't read a legal thriller in a while, but I'm looking forward to your latest, Hank!
ReplyDeleteOh Marla, often fingers you love it. Let me know OK?
DeleteAnd you know, I don’t think I have read Jodi Picoult at all… Isn’t that weird?
Jodi Picoult is one of my favorites. And I'm sure I will love The Murder List!
DeleteI haven't read that many legal thrillers. I have read the Lincoln Lawyer books, and I loved them. I'm going to need to find a new author to add to my audio book mix next year, and John Grisham is definitely one I am thinking about. His would be easier since they are all stand alones, so I could snag whatever is available at the library instead of trying to go in order.
ReplyDeleteOh come on Mark, lucky you! Have you not read The Firm? Oh boy!
DeleteWow, lots going on with the Reds!
ReplyDeleteLegal thrillers, Presumed Innocent was the first that I remember, unless you count Compulsion by Meyer Levin which was more the story of the then the case.
Compulsion is one of my very favorite… Incredibly compelling. The movie, too, right?
DeleteI read John Grisham faithfully for a long time and then moved away from it. Are IN COLD BLOOD and ANATOMY OF A MURDER considered legal thrillers? I liked those particularly. And most recently I've read THE FURIOUS HOURS by Casey Cep, a story of Harper Lee's last book that she didn't write!
ReplyDeleteTHE MURDER LIST came to me several months ago, and I devoured it in couple of sittings. Those of you who haven't read it are in for a treat. And those of us who have are keeping mum.
Oh, In Cold Blood, of course, I’m not sure I would call that a legal thriller—hmmmm—, but it certainly is riveting and groundbreaking. And thank you for the kind words! This is such an exciting time...and I am so grateful. Xxx
DeleteI read the early John Grisham novels. I think The Pelican Brief was such an intense read for me that I could feel my blood pumping during the more action oriented scenes.
ReplyDeleteMichael Connelly's Lincoln Lawyer novels are great.
To Julia's point about the TV show LA Law, I loved the show! It's a shame that only the first three seasons are available on DVD though I do own all three.
Growing up I got to see lots of Perry Mason in reruns as well. I actually looked forward to them. And when they started making the Perry Mason TV movies, I watched those as well. I've seen a lot of legal themed TV shows over the years I guess.
Yes, I really loved LA law, too! Such an original show at the time, you know? I wonder if it holds up… And the Practice,
DeleteI loved most of The Practice's run but the last few seasons made me drop the show.
DeleteLA Law: Venus Butterfly
DeleteOh, my God Ann, the Venus Butterfly! The speculation that swept the nation!
DeleteI recall one moment in the show that seemed really real: the firm's mentally handicapped clerk, Benny, gets arrested for something, and he calls his best lawyer friend, Corbin Bernsen. Bernsen takes the call, assures Benny he'll be right there, and then frantically asks the firm's criminal lawyer, "What do I do?" He's a family law attorney, he forgot everything he learned about criminal law the day after he passed the bar exam. Most lawyers, unless they hang out their own shingles, specialize, which wasn't something you saw often on TV or in movies.
Remember the couple holding hands in the elevator after the verdict?
DeleteThe Venus Butterfly - How funny that the person posted that is named Ann when the character supposedly on the receiving end was named Ann. LOL
DeleteJulia, I don't remember that episode offhand but it does sound like something Arnie would definitely have done.
Hank, I remember that scene with the couple holding hands in the elevator. I remember the look on Victor Sifuentes face when he saw it as well.
Speaking of elevators...Rosalind Shays anyone?
Can we count To Kill a Mockingbird? And movies? Add Inherit the Wind and Witness for the Prosecution
ReplyDeleteOf course—To Kill A Mockingbird is first on my list— and Witness for the Prosecution , too! And I just watched Inherit the Wind getting ready for my book tour—it’s still amazing, and has Gene Kelly as HL Mencken!
Delete"Inherit the Wind" is on my "Top 10 Movies to take to a Desert Island" list.
DeleteHank, remember to breathe--don't hold your breath in all the excitement! And yes to Perry Mason--it was family viewing every Sunday night. My mom was also a big Earle Stanley Gardner fan, so lots of the books around,too.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite legal mysteries--not thrillers--are the books in Anne Perry's historical William and Hester Monk series. There's always a courtroom drama and a real sense of what it must have been like to be in a courtroom during that time period.
Oh yes—thank you for the advice—much appreciated, and very very wise.
DeleteAnd yes, I need to take another look at those!
I have read legal thrillers but I don't seek them out, even though the ones I have read I enjoy very much. The Grisham books were great but I haven't read any lately. Perry Mason? Of course I knew who he was but I don't think I ever watched the show. I do recollect Raymond Burr being in Ironside but I can't say I watched that one either.
ReplyDeleteBut I have read THE MURDER LIST and it is fabulous! Of course.
Judi - I'm not a huge reader of legal thrillers either, which is why I included the Picoult books. I remember when I started writing my first book, wondering if I ought to do a legal thriller, but I decided since my husband and I were both attorneys, and half our friends were attorneys, I would go nuts if I also had to spend my off-time in the company of fictional attorneys!
DeleteJudi!! Thank you...and aw, I wish we could watch Perry Mason together!
DeleteHow coincidental is this post ( even if in crime fiction you often read that there is no coincidences) .
ReplyDeleteI was reading a book's prologue about a lawyer this morning when I asked myself how anyone could want to be one.
I loved Perry Mason when I was young but don't remember if we saw the dark side of the legal system in those days..
After reading hundreds of crime fiction, including legal ones, my opinion is mixed about lawyers.
Recently happily reread Michael Connelly's Lincoln Lawyer novels and I watch Bull's series on TV.
Looking forward to reading your view on the subject in The Murder List, Hank
I am eager to hear what you think! And good point--did we see that dark side? Hamilton Burger (!!) certainly THOUGHT he was a good guy, right?
DeleteI didn’t see Perry Mason in the original run but in repeats. I think they portrayed the dark side of the justice system too. The concept of justice is why I became an attorney. However, I remember thinking when watching that Hamilton Burger was a bad guy not pursuing justice but his own personally motivated form of it. I don’t usually read legal thrillers, but I do plan on reading the Murder List.
DeleteOh, that would be wonderful...I cannot wait to hear what you think!
DeleteThere was a giant painting of Raymond Burr as Perry Mason in my law school library (McGeorge). He had donated his notated scripts to the school. Perry Mason was all I knew about being a lawyer so it was inspiring to have him watch over me. As for novels, anything Grisham or Turow. I loved the premise of The Murder List because both sides usually believe right down to their socks that they are the good guys and the other side is the spawn of Satan. One time ever in 40 years, a prosecutor told me he was glad I won. So he's okay in my book.
ReplyDeleteKeenan, we had a very dear friend, now passed, who went to McGeorge. He told us about the Raymond Burr painting, and said he and his housemates would blow off steam by watching Perry Mason reruns in the afternoon!
DeleteKeenan, that is lovely. And SO right, very unusual. I will ask Jonathan if anyone has ever said anything like that to him. I truly doubt it.
DeleteI also loved Perry Mason as a child and lately again on streaming TV. I often find my husband watching an episode of it if he has idle time to fill.
ReplyDeleteI have never done a deep dive into crime fiction, but there is some that I have enjoyed very much. I really want to check out the Lincoln Lawyer books, as I hear such good things about them. (And it goes without saying I will be reading The Murder List!)
Has anyone else here read Kate Wilhelm's Barbara Holloway books? Sadly Kate passed away last year, so there will be no new ones. But she wrote 14 books about Barbara Holloway, an idealistic lawyer who had walked away from a high powered law job because of disillusionment but ends up building a career mixing pro-bono work with paid work helping underdogs or those in bizarre situations. Her father is a partner at a high power law firm, which conveniently gives her access to resources a small-time operator like her wouldn't otherwise have. The writing is SO STRONG! I can't recommend this series highly enough.
Susan, I have read all of the Barbara Holloway books--as you say, strong writing--a memorable cast of recurring characters--setting well-drawn--loved them! Have you read Kate Wilhelm's novellas with Constance and Charlie? Different, but equally absorbing.
DeleteI love Barbara and Frank also. It always amazed me how far afield they could get from the original premise of the case. And Barbara's intuitive leaps too, man, she could make some connections.
DeleteFlora, I have not read the novellas, but I will seek them out now. Thanks for the tip!
DeleteOh, I will look for those! Thank you! And I'd love to hear--Is Perry Mason still fun to watch?
DeleteIn my opinion, he holds up very well!
DeleteSO great to hear! Maybe I will find one tonight as a special treat...
DeleteI love legal thrillers, probably ever since I read PRESUMED INNOCENT back in the day. Currently, I am a huge fan of Alafair Burke because of the way she can seamlessly weave a court case into a novel. Her most recent THE BETTER SISTER is my favorite, but you can't go wrong with any of Alafair's books. This year, I also loved a book called A Nearly Normal Family by M. T. Edvardsson. The court case in there was fascinating and by structuring the narrative to unfold through the eyes of three members of the same family was inspired.
ReplyDeleteAnd well, I loved Hank's book. Look for my review of that later this week!
I should also have said, DEFENDING JACOB is on my list of most favorite books ever. Whoa, I still remember my shock at those final moments.
DeleteI am reading Nearly Normal now, Kristopher!
DeleteANd now--I am fainting with apprehension. Aww.....waiting for the review.. Is there ANYTHING more nerve-wracking???? oxxoxo
Everyone The Murder List is amazing, I couldn’t work it out. Very clever twists, thank you Hank for a book which held me. As for legal thrillers. I remember seeing some Perry Mason, I think it must have made it to England. So very different from the English system. We loved LA Law, and I have just finished Watching Suits, I’m a bit behind the times as I’m streaming it. Another streaming love is Kavendish on Prime. It’s an oldie from England and we love it, particularly as Kavendish is a working class boy made very good. The class play is clever. To books, my immediate thought was To Kill a Mockingbird, which I had never read until about five years ago. I have read a lot of John Grisham’s books and enjoyed the back stories and legal detail. Good travels and sales Hank, don’t forget to pack comfortable shoes!
ReplyDeleteShoes, shoes, you are o right! I saw Cate Blanchett on the Today Show today in a designer suit--and sneakers. So I am all in.
DeleteCelia, it was Kavanaugh, QC, with John Thaw, who was wonderful. I think I even have some of those on DVD somewhere. I haven't seen Suits so must put that on my list!
DeleteHank, sneakers with suits are so in!
I watched Perry Mason with my grandparents. To me, a legal thriller is one where the plot rests on legal proceedings - that is, the plot doesn't work without the legal stuff. Cinematically, I'd have to say "12 Angry Men" is my favorite. I also loved DEFENDING JACOB.
ReplyDeleteAnxiously awaiting my copy of THE MURDER LIST!
Crossing fingers! Yes, I agree--there have to be the legal proceedings. ANd I was careful with that in the book--I didn't want too much, even though I think it's fascinating.
DeleteI watched Perry Mason with my mom but confess I don't remember it clearly. I basically don't read any thrillers - but will make an exception for The Murder List, of course!
ReplyDeleteAwww..thank you!
DeleteNow I will hear the theme from Perry Mason in my head all day!
ReplyDeleteI enjoy reading and watching legal thrillers. John Grisham's The Rainmaker remains one of my favorites. Who can forget the "stupid letter" and all the powerlessness and condescension and unfairness wrapped in one line of a letter? I think A Civil Action and Presumed Innocent are modern classics of the genre, with Inherit the Wind and 12 Angry Men almost perfectly written. This discussion makes me want to read more--guess I should start with The Murder List!
YES. Good idea!! I covered the trial that turned out to be A Civil Action-and it was incredible to be part of that.
DeleteMy favorite legal thrillers would be all the Barbara Holloway novels by Kate Wilhelm. Barbara and her father are brilliant lawyers, and they always manage to turn the case inside out and unmask the real murderer. I never watched Perry Mason, but I loved LA Law and The Practice. And don't forget Matlock.
ReplyDeleteGood picks! And so lucky to hear about Kate WIlhelm today..
DeleteMy grandfather loved Perry Mason and had a collection of the books too. I saw reruns of Perry Mason and they were compelling. Have you noticed how many crimes were committed because of the lack of money for medical bills and I wondered if the author would have been in favor of something similar to NHS in Britain?
ReplyDeleteDeborah, yes, we watched LA Law, however the tv show was very late in the evenings and we kids had to get up early to go to school. LOL
Speaking of legal thrillers, I am not sure if To Kill a Mockingbird is a legal thriller. I have read several legal mysteries by John Grisham. And there is a legal mystery series by Sheldon Siegel.
Look forward to reading the Murder List!
And congratulations to all Reds hot news!!!
Diana
Awww...Thank you so much! xox
DeleteSO interesting about the medical bills! NEVER thought of that..
I honestly don't I haven't read legal thrillers. The titles that have been listed are familiar but usually as movies. I think I've always felt too intimated to pick one up.
ReplyDeleteYes, that's what worries me a bit. What if The Murder List is a psychological thriller--where the main characters happen to be lawyers?
DeleteWesterns were the television of choice by my father, who, unlike kids taking over today, controlled the television viewing. Well, my mother did get her Lawrence Welk in, and, thankfully, there was some Perry Mason, too. I have loved mysteries since I was in elementary school, but I'm thinking that I started reading legal thrillers when John Grisham came on the scene. And, Scott Turow with Presumed Innocent was brilliant. I haven't read Grisham or Turow for a while. Of course, there was To Kill a Mockingbird, but as Bibliophile says above, not sure if TKAM qualifies as a legal thriller.
ReplyDeleteHank, I'll be reading and reviewing The Murder List by its publication date next week. My life has been such a mess that I am woefully behind of my reading and reviewing, but I will make your publication deadline. I'm so excited now that I'm finally getting to read it.
Oh, yikes, yes,I know your life has been a juggle--all the more reason I am so thrilled and honored you can find the time to read The Murder List. Crossing fingers. :-)
DeleteAnd you know, you and Bibilphile, I just wrote an article about "When Legal Thrillers are not really legal thrillers"--and TKAM is on that list! Ill let you know when that's published!
All five seasons of Kavanaugh, QC are available on Amazon Prime! And I think Silk, the British legal drama series, may be available to stream for free on PBS, and you can buy at least one season on Amazon Prime.
ReplyDeleteWho remembers Rumpole of the Bailey? I LOVED Leo McKern as Horace Rumpole!
Yes ,yes, yes--LOVE Silk! And what was the other one--The Rogue? Something like that? And Rumpole is Jonathan's absolute fave.
DeleteI loved watching Rumpole of the Bailey when it was still airing as new episodes on PBS. Sadly, I don't think the show has held up well. My local library has the first few seasons on DVD and I borrowed the first season to give it another view. I made it through the first couple of episodes and just couldn't do anymore.
DeleteI haven’t read many legal thrillers, but I did just read an interview with Michelle Dockery of Downtown Abbey fame, and she just finished filming a movie based on Defending Jacob. I’m blanking on the name at the moment, but the husband is being played by Chris Evans?...the actor who did Captain America.
ReplyDeleteYES! And it is filming in Newton, where I live! SO exciting! And it is being called Defending Jacob. So cool.
DeleteMost legal thrillers get the law all wrong. Scott Turow gets it right. I can't watch most law shows on TV-- most of those lawyers should be disbarred.
ReplyDeleteSO funny--my husband often yells at them. THAT WOULD NOT HAPPEN! I love it. (I yell at the reporters...)
DeleteI think the problem with attorneys that watch legal shows or movies is they forget that there has to be allowances for dramatic effect. Same for other professions. It's a TV show, not a treatise on the practice of law.
DeleteSo excited for you, Hank!
ReplyDeleteI was also thinking of Rumpole, but are those considered thrillers?
Aren't Michele Martinez's first three books legal thrillers? It's been awhile since I've read them. I was so disappointed when she stopped writing. Her new books are very different from her first, which were a series.
Aw, thank you! FREAKING Out. And yes, Michele is now Michele Campbell, and she's doing domestic suspense. And quite successfully, too!
DeleteAlso, my grandparents watched Perry Mason religiously. I loved watching with them. My other grandparents were Lawrence Welk fans, quite a different experience!
ReplyDeleteVERY different! Difficult to sing along with Perry...xxx
DeleteYou guys are prodigious. I read Jodi Picoult's SMALL GREAT THINGS, last year. It kept my interest even though sometimes I thought it strained my credulity. I haven't read anything else by her, so I am not sure how it compares.
ReplyDeleteWe are indeed! Crazy, huh? xo
DeleteDoes anyone remember Rumpole?
ReplyDeleteLOVE Rumpole--my husband's very favorite!
DeleteI watched Perry Mason and read the books. Never watched LA Law but watched Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law, Judd for the Defense, Matlock, Boston Legal, Bull, Shonda Rhimes' legal show that just got cancelled, and probably more TV shows. I read mostly cozy mysteries not thrillers but some of the cozies have trials and lawyers in them. I remember in English class, a classmate quoted a French philosopher, and I quoted from an episode of Judd for the Defense, not on the legal aspect, though. Erle Stanley Gardner was a lawyer but I assume that most of the TV shows take a lot of liberties.
ReplyDeleteThat is GREAT, Sally..love that you quoted Judd. Brilliant!
DeleteThe buzz for The Murder List is spectacular. Can't wait to read it!!! Congrats, Hank!
ReplyDeleteOH......that is so wonderful to hear. REALLY? Ahhh....xoxooxo thank you!
Delete