by John Grisham
First published 2025
Simon Latch struggles to keep his small Virginia law practice afloat while his marriage crumbles around him. His routine changes when Eleanor Barnett enters his office seeking help with a new will. The elderly widow reveals her deceased husband left her substantial wealth that remains hidden from public view. Simon sees his chance at financial salvation and works to protect her secret fortune. Eleanor's account starts showing inconsistencies that trouble Simon. A car accident lands her in the hospital and exposes deeper deceptions. Simon discovers he has walked into a trap when authorities charge him with Eleanor's murder. The evidence points directly at him despite his innocence. Simon faces life imprisonment unless he can identify the true killer. He must unravel Eleanor's lies and expose the real murderer before the legal system destroys his future.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, contemporary, thriller, legal-thriller
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: deception, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Virginia
Period: 21st-century
416 pages · Hardcover · Doubleday
Content warnings: murder