The No. 1 Lawyer

An exhilarating legal thriller from the world's bestselling thriller writer, James Patterson. The No. 1 Lawyer will take readers on an edge-of-the-seat journey through the dark corridors of the legal world and the human spirit's quest for justice.

Stafford Lee Penney is revered as the best defence lawyer in Mississippi, celebrated for his unbroken string of courtroom victories. However, his world shatters when his wife is brutally murdered immediately following his latest triumph. Engulfed by grief and despair, Stafford spirals into a devastating losing streak and ultimately abandons his once-shining legal career.

As he hits rock bottom, Stafford discovers the nightmare is far from over. His wife's murderer remains free and is relentlessly trying to frame him for a series of crimes. In a startling twist of fate, Stafford must rise from the ashes to face his greatest challenge yet: defending himself in the most sensational murder trial his town has ever witnessed.

With everything on the line, Stafford Lee must tap into every ounce of his legal prowess to crack the toughest case of his career. This time, the stakes are higher than ever—it’s not just his reputation at risk, but his very freedom and quest for vindication.

The No. 1 Lawyer is a masterfully crafted tale of suspense, legal intrigue, and the relentless pursuit of truth, demonstrating why James Patterson is unrivalled in the thriller genre.

Praise for James Patterson:

"It's no mystery why James Patterson is the world's most popular thriller writer ... Simply put: nobody does it better." - Jeffery Deaver

"No one gets this big without amazing natural storytelling talent - which is what Jim has, in spades." - Lee Child

"Patterson boils a scene down to the single, telling detail, the element that defines a character or moves a plot along. It's what fires off the movie projector in the reader's mind." - Michael Connelly

"James Patterson is The Boss. End of." - Ian Rankin

"The master storyteller of our times." - Hillary Rodham Clinton

"One of the greatest storytellers of all time" - Patricia Cornwell

"Patterson knows where our deepest fears are buried ... there's no stopping his imagination" - New York Times Book Review

"Patterson is in a class by himself" - Guardian