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Legal thrillers. Grisham-ish but UK/English/Scots/European law. Any suggestions?

12 replies

FuckabethFuckor · 25/11/2022 14:25

I like a good legal thriller — Grisham, Coben, Cavanagh etc — but the ones I find are almost all US set. Absolutely nothing against the American writers but I'm fancying a location change, and struggling to find anything.

Any good British or European ones? I'm basically looking for Silk (that BBC drama series with Maxine Peake and Rupert Penry-Jones) in novel form, but with a bit more legal wrangling and a bit less soapy melodrama.

Or indeed Scandi Noir in legal thrillers, if that is such a thing.

I've tried the Rumpole short stories and they're OK, but a bit whimsical and old-fashioned for me. Worked better on telly than in fiction IMO.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

OP posts:
Danni675 · 25/11/2022 14:26

Anatomy of a Scandal?

OOlivePenderghast · 25/11/2022 14:29

Louise Doughty- Apple Tree Yard ?

OOlivePenderghast · 25/11/2022 14:30

You should watch Spiral (Engrenages) on TV

OOlivePenderghast · 25/11/2022 14:34

Also I liked The Appeal by Janice Hallett but that is a bit more murder mystery

2bazookas · 25/11/2022 14:34

Ian Rankin novels and Rebus TV series, all set in Edinburgh/ Scottish legal system. Rebus is a cop.

FuckabethFuckor · 25/11/2022 18:12

Thanks all — some good suggestions here. I like Rebus, although I think of Rankin’s stuff as police procedural or crime rather than legal but I can see where you’re coming from.

OP posts:
Katrinawaves · 25/11/2022 18:30

Dexter Dias is a practising U.K. barrister who writes courtroom thrillers set in the U.K. in the same ilk as Grisham or Scott Turow.

mynameiscalypso · 25/11/2022 18:40

I enjoyed Summary Justice by John Fairfax. I think he's written others but I haven't read them yet. Imran Mahmood's books are good too.

AllMyExesWearRolexes · 26/11/2022 00:55

Nick Stone "The Verdict", UK legal thriller, hero is a solicitor. I enjoyed it very much.

PronounsBaby · 26/11/2022 01:07

Jussi Adler-Olsen Department Q series - Danish

PD James - English

PronounsBaby · 26/11/2022 01:08

Oh hang on, I think I misunderstood....those are 'crime' rather than 'legal'

Avrenim · 26/11/2022 01:24

You could give LJ Ross or Val McDiarmid a go? They're also crime rather than legal procedurals though but most definitely UK system...

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