If you’re one of the few million people who have helped Suits shatter every viewing record known to man on its way to accruing 45.445 billion minutes watched since it started streaming and have already knocked out all 134 episodes over nine seasons in a weeks-long binge-fest that has left you ready for more legal drama . . . then you’ve come to the right place, because we’ve got you covered.
Not only do we have the perfect ten books that’ll help quench your Suits thirst, but as a bonus, many of these books are part of a series and/or have been adapted for film or telvision themselves. So, once you browse our recommendations below, you should walk away with far more than just ten books added to your TBR list. You’ll also have a few new series and movies to check out. In fact, the first title on our list is actually the latest novel in another very popular legal drama series on Netflix.
See that book, plus nine others that are perfect for reading if you’re a diehard fan of Suits below, then leave us a comment or tag us in a social media post to let us know which ones you’re most excited to get your hands on.
Happy reading!
Resurrection Walk by Michael Connelly
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Michael Connelly: Lincoln Lawyer Mickey Haller enlists the help of his half-brother, Harry Bosch, to prove the innocence of a woman convicted of killing her husband.
Defense attorney Mickey Haller is back, taking the long shot cases, where the chances of winning are one in a million. After getting a wrongfully convicted man out of prison, he is inundated with pleas from incarcerated people claiming innocence. He enlists his half brother, retired LAPD Detective Harry Bosch, to weed through the letters, knowing most claims will be false.
Bosch pulls a needle from the haystack: a woman in prison for killing her husband, a sheriff’s deputy, but who still maintains her innocence. Bosch reviews the case and sees elements that don’t add up, and a sheriff’s department intent on bringing quick justice in the killing of one of its own.
Now Haller has an uphill battle in court, a David fighting Goliaths to vindicate his client. The path for both lawyer and investigator is fraught with danger from those who don’t want the case reopened and will stop at nothing to keep the Haller-Bosch dream team from finding the truth. Packed with intrigue and courtroom drama, Resurrection Walk shows once again that Michael Connelly is “the most consistently superior living crime fiction author” (South Florida Sun Sentinel).
Why you should read it: Having just been released on November 7th, this is by far the newest book on our list and an absolute no-brainer for fans of Suits. Not only is the book fantastic, and Mickey Haller one of the premier protagonists in the game today, but as a bonus, viewers can also turn Netflix right back on and start binging seasons one and two of The Lincoln Lawyer, starring Manuel Garcia-Rulfo in the titular role. This story, because the book is so new, hasn’t been incorporated into the show just yet, but chances are it will at some point, so read it now before spoilers leak. The bottom line is this: if you like Harvey Specter … you will love Mickey Haller. So if you’re looking for a must-read thriller after binging on Suits, start here.
Listen to Me by Tess Gerritsen (A Rizzoli & Isles Novel)
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Rizzoli & Isles are back! From New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen, this “shocking and fast-paced” (Karin Slaughter) thriller has Jane and Maura investigating a brutal murder with dire implications, and this time, with Jane’s intrepid mother, Angela, looking into a mystery of her own.
“An utter pleasure to keep readerly company with.”—The New York Times
Mothers know best . . . But who will listen?
Boston homicide detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles are newly plagued by what seems like a completely senseless murder. Sofia Suarez, a widow and nurse who was universally liked by her neighbors, lies bludgeoned to death in her own home. But anything can happen behind closed doors, and Sofia seemed to have plenty of secrets in her last days, making covert phone calls to traceless burner phones. When Jane finally makes a connection between Sofia and the victim of a hit-and-run from months earlier, the case only grows more blurry. What exactly was Sofia involved in? One thing is clear: The killer will do anything it takes to keep their secret safe.
Meanwhile, Angela Rizzoli hasn’t had a decent night’s sleep in all the years since her daughter became a homicide detective. Maybe the apple didn’t fall too far from the tree: Nothing in Angela’s neighborhood gets by her—not the gossip about a runaway teenager down the block and definitely not the strange neighbors who have just moved in across the street. Angela’s sure there’s no such thing as coincidence in her sleepy suburb. If only Jane would listen—instead she writes off Angela’s concerns as the result of an overactive imagination. But Angela’s convinced there’s a real wolf in her vicinity, and her cries might now fall on deaf ears.
With so much happening on the Sofia case, Jane and Maura already struggle to see the forest for the trees, but will they lose sight of something sinister happening much closer to home?
Why you should read it: Much like Suits (USA Networld), Tess Gerritsen’s beloved, bestselling novels dominated cable television after her books were adapted for a series on TNT starring Angie Harmon as Jane Rizzoli and Sasha Alexander as Maura Isles. Clocking in at seven seasons and 105 episodes, fans of Suits will appreciate the relationship and banter between Rizzoli & Isles, who have a very dedicated following of diehard fans due to Gerritsen’s tight plotting and smooth prose. While the legal stuff isn’t as comparable to Suits, the characters and relationships will feel familiar. And trust us, once you start this series, you’ll quickly find yourself binging the rest of the books.
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • John Grisham delivers high-flying international suspense in a stunning new legal thriller that marks the return of Mitch McDeere, the brilliant hero of The Firm
What became of Mitch and Abby McDeere after they exposed the crimes of Memphis law firm Bendini, Lambert & Locke and fled the country? The answer is in The Exchange, the riveting sequel to The Firm, the blockbuster thriller that launched the career of America’s favorite storyteller. It is now fifteen years later, and Mitch and Abby are living in Manhattan, where Mitch is a partner at the largest law firm in the world. When a mentor in Rome asks him for a favor that will take him far from home, Mitch finds himself at the center of a sinister plot that has worldwide implications—and once again endangers his colleagues, friends, and family. Mitch has become a master at staying one step ahead of his adversaries, but this time there’s nowhere to hide.
Why you should read it: Even non-readers who’ve never read a book know who John Grisham is. And those same people almost certainly know of the movie The Firm (1993), which stars Tom Cruise as a young attorney who quickly finds himself stuck between a rock (the mob) and a hard place (the FBI). Widely considered one of the greatest legal thrillers ever filmed, the movie is actually an adaption of John Grisham’s 1991 novel. Now, after more than thirty years, Grisham—the undisputed king of the legal thriller—is finally back with the long-awaited, highly-anticipated sequel, and he does not disappoint. Fans of Suits who enjoy the legal tension and creative ways the characters employ clever loopholes to win cases, will no doubt appreciate Grisham’s work too.
Home by Harlan Coben’s (a Myron Bolitar Novel)
Ten years after the high-profile kidnapping of two young boys, only one returns home in this gripping #1 New York Times bestselling Myron Bolitar thriller from the bestselling author and creator of the hit Netflix drama The Stranger
A decade ago, kidnappers grabbed two boys from wealthy families and demanded ransom, then went silent. No trace of the boys ever surfaced. For ten years their families have been left with nothing but painful memories and a quiet desperation for the day that has finally, miraculously arrived: Myron Bolitar and his friend Win believe they have located one of the boys, now a teenager. Where has he been for ten years, and what does he know about the day, more than half a life ago, when he was taken? And most critically: What can he tell Myron and Win about the fate of his missing friend? Drawing on his singular talent, Harlan Coben delivers an explosive and deeply moving thriller about friendship, family, and the meaning of home.
Why you should read it: When watching Suits, it’s easy to get caught up in the suspense of characters who aren’t quite who they claim to be, facing situations where exposure could be right around the corner. Early in the show, obviously, Mike Ross deals with the fact that he’s not really a Harvard grad. Of course, his new mentor, Harvey Specter, has his own problems, one of which is staking his job and reputation on keeping Mike’s secret. Well, take that dynamic, dip it in Redd Bull and light off some fireworks, and you’ve got Harlan Coben’s exciting thriller, Home. This book isn’t a legal thriller, but it doesn’t need to be to captivate fans of Suits because it does bring the suspense in a big, big way.
From the New York Times bestselling author Joseph Finder comes a fast-paced legal thriller, High Crimes
Meet Claire Heller Chapman. A criminal defense attorney who’s made a name for herself by taking on—and winning—the toughest cases, Claire still manages to have a relatively calm life as a Harvard Law School professor, devoted wife, and proud mother to six-year-old Annie. Until one night, when the family is out having dinner, a team of government agents bursts onto the scene…heading straight for Claire’s husband.
Tom Chapman has been arrested for an atrocious crime he swears he did not commit. Claire is desperate to believe him—and prove his innocence—even when she learns that Tom once had a different name. And a different face. Now, in a top-secret court-martial conducted by the Pentagon, Claire will put everything on the line to defend the man she loves. But as the evidence keeps piling up, the less she knows who her husband really is…and the more he appears to be a cold-blooded murderer.
Why you should read it: Another legal thriller that was adapted for the big screen, Finder’s 1998 novel was made into a major blockbuster back in 2002, starring Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman. While Suits might be a little lighter in tone than High Crimes, Finder’s book, which is exceptionally written, mixes a fascinating mystery with compelling characters (one of whom is a lawyer), and that will have a familiar feel to fans of the popular legal show.
The Tenth Justice by Brad Meltzer
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
“Meltzer has earned the right to belly up to the bar with John Grisham, Scott Turow, and David Baldacci.” – People
“A madcap mix of intrigue, romance and legal trivia.” – New York Times
The young attorneys who clerk for Supreme Court justices wield extraordinary power—privy to sensitive material that could prove disastrous in unscrupulous hands, making decisions that could change lives… or destroy them. They are…
THE TENTH JUSTICE
Landing a prestigious position as a Supreme Court clerk fresh out of Yale Law, Ben Addison is on the ultrafast track to success—until he inadvertently shares a classified secret with the wrong listener. And now the anonymous blackmailer who made a killing with Ben’s information is demanding more. Guilty of a criminal act, his golden future suddenly in jeopardy, Ben turns for help to his roommates—three close friends from childhood, each strategically placed near the seats of Washington power—and to his beautiful, whip-smart fellow clerk, Lisa Schulman. But trust is a dangerous commodity in the nation’s capital. And when lives, careers, and power are at stake, loyalties can shatter like glass… and betrayals can be lethal.
Why you should read it: One of the most diverse and talented writers working today, Brad Meltzer blasted onto the thriller scene in 1997 with his riveting, must-read debut novel, The Tenth Justice. Fun fact: Meltzer actually worked on and sold the manuscript for The Tenth Justice while he was in law school. Though he’s not exactly Mike Ross or Harvey Specter, Meltzer has shown the ability to write just about anything—from legal thrillers to action thrillers to mysteries and even nonfiction. Here, Suits fans will no doubt love meeting Ben Addison, a Yale grad who seems destined for great success, until he accidentally lets slip a classified secret, which turns his life upside down . . . sending him racing to try and fix it before it’s too late.
The Rule of Law by John Lescroart
In “master of the legal thriller” (Chicago Sun-Times) John Lescroart’s electrifying new novel, attorney Dismas Hardy is called to defend the least likely suspect of his career: his longtime, trusted assistant who is suddenly being charged as an accessory to murder.
Dismas Hardy knows something is amiss with his trusted secretary, Phyllis. Her out-of-character behavior and sudden disappearances concern Hardy, especially when he learns that her convict brother—a man who had served twenty-five years in prison for armed robbery and attempted murder—has just been released.
Things take a shocking turn when Phyllis is suddenly arrested at work for allegedly being an accessory to the murder of Hector Valdez, a coyote who’d been smuggling women into this country from El Salvador and Mexico. That is, until recently, when he was shot to death—on the very same day that Phyllis first disappeared from work. The connection between Phyllis, her brother, and Hector’s murder is not something Dismas can easily understand, but if his cherished colleague has any chance of going free, he needs to put all the pieces together—and fast.
Proving that he is truly “one of the best thriller writers to come down the pike” (USA TODAY), John Lescroart crafts yet another whip-smart, engrossing novel filled with shocking twists and turns that will keep you on your toes until the very last page
Why you should read it: A prestigious attorney notices something is off with a co-worker who seems to be acting out of character and accidentally uncovers a big secret when they start poking around. Sounds like Suits, right? Actually, it’s John Lescroart’s 18th Dismas Hardy novel, The Rule of Law. One of the longest-running legal thriller series still in print today, Lescroart has a solid backlist of work, and if you read one Dismas Hardy book, odds are, you’ll want to get ’em all. In this case, if you enjoy Suits, you’ll probably appreciate the relationships between Lescroart’s characters. You’ll also probably chew all of your nails off because Lescroart is known to dial up the suspense, and he does just that in this book.
Presumed Innocence by Scott Turrow
From #1 New York Times bestselling author and hailed as the most suspenseful and compelling novel in decades, this story brings to life our worst nightmare: that of an ordinary citizen facing conviction for the most terrible of all crimes.
Rusty Sabich, family man and the number-two prosecutor of Kindle County, is handed an explosive case–the brutal murder of a woman who happens to be his former lover. A shocking turn of events suddenly transforms him from the accuser into the accused… and plunges him into a nightmare world where nothing seems real and no one can be PRESUMED INNOCENT.
It’s the stunning portrayal of one man’s all-too-human, all-consuming fatal attraction for a passionate woman who is not his wife, and the story of how his obsession puts everything he loves and values on trial–including his own life. It’s a book that lays bare a shocking world of betrayal and murder, as well as the hidden depths of the human heart. And it will hold you and haunt you…long after you have reached its shattering conclusion.
Why you should read it: Like Grisham, Turrow is a master of the legal thriller and has been for quite some time. In this book, which was originally published in 1987 and, like several other books on this list, was later adapted into a major motion picture. The movie, which bears the same name, came out in 1990 and stars Harrison Ford. It was, in fact, one of the top ten highest-grossing movies that year, and to this day, it holds an 86% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. So, what should you expect while reading this one? A lot of surprises! This book—like some of the storylines in Suits—is very thought-provoking by nature, steering, at times, into a gray zone that is neither black nor white. Overall, it’s a classic for a reason and stacks up just fine against any more recent thrillers that have topped bestsellers lists.
A Wall Street Journal bestseller.
From Wall Street Journal bestselling author Robert Bailey comes a haunting legal thriller about the price of redemption for a billboard lawyer who takes a case he can’t win in a town he can’t forget.
Now that attorney Jason Rich has returned home to Guntersville, Alabama, the “In an accident? Get rich!” lawyer is anxious to leave his checkered past behind. Jason hopes this next chapter in his life will be a chance to confront his personal troubles while making amends with his family.
But when a former high school football star stands accused of killing a police officer, Jason is unwillingly thrust into the chaos. The local meth king blackmails Jason into defending the alleged murderer, and Jason knows he can’t refuse. With the lives of his family and closest friends on the line, he takes the obviously unwinnable case.
As Jason dives into the investigation, he vows to dismantle the meth empire gripping his hometown. But as he confronts alternative suspects and follows new leads, Jason realizes that everyone has secrets to hide and interests to protect—at any cost.
Why you should read it: Redemption is a major theme of this book, which stars an attorney named Jason Rich. Likewise, it’s fair to say that at least a couple of seasons of Suits focus on redemption, too, so the similarities are pretty clear there. Now, outside of that, Bailey—who remains a criminally underrated author—spins a very different yarn than what viewers are used to when binging Suits… but if a taut, skillfully-plotted legal thriller is what you’re in search of, this book checks the box and then some.
Feared by Lisa Scottoline (a Rosato & DiNunzio Novel)
In the new thriller from New York Times bestselling author Lisa Scottoline, Mary DiNunzio’s ruthless nemesis Nick Machiavelli is back…with a vengeance.
When three men announce that they are suing the Rosato & DiNunzio law firm for reverse sex discrimination―claiming that they were not hired because they were men―Mary DiNunzio and Bennie Rosato are outraged. To make matters worse, their one male employee, John Foxman, intends to resign, claiming that there is some truth to this case.
The plaintiffs’ lawyer is Nick Machiavelli, who has already lost to Mary once and is now back with a vengeance ―determined not to not only win, but destroy the firm. It soon becomes clear that Machiavelli will do anything in his power to achieve his end…even after the case turns deadly. The stakes have never been higher for Mary and her associates as they try to keep Machiavelli at bay, solve a murder, and save the law firm they love…or they could lose everything they’ve worked for. Told with Scottoline’s trademark gift for twists, turns, heart, and humanity, this latest thriller asks the question: Is it better to be loved, or feared…
Feared, the sixth entry in the acclaimed Rosato & DiNunzio series, expertly explores what happens when we are tempted to give in to our own inner darkness.
Why you should read it: Perhaps the best-suited (pun intended) recommendation for diehard Suits fans, Lisa Scottoline’s Feared (2018) is the sixth and most recent book in her bestselling Rosato & DiNunzio series. Without giving anything away, Scottoline delivers a fascinating storyline here that, in many ways, might just have been ahead of its time. It’s a legal thriller, yes, but like Suits, the real focus here is the main characters, whose, well, character, comes under attack when allegations of a hostile, sexist work environment start to fly. It’s a serious subject matter, but Scottoline always manages to keep it fairly light, sprinkling in humor and sarcasm as needed. Overall, this book is perfect for fans of Suits to pick up and dive into.
Praised as “One of the hardest working, most thoughtful, and fairest reviewers out there” by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Scottoline, Ryan Steck has “quickly established himself as the authority on mysteries and thrillers” (Author A.J. Tata). Steck also works full-time as a freelance editor and is building a growing community on Twitch. His debut thriller, FIELDS OF FIRE, which #1 New York Times bestselling author Jack Carr says “will leave you speechless and begging for more,” is now available. His second novel, LETHAL RANGE, comes out on August 8th. For more information, be sure to follow him on Twitter and Facebook. And to take part in free, exclusive BOOK CLUBS each month, join The Real Book Spy on Discord.