A new novel by John Grisham is coming later this year.
Doubleday will publish The French Illusion in the fall, the press announced in a news release. It calls the book “a gripping, suspenseful page-turner about a Paris honeymoon gone horribly wrong—and the nightmare that follows.”
Grisham, known worldwide for his bestselling legal thrillers, made his literary debut in 1989 with A Time to Kill and had a breakout hit with his second novel, The Firm, which became a massive bestseller. It spawned a 1993 film adaptation directed by Sydney Pollack and starring Tom Cruise, Jeanne Tripplehorn, and Gene Hackman.
He has written more than 50 books, including bestsellers such as The Pelican Brief, The Client, Sycamore Row, and The Judge’s List. His latest novel, The Widow, was published last October.
The French Illusion will follow Paul and Chelsea Tanner, a married couple who are kidnapped in France while on their honeymoon. “Propulsive and surprising, The French Illusion is an unmistakable Grisham thrill ride—gripping and impossible to put down,” Doubleday says.
Grisham said in a statement, “When I’m not reading legal thrillers, I enjoy espionage and spy stories. As a writer, I have been influenced by Ken Follett, John Le Carré, Robert Ludlum, and Len Deighton. Many of the elements that make legal thrillers compelling—high stakes, hidden motives, intricate plots, and shady characters—also propel the best espionage fiction. The French Illusion is my first attempt to follow the craftsmanship of some of the great international suspense novelists.”
The French Illusion is scheduled for publication on Sept. 29.
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
