10 Gripping Legal Thrillers That Fans of Criminal Justice Will Devour
If you’ve been searching for books like Criminal Justice, you’re not alone. With the release of Criminal Justice: A Family Matter (Season 4), legal thrillers are trending again—and for good reason. The courtroom tension, moral dilemmas, and slow-burning suspense keep viewers (and readers!) hooked till the final verdict.
In this article, we’re diving into 10 unputdownable legal thrillers that capture the same energy. Whether you’re into psychological twists, complex characters, or procedural drama, these books will keep you turning pages late into the night.
Perfect for fans of crime shows, mystery lovers, and readers curious about justice, power, and everything that lies in between.
Why Criminal Justice Has Captured Everyone’s Imagination
Criminal Justice has become one of India’s most popular legal dramas. With every season, we see ordinary people caught in extraordinary legal battles. Pankaj Tripathi’s character, Madhav Mishra, is the soulful everyman lawyer navigating murky ethics and broken systems. From murder accusations to family secrets, each storyline blends law with raw emotion—and fans can’t get enough.
Why Legal Thrillers Work So Well in Books
Books in this genre go beyond the courtroom—they’re a lens into power, prejudice, and the human condition. Legal thrillers are layered, high-stakes, and emotionally intense. If you love shows like Criminal Justice, reading these stories lets you slow down, examine the nuance, and truly immerse in the case. Plus, there’s something satisfying about watching justice unfold word by word.
Here Are the Best Books Like Criminal Justice You Should Read Now:
This cult Japanese crime novel starts with a murder—and a maths teacher Ishigami helping to cover it up. As Detective Kusanagi investigates, a quiet game of intellectual cat and mouse begins with Ishigami outmaneuvering and always staying one step ahead. This slow-burn thriller is perfect for fans of smart suspense and emotional stakes—just like Criminal Justice.
In the early hours of July 31, 1952, a murder in a Michigan bar shook a quiet resort town—and set off a cultural ripple effect. The trial that followed inspired John Voelker’s bestselling novel Anatomy of a Murder and Otto Preminger’s iconic 1959 film starring Jimmy Stewart. This compelling trilogy dives deep into the real-life case, the literary adaptation, and the landmark movie, unpacking the legal, moral, and cinematic impact of a single crime.
by Franz Kafka
Josef K., a respectable bank employee, wakes up one morning to find himself under arrest—without ever being told what crime he’s committed. Thrust into a nightmarish legal system filled with vague charges, endless hearings, and faceless officials, he is left to navigate a maze of power and paranoia where justice is elusive and reason breaks down.
Written over a century ago, The Trial still feels eerily modern.
Josef K., a respectable bank employee, wakes up one morning to find himself under arrest—without ever being told what crime he’s committed. Thrust into a nightmarish legal system filled with vague charges, endless hearings, and faceless officials, he is left to navigate a maze of power and paranoia where justice is elusive and reason breaks down.
Written over a century ago, The Trial still feels eerily modern.
by Aaron Sorkin
Before it was a hit film, this was a play written by Aaron Sorkin and first produced on Broadway by David Brown in 1989. In short, the story features a military court martial; a young lawyer facing off against a decorated colonel; and a question of orders, ethics, and truth. It’s sharp, snappy, and full of fire—legal drama lovers, this one’s for you.
by John Grisham
Young lawyer Adam Hall takes on the unthinkable—a death row appeal for Sam Cayhall, a convicted Ku Klux Klan member, who is also his grandfather. As the execution clock ticks down, Adam must untangle decades of hatred, guilt, and silence to uncover a truth that could either save a life—or destroy his own. A haunting, high-stakes legal drama that forces readers to confront justice, legacy, and the human cost of capital punishment.
by Truman Capot
On a quiet November morning in 1959, the Clutter family was brutally murdered in their Kansas farmhouse, with no clear motive and almost no clues left behind. Truman Capote’s masterful narrative retraces the crime, the investigation, and the psychological unraveling of the killers, Perry Smith and Dick Hickock, in haunting detail. If Criminal Justice kept you hooked with its moral ambiguity and emotional depth, this true-crime classic will stay with you long after the final page.
Mike Daley has just quit his high-profile law firm, gone solo, and set up shop in a scrappy San Francisco office when his world is turned upside down—his best friend is arrested for the brutal double murder of two of the firm’s top lawyers. Daley finds himself at the centre of a case soaked in scandal, secrets, and sabotage. Witty, fast-paced, and packed with sharp legal manoeuvres, this is an unputdownable courtroom thriller.
Madison Rivera, a brilliant Harvard Law student, lands a prestigious internship with the influential Judge Kathryn Conroy. But there’s a catch—her younger brother is on trial, and Conroy is presiding over his case. When he vanishes after accusing the judge of corruption, Madison is thrust into a dangerous spiral of secrets, lies, and life-threatening stakes.
Perfect for fans of Criminal Justice who love strong female leads and courtroom suspense with psychological depth.
by Kenneth Eade
When Santa Barbara accountant Ahmed Khury travels to Iraq to help his brother, he’s wrongfully detained, branded a terrorist, and shipped to Guantanamo Bay. Tortured for information he doesn’t have, his only hope is attorney Brent Marks, who risks everything to challenge the U.S. government’s Patriot Act. Explosive and deeply unsettling, A Patriot’s Act is a courtroom thriller with real-world relevance.
Verdict? These Books Belong in Your Courtroom Drama Collection
If you’re still reeling from Criminal Justice and want more of that edge-of-your-seat tension, this reading list is your next binge. These titles are all available on Bookscape—so get reading and see where the law takes you next.
