John Grisham wins inaugural Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction

"The Confession" wins, in which a man guilty of a murder sets about trying to prove his guilt

The ABA Journal chose John Grisham’s The Confession as winner of the inaugural Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction, an award founded to recognize how awesome Lee makes lawyers look in her classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird.

"The prize will be awarded annually to the published book-length work of fiction that best exemplifies the role of lawyers in society," says a release. The Confession, the local author’s 22nd novel, is a fast-paced legal thriller about a man guilty of murdering a popular cheerleader, who counts his lucky stars while the wrong guy gets sent to death row.

After learning that he’ll get struck down by an inoperable brain tumor, the guilty man sets about trying to convince lawyers, judges and politicians that they’re about to put an innocent man to death.

Just another day at the office for America’s lawyers.

Grisham receives the spoils—which include a copy of TKaM signed by the reclusive Lee—at the The National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on September 22.

"Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law" was ignored.

 What’s your favorite legal thriller?

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