The French Illusion
the explosive new novel from the master of the legal thriller
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Hodder & Stoughton
Published:29th Sep '26
Should be back in stock very soon

'One of the great storytellers of our time. No one does it better' CHRIS WHITAKER
Bestselling author John Grisham delivers a new gripping, suspenseful page-turner about a Paris honeymoon gone horribly wrong - and the nightmare that follows.
Paul and Chelsea Tanner are riding a euphoric high after their fairytale wedding. But when they fly to Paris for their honeymoon, they're very quickly brought back down to earth. While on a day trip to the idyllic French countryside, they are suddenly and brutally kidnapped. Both of their families are in shock: who would target them - and why?
It quickly becomes clear that this is not the first crime of its kind. The search for answers soon stretches across borders, with the FBI, CIA and French intelligence working together to solve the puzzle. Struggling to find answers, a young lawyer is recruited to be the bait in an elaborate CIA operation.
Propulsive and surprising, The French Illusion is an unmistakable Grisham thrill ride - gripping and impossible to put down.
💥350+ million copies, 45 languages, 10 blockbuster films: JOHN GRISHAM IS THE MASTER OF THE LEGAL THRILLER💥
Readers love The French Illusion:
'Gripping, clever and genuinely difficult to put down' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'John Grisham is an ace storyteller and this one is probably his best' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A fantastic espionage thriller that combines an intriguing premise with plenty of tension' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'This was super fast paced and intriguing, an absolute page-turner!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Reading The French Illusion felt like watching a Bond movie' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The best thriller writer alive -- Ken Follett
No one does it better -- Chris Whitaker
Grisham's books have shaped the way millions see the law and its discontents * Time *
A master storyteller * Huffington Post *
Grisham has remained a peerless storyteller with an ironclad readership base ... his gifts are given full rein in The French Illusion ... this is vintage Grisham * Financial Times *
A harrowing read, leavened by the occasional quip, from a master storyteller burned up by injustice * SAGA MAGAZINE *
Packed with twists, danger and action from the off * The Sun *
Grisham takes a page from le Carré ... A timely commentary on American foreign policy and lawlessness in war * The New York Times *
ISBN: 9781399703451
Dimensions: 238mm x 160mm x 40mm
Weight: 566g
352 pages