Everything to Know About John Grisham, Author of The Rainmaker Page-Turner
An adaptation of The Rainmaker by John Grisham premieres on USA Network. Here's what you should know about the man behind the story.
When it comes to writing high-stakes legal battles and compelling characters, nobody does it better than John Grisham. The Rainmaker, premiering August 15 on USA Network, provides a reminder that serves as incontrovertible evidence of that fact.
The gripping new adaptation of Grisham’s 1995 novel stars John Slattery as ruthless attorney Leo F. Drummond, opposite Milo Callaghan as idealistic rookie, Rudy Baylor. Before the premiere of this David-and-Goliath legal thriller, now seems like the perfect time to get to know the life and work of its writer, Grisham
John Grisham’s early life
Born in 1955 in Jonesboro, Arkansas, Grisham grew up in Southaven, Mississippi. Early on, he developed a love for books and baseball, according to Biography. He even considered a professional career in the sport, but that he but shifted focus after realizing his talent lay elsewhere.
However, traces of his interest remain.
“Grisham’s books often include sports phrases or references,” observed The New York Times. Baseball figures prominently in his 2012 book Calico Joe.
Grisham went on to study accounting at Mississippi State University and then law at the University of Mississippi, graduating in 1981.
He worked as a criminal defense attorney and served in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1983 to 1990. In write-what-you-know fashion, Grisham’s first book, A Time to Kill, was published in 1989. The book was inspired, per Biography, by the moment he “heard the horrifying details of a young girl recounting her experience of surviving rape.”
He put life as a lawyer and legislator in the rearview, moved to Oxford, Mississippi and launched a career packed with international bestsellers, screen adaptations and awards.
John Grisham’s wife and children
Grisham married Renee Jones in 1981. The couple met while he was studying law and have remained together ever since. They have two adult children — a son, Tyler, a real estate and general litigation lawyer (apple, meet tree), and a daughter, Shea, who’s in the field of education.
Grisham has revealed that his wife is an ace editor. “I constantly inundate Renee with all sorts of story ideas, and it's her job to tell me to shut up and keep searching,” he told Book Reporter about a decade into his writing career.
“She has an uncanny ability to spot a good story; I tend to think that almost anything will work. Once I start writing, she is merciless as the chapters pour forth.”
The family has a number of homes including one Charlottesville, Virginia, per The New York Times, and Florida, where they lead a relatively private life. Family life and personal integrity remain signal characteristics for Grisham. These values often reflected in the moral themes of his novels.
John Grisham’s famous books
Since launching his acclaimed career, Grisham has written over 50 books. By the Library of Congress’ count, he’s sold some 300 million books in 40 languages. That’s a lot of page-turners.
Grisham didn’t invent the legal thriller, but he’s honed it to perfection courtesy of a keen imagination, understanding of suspense, and a law background that lends depth.
“I don’t start a novel until I have lived with the story for a while,” Grisham has said, according to Goodreads. “The more time I spend on the outline the easier the book is to write. And if I cheat on the outline I get in trouble with the book.”
Grisham clearly didn’t skimp on the outline on his most famous books. That includes his first novel, A Time to Kill, published in 1989. The plot centers on a Black father who kills his daughter’s rapists and faces trial in racially charged Mississippi.
Grisham followed up that impressive debut in 1991 with The Firm. The story follows a young lawyer who discovers his firm is a mafia front. Can the little guy win? One guess!
In 1992, The Pelican Brief hit bookshelves with the mesmerizing tale of a law student whose theory behind two assassinations puts her in the crosshairs of killers.The Client, out in 1993, involves a boy who overhears a mob secret and must navigate legal danger. The Rainmaker, released in 1995, follows a young lawyer (yep, another one of those!) battling a corrupt insurance giant.
These books defined the 1990s legal thriller boom and cemented Grisham’s legacy. It’s a template the author has maintained to this day. The Guardians, a best seller published in 2019, follows an attorney and minister who takes on a case and ends up uncovering corruption, lies, and dangerous secrets.
Josh Grisham film and TV adaptations
Several of Grisham’s high-profile books were adapted into major films. These screen versions helped cement Grisham’s dominance in both literature and Hollywood, blending courtroom intensity with blockbuster storytelling. They include:
- The Firm (1993), starring Tom Cruise, brings corporate legal corruption to life with slick suspense.
- The Pelican Brief (1993), starring Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington, explores a deadly conspiracy against Supreme Court justices.
- A Time to Kill (1996), starring Matthew McConaughey and Samuel L. Jackson, tackles race, justice, and vigilantism in the South.
- The Client (1994) starring Susan Sarandon and Tommy Lee Jones, follows a tense child-witness legal drama.
- The Rainmaker (1997), starring Matt Damon and Jon Voight, concerns a young lawyer who takes on a fraudulent insurance company.
The Rainmaker is back now in a new series adaptation on USA Network. The Rainmaker premieres on August 15, 2025, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on USA. Episodes will be available to stream on Peacock one week after air.
