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The Judge's List
John Grisham

The Judge's List

Quick Answer

Read "The Judge's List" as the 2nd book in the Lacy Stoltz Series sequence. This follows the recommended publication order to preserve character development.

Sequence Warning

⚠️ Do NOT read before "The Whistler" (Book 1)

❓ Can I skip this book?
❌ No — Required

This book is essential to the core narrative and character development.

Verdict Insight: As the 2nd installment, this volume is critical for following the central narrative progression and plot development.

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2021368 ppWikidataSource
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • John Grisham returns to Florida, where The Whistler’s Lacy Stoltz takes on a cold case that reveals a judge’s darkest secrets. “One of the best crime reads of the year . . . a world-class shocker, worth staying up all night to finish.”—The Wall Street Journal In The Whistler, Lacy Stoltz investigated a corrupt judge who was taking millions in bribes from a crime syndicate. She put the criminals away, but only after being attacked and nearly killed. Three years later, and approaching forty, she is tired of her work for the Florida Board on Judicial Conduct and ready for a change. Then she meets a mysterious woman who is so frightened she uses a number of aliases. Jeri Crosby’s father was murdered twenty years earlier in a case that remains unsolved and that has grown stone cold. But Jeri has a suspect whom she has become obsessed with and has stalked for two decades. Along the way, she has discovered other victims. The man Jeri holds responsible for all these deaths is brilliant, patient, and always one step ahead of law enforcement. He is the most cunning of all serial killers. He knows forensics, police procedure, and most important: he knows the law.   He is a judge, in Florida—under Lacy’s jurisdiction.   But the man keeps a record of all his victims and targets, people unlucky enough to have crossed his path and wronged him in some way. Lacy must work to take him down, while somehow keeping her name off his list.

Series Order Complete! 🎉

You have reached the latest record for this series guide.

Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Order

Preserves character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended.

Chronological Order

May spoil surprises but improves timeline clarity for deep lore fans.

Order Confidence

high Confidence

Why this order?

Our team of curators analyzes publication history, author interviews, and internal narrative continuity to establish the definitive reading sequence. This ensures zero spoilers and maximum narrative impact.

Why This Order Is Confusing

Many reading lists for Lacy Stoltz Series conflict because early publishers often labeled short story collections as standalone novels, or rearranged internal chronologies for marketing. This guide follows original author intent and narrative continuity to settle the debate for good.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I skip reading The Judge's List?

This book is essential to the core narrative and character development.

Can I read The Judge's List before The Whistler?

No. We recommend reading The Whistler first. The Judge's List is the 2th book in the series and follows the core narrative established in earlier volumes.

Is The Judge's List required reading for the Lacy Stoltz Series?

Yes, it is a core installment in the series reading order and contains critical character development and plot progression.

What comes after The Judge's List in the reading order?

Currently, The Judge's List is the latest entry listed in our database for this series guide.