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Redemption: Scott Pratt & the Birth of Joe Dillard

Win a free print copy of this book!

8 days and 03:25:30

10 copies available
U.S. only
Rate this book
“Strange how the waves of destiny wash over a man’s soul, leaving ugly cracks and crevices here, polished splendor over there. Strange indeed.” -Scott Pratt, Bestselling Author of the Joe Dillard Series

A lawyer’s fall from grace paved the way for an author’s rise to unimaginable success.

In December of 2005, Scott Pratt was marched to a jail cell after being charged with suborning perjury. Within two years, he had written a legal thriller that was a finalist for the top mystery novel worldwide.

Joe Dillard, Scott’s primary protagonist, served as a whiteboard for the author’s life, enabling him to reimagine and reinvent himself. The connection between character and creator was close enough to be near autobiographical.

Dillard acted as a literary marionette while his puppeteer subjected him to unimaginable adversity. His mother had Alzheimer’s and didn’t recognize him half the time. His sister was an addict who was in and out of jail. There was strong evidence against Dillard’s client. The son of the victim tried to kill him—twice. Another client escaped prison and committed murder.

All of this happened in the first novel. Eight more followed.

Scott didn’t spare his main character any more than life had spared him. Dillard wrestled with a rowdy assortment of demons. They stalked him by day and invaded his dreams at night.

Those same demons haunted Scott, creating a vicious tug-of-war between his talent and his volatility. Back and forth his life went from lavish to bankrupt, from a lakeside estate to the cramped quarters of his mother-in-law's basement.

Like Joe Dillard, Scott persevered by leaning into his family's sacred concept of love.

Scott’s precipitous fall has lived on as a cautionary tale for the local legal community in his hometown. One of those lawyers, who worked from the same office Scott once occupied, favors a broader view of his predecessor’s life, hailing his journey as “The great American redemption story.”

Regardless of perspective, Scott was no ordinary Joe.

399 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 16, 2025

79 people are currently reading
2097 people want to read

About the author

Scott Pratt

59 books1,577 followers
Scott Pratt is a Wall Street Journal and Amazon Bestselling Author whose books have sold more than five million copies. He was born in South Haven, Michigan, and grew up in Jonesborough, Tennessee. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from East Tennessee State University and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Tennessee. He lived in Johnson City, Tennessee until his tragic, untimely passing in November of 2018.

This page is maintained by his family. We're finishing up all of the projects he was working on when he passed away. If you'd like to stay up to date on that progress, or if you'd just like to say hello, you can visit us on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/19664...

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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
Profile Image for Sarah.
11 reviews6 followers
January 4, 2026
Some books you read and think ' that was a nice story', and are ready to move onto the next book on your 'to read' list. In my opinion, this book is not one of those books. It is one that I need to sit and think about more before I move onto my next read. Why do I want to pause?

This book, while the focus is on a specific author and his redemption as a successful writer after crashing as a lawyer, is more about how a person can struggle throughout life, but has guiding principles/forces that drive him:
1 - Perseverance - never give up if you really believe in something;
2 - Loyalty - having unwavering support for those who are important to you; and
3 - Justice - understanding that justice eventually prevails.

A final takeaway that I got from the book is about legacy - what a person leaves behind when they are no longer here. That last takeaway matters more to me due to my stage in life. Yes, this book is worth a pause and reflection before my next read. Those who have not read the Joe Dillard series should read the first two or three before picking up Redemption. Trust me, it's worth it.
4 reviews3 followers
Read
December 25, 2025
A window into the souls of Scott Pratt, Joe Dillard, and the Pratt family. Vulnerable, heartwarming, and heartbreaking, it’s an authentic portrayal of a brilliant man’s tumultuous journey, and his consistent reliance on the most powerful thing in the universe: love.
128 reviews2 followers
January 1, 2026
A most fitting tribute to Scott Pratt AND his family. An inside glimpse of the life of an imperfect man and his struggles and unwillingness to bend under the pressures brought to bear. If you loved the Joe Dillard books you will appreciate them more knowing what went into them. As an aside you will learn how difficult it is to write and get published. A hat tip to all the writers out there, struggling and otherwise.
Profile Image for Dana.
361 reviews6 followers
December 31, 2025
Thank you, Dylan, for writing this book!
Profile Image for Judy Collins.
3,304 reviews444 followers
January 9, 2026
REDEPMPTION: Scott Pratt & the Birth of Joe Dillard is a deeply impactful and emotionally resonant work that masterfully intertwines two compelling narratives—one, a poignant biography of the acclaimed author Scott Pratt, and the other, a captivating origin story for his beloved protagonist, Joe Dillard.

For those who cherish Scott Pratt and the thrilling Joe Dillard Series, REDEMPTION is an essential addition to your literary collection; it stands as an inspiring, timeless classic that deserves a place on every bookshelf. As a long-time fan of Pratts and the Joe Dillard series (having read them all), I couldn’t resist delving into this remarkable journey, so I purchased it in every format available—e-book, audio, and paperback. If only there were a hardcover edition to complete my collection!

Now, fans need a movie or TV series (more on that wish below).

This extraordinary book has the power to transform your perspective, leaving you inspired and invigorated by its raw authenticity. It’s more than just a read; it’s a profound experience that will linger in your mind long after you turn the last page.

Scott was no ordinary Joe! “The great American redemption story.”

About...

The Real-Life Fall and Rebirth

~The Arrest: 
The story begins with the real-world crisis of Attorney Scott Pratt, who was arrested in December 2005 after being charged with suborning perjury.

~The Rebuilding Process: 
It traces Pratt's journey from a "precipitous fall" in the legal community to his decision to rebuild his life through writing.

~Financial & Personal Struggles: 
The plot details his life's "vicious tug-of-war," moving from a lavish lakeside estate to living in his mother-in-law's basement with his family. 

~The "Birth" of Joe Dillard (A literary stand-in):
The book explores how the character Joe Dillard became a vessel for Pratt's own legal battles and personal demons. It reflects on how Pratt infused the first Dillard novel, An Innocent Client, with his own hardships, including:

~Family Trauma: 
A mother with Alzheimer’s and an addicted sister in and out of jail.

~Legal & Physical Danger: 
Dealing with clients who escaped prison to commit murder and surviving two assassination attempts by a victim's son.

~Parallel Journeys: 
The narrative highlights the "Great American Redemption Story" of a man who used his failures to create a bestselling legal thriller series. 

Core Themes
~Sacred Love: Like Dillard, Pratt is depicted as persevering by leaning into his family’s concept of love.

~Authenticity: The book emphasizes that much of the "hell" and struggles Dillard suffers was pulled directly from Pratt’s real-life experiences.


My thoughts...

Scott Pratt’s inspiration for writing was primarily born from a major legal and personal crisis that ended his career as a criminal defense attorney. With the professional ruin that forced him to channel his frustration and energy into a new career. Pratt creatively used his fictional protagonist, Joe Dillard, as a "whiteboard" to reimagine his own life. Writing became a way to navigate his own "demons" and the "vicious tug-of-war" between his legal talent and personal volatility.

He successfully portrayed the "bizarre, sometimes unbelievable" world of criminal law accurately. Much of the adversity Joe Dillard faced both professionally and personally was pulled directly from Pratt's real-life family struggles.

In the wake of Pratt's beloved wife, Kristy, passing in 2018, followed closely by Scott's untimely death just months later in the same year, a profound sense of obligation took root within his son Dylan and brother Dan. They felt a compelling "duty" and a "matter of honor" to honor their legacy by publishing this biographical work titled, Redemption in 2025. Their goal was not merely to recount events but to illuminate the remarkable journey of his "heroic rise," ensuring that fans could fully grasp the depths from which he had emerged and the resilience that defined his life.

Well done!

In addition to exploring critical themes and delivering a powerful message, readers will uncover invaluable insights about the world of publishing, particularly the transition from traditional publishing to the dynamic realm of self-publishing. Authors will want to pay close attention to this tumultuous journey, filled with challenges and triumphs, that ultimately shaped Pratt’s legacy and redefined his path to success. This narrative promises to be both enlightening and inspiring for anyone considering their own writing journey.

The central themes of REDEMPTION focus on the intersection of a real-life "fall from grace" and the creative process used to overcome it. 

The primary themes include:
~The Great American Redemption Story
~Perseverance through Adversity
~The Sacred Concept of Love
~Art as a Mirror of Life and Personal Demons
~Duty and Honor
~Cynicism and a closer look at the legal system
~Vulnerability and truth
~Resilience and Self-Reinvention


A central theme revolves around the unwavering decision to eschew any embellishments. The authors consciously steer clear of crafting a flattering narrative, instead choosing to delve into an unvarnished and candid depiction of Pratt’s formidable challenges. This approach aims to offer a genuine glimpse into his arduous journey, revealing the harsh realities that shape his legacy. Scott would be proud.

Reflecting on Pratt’s actual legal experiences, the narrative addresses the flaws and corruption within the judicial system, portraying it as a "Goliath" where the "little guy" often struggles to find true justice. In both his real life and the Joe Dillard series, Scott Pratt drew directly from personal trauma to shape his characters' lives.
 
Parallels in Family Struggles
The adversity Joe Dillard faces, particularly in the debut novel An Innocent Client, serves as a "fictionalized diary" of Pratt’s own experiences and continues with a 10-book series. I have read them all and cherished.
 
~Mothers and Illness
~Wife and Illness
~Sisters and Addiction
~Economic Collapse
~Danger to Family

Despite these hardships, a central theme in both Pratt's life and his books is the reliance on a "sacred concept of love" from family to survive. Pratt's children, Dylan and Kody, and Scott's brother Dan, eventually completed his final works and continue to do so.

In addition to the central theme of redemption, the Joe Dillard series explores several recurring legal, social, and moral themes across its 11 novels. The overarching takeaway message from REDEMPTION and the series as a whole is that personal ruin can be the catalyst for creative rebirth, provided one has the resilience to confront their past. 

A key message is that true strength comes from being "raw and vulnerable." By refusing to "pull punches" and exposing his real-life demons (addiction, family illness, and legal ruin), Pratt created a character in Joe Dillard that resonated more deeply with readers than a standard fictional hero.

The narrative serves as a "cautionary tale" that ultimately encourages self-reinvention. Pratt used his fictional protagonist to reimagine his life, showcasing that one can rebuild even when everything has been "beaten and broken" despite all odds.

A major takeaway is the importance of family as a "sacred concept of love". Both Pratt and his fictional counterpart, Joe Dillard, survived professional and personal collapse by leaning heavily on the unwavering support of their families. Beyond the central theme of redemption, Scott Pratt's experiences offer practical and philosophical lessons about life, work, and the creative process, proving you can change your path, even later in life: 

Pratt began his first novel at age fifty, after a long career as a lawyer and journalist. His experience shows it is possible to transition careers dramatically, even after a fall, if you lean into existing talents (in his case, writing).

A key lesson is the power of being "raw and vulnerable" in art. Pratt's decision to channel his real-life "brutal struggles"—including the pain of family illness, addiction, and professional ruin—into his fiction gave his work a powerful authenticity that resonated strongly with his audience. Having worked on both the defense and prosecution sides (as Dillard did in the books), Pratt recognized the inherent flaws in the legal system. His work teaches that the law is often a "human experience" driven by competition and the desire to win, and that "true justice" is not always achieved within its confines.

Both in his life and Dillard's, operating by an internal "inner code" of what is right—even if it sometimes conflicts with what is strictly legal or conventional—is presented as essential for maintaining integrity in a "jaded system". The lesson from the Redemption book is that you must experience the "devastating lows" to truly appreciate the "heroic rise". The deepest, most compelling stories often come from confronting and overcoming significant personal trials. 

The characters in the Scott Pratt universe are deeply interconnected, with the 2025 biographical work REDEMPTION highlighting how the real-life Pratt family served as the blueprint for the fictional Dillard family. 

What an incredible job Dylan Pratt and his family have accomplished in honoring their father's legacy! Fans from every corner of the globe truly appreciate how they carry on his name through their remarkable efforts. He was such an admired figure, navigating life's journey from the depths of hardship to the heights of success, always cherishing his family. His love and devotion, coupled with his inspiring spirit, leave a lasting imprint that continues to motivate countless individuals. Thank you!

The audiobook...

I recently had the delightful opportunity to dive into the audiobook, skillfully narrated by the incredibly talented Lyle Blaker. His portrayal of Scott and Joe truly brought their characters to life, infusing each moment with rich emotion and heartfelt passion. The immersive listening experience he created made it feel as though I was right there in the thick of the story, experiencing every twist and turn alongside the characters.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book, both in written form and as an audiobook, as well as the entire Joe Dillard series. I eagerly anticipate what thrilling developments await in the next installment! #CoverLove

AMAZON VIDEO: I would love to see a TV series based on Scott Pratt/Joe Dillard series, Starring Billy Bob Thornton as Joe Dillard/Scott Pratt. We all loved him in Goliath (an attorney) and, of course, Landman, a perfect pick.

Recs...

Readers and fans who enjoy Scott Pratt's work and his Joe Dillard series often look for character-driven legal thrillers with a strong sense of place, moral ambiguity, and deep personal stakes. I recommend the following (all favorites of mine, as I am a huge legal thriller fan).

~John Grisham
~Michael Connelly 
~Scott Turow 
~David Baldacci

Also, check out "The Darren Street" series under the Scott Pratt umbrella.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars+
Pub Date: Dec 16, 2025
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Profile Image for Cindy.
42 reviews
January 9, 2026
His books are some of my very favorites.

I loved this book equally to the Dillard series,maybe more. It was wonderful to learn about the author and his family. I read all the Dillard books within 1 month, couldn’t put them down. At that time I was unaware he had passed away. It saddened me greatly. Dylan, keep going..
2 reviews4 followers
January 2, 2026
Wow, what a beautiful read. I love the Joe Dillard series because he felt so true and real. I had no idea but I’m amazed to know how it came about. Thank you for sharing this with all of us.
Profile Image for Carol Michael.
104 reviews2 followers
December 22, 2025
Wow

What an absolutely amazing life story of a man, his struggles, his achievements, and most of all his love for his family. If there was one thing that stood out it was the strong love that bound all of you together. I loved your father’s books and was totally shocked at his passing. But one thing I know for sure Dylan that he is very proud of the work you are doing to carry on his legacy.

I have all of his books and have recently started to purchase the audiobooks- I can’t wait to listen to them. I will continue to purchase all your books ❤️🇦🇺
1 review
January 3, 2026
A heartfelt tribute to a man and his family during tumultuous lows and rejuvenating highs. I think there is something relatable to be found to all listeners/readers in this raw and honest reflection of a life. I don’t recall laughing much, but I definitely cried and feel inspired by the story. There is always a sunrise on the horizon no matter how bleak the night.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews

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