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An Innocent Client: A Joe Dillard Novel
Chosen by Bookbub readers as one of the Top 100 Crime Novels of All Time.
A preacher is found brutally murdered in a Tennessee motel room.
A beautiful, mysterious young girl is accused.
In this bestselling debut, criminal defense lawyer Joe Dillard has become jaded over the years as he's tried to balance his career against his conscience. Savvy but cynical, Dillard wants to quit doing criminal defense, but he can't resist the chance to represent someone who might actually be innocent. His drug-addicted sister has just been released from prison and his mother is succumbing to Alzheimer's, but Dillard's commitment to the case never wavers despite the personal troubles and professional demands that threaten to destroy him.
"Pratt's richly developed characters are vivid and believable, especially the strong Southern women who fight their male-dominated culture from behind a facade of vulnerability in this brilliantly executed debut." -- Publisher's Weekly
Smart and sophisticated, with a plot twist that will leave you shaking your head in wonder, An Innocent Client -- the first in the acclaimed Joe Dillard series -- will also leave you begging for more.
"It's Scott Turow and Grisham... The opening chapter is maybe the most compelling I've read in a decade." - Ken Bruen, bestselling author of The Guards
"Pratt knows what he's doing and it shows." - Alafair Burke, acclaimed author of The Wife***A portion of the profits from the sale of every Joe Dillard novel is donated to the Ballad Health Cancer Patient Assistance Fund. Unfortunately, cancer plays a big role in the legacies of both Scott Pratt and Joe Dillard. This is our way of making the best of it.
A preacher is found brutally murdered in a Tennessee motel room.
A beautiful, mysterious young girl is accused.
In this bestselling debut, criminal defense lawyer Joe Dillard has become jaded over the years as he's tried to balance his career against his conscience. Savvy but cynical, Dillard wants to quit doing criminal defense, but he can't resist the chance to represent someone who might actually be innocent. His drug-addicted sister has just been released from prison and his mother is succumbing to Alzheimer's, but Dillard's commitment to the case never wavers despite the personal troubles and professional demands that threaten to destroy him.
"Pratt's richly developed characters are vivid and believable, especially the strong Southern women who fight their male-dominated culture from behind a facade of vulnerability in this brilliantly executed debut." -- Publisher's Weekly
Smart and sophisticated, with a plot twist that will leave you shaking your head in wonder, An Innocent Client -- the first in the acclaimed Joe Dillard series -- will also leave you begging for more.
"It's Scott Turow and Grisham... The opening chapter is maybe the most compelling I've read in a decade." - Ken Bruen, bestselling author of The Guards
"Pratt knows what he's doing and it shows." - Alafair Burke, acclaimed author of The Wife***A portion of the profits from the sale of every Joe Dillard novel is donated to the Ballad Health Cancer Patient Assistance Fund. Unfortunately, cancer plays a big role in the legacies of both Scott Pratt and Joe Dillard. This is our way of making the best of it.
372 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 4, 2025
672 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
Scott Pratt
59 books1,573 followersScott 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...
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
January 7, 2026
Loved this book!!!
This is one of the best legal thrillers I have ever read!! What a wonderful find. I loved the character development, the twists and turns, the conversation s, and most of all the writing!!! Although an excerpt of book two of this series is included, I elected not to read it because I am going to get book two of this series and start it right away, and I want to have the full book because I know I will not be able to out it down when I start.....just like with book one!! I am so happy I gave this a try and recommend UT to all!! ENJOY!!!
This is one of the best legal thrillers I have ever read!! What a wonderful find. I loved the character development, the twists and turns, the conversation s, and most of all the writing!!! Although an excerpt of book two of this series is included, I elected not to read it because I am going to get book two of this series and start it right away, and I want to have the full book because I know I will not be able to out it down when I start.....just like with book one!! I am so happy I gave this a try and recommend UT to all!! ENJOY!!!
December 28, 2025
Second time around reading this one
The book was better second time around. It center's around a man of conscience, practicing law on what many would say is the wrong side. There's a good deal of violence, tension, and twists.
The book was better second time around. It center's around a man of conscience, practicing law on what many would say is the wrong side. There's a good deal of violence, tension, and twists.
December 20, 2025
Dnb1953
Really enjoyed meeting Joe and all the others..this is my first book by this author and it will not be my last.Joe is a great lawyer and really sharp..the story was so good!
Really enjoyed meeting Joe and all the others..this is my first book by this author and it will not be my last.Joe is a great lawyer and really sharp..the story was so good!
January 6, 2026
An Innocent Client -
This was a good read. Maybe a little unrealistic but entertaining. I wasn’t sure where it was going for the first few chapters but i enjoyed the read.
This was a good read. Maybe a little unrealistic but entertaining. I wasn’t sure where it was going for the first few chapters but i enjoyed the read.
January 8, 2026
Can't wait to read more in this series!
January 9, 2026
Really enjoyed this book, looking forward to reading book two
January 12, 2026
Considering this is an independently published author, this book is very well-written. Nice mix of legal & humor, loved the characters. Definitely going to read his next book.
January 12, 2026
A legal thriller with plenty of action
January 16, 2026
a good read
Great stories about criminal law and real life. The cases and the defendants were well developed and kept my interest.
Great stories about criminal law and real life. The cases and the defendants were well developed and kept my interest.
January 11, 2026
This was my introduction to author Scott Pratt and I will be reading more.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews