The French Illusion

by John Grisham

An upcoming book from the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Espionage, Political Thriller

352 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication September 29, 2026

About the author

John Grisham is the author of more than fifty consecutive #1 bestsellers, which have been translated into nearly fifty languages. His recent books include Framed, Camino Ghosts and The Exchange: After the Firm.

Grisham is a two-time winner of the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction and was honored with the Library of Congress Creative Achievement Award for Fiction.

When he's not writing, Grisham serves on the board of directors of the Innocence Project and of Centurion Ministries, two national organizations dedicated to exonerating those who have been wrongfully convicted. Much of his fiction explores deep-seated problems in our criminal justice system.

John lives on a farm in central Virginia.

Reviews

[John Grisham · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I’m not reading legal thrillers, I enjoy espionage and spy stories. As a writer, I have been influenced by Ken Follett, John le Carré, Robert Ludlum and Len Deighton. Many of the elements that make legal thrillers compelling – high stakes, hidden motives, intricate plots, and shady characters – also propel the best espionage fiction. THE FRENCH ILLUSION is my first attempt to follow the craftsmanship of some of the great international suspense novelists.

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can proudly say that for years and years I’ve been devouring John Grisham novels, and every single time I open one of his books, I know I’m about to experience storytelling from one of the true GOATs of modern literature. It’s the same feeling I get whenever I pick up a Stephen King novel—there’s an immediate sense of trust because these authors have consistently set the bar so high that every new release arrives with sky-high expectations attached to it.

Well, this one didn’t just meet those expectations—it grabbed them, threw them into a speeding vehicle, and drove them straight off a cliff.

This breathtaking, hyperventilating, pulse-racing thriller had my heart pounding so hard that I’m convinced it raised my cholesterol levels from stress alone. My anxiety was operating at Olympic levels while reading it, but honestly, who am I to complain? If you want the rush of a truly great thriller, you have to be willing to surrender yourself to the adrenaline.

The story launches at full speed from the very first pages. What begins as a picture-perfect wedding quickly transforms into every parent’s worst nightmare. The Clayburn and Tanner families gather to celebrate the marriage of Chelsea and Paul. The lavish wedding is largely funded by Chelsea’s family, thanks to her father, Dr. Lowell Clayburn, a successful orthopedic surgeon whose smart investments have provided considerable wealth and security.

After the wedding, the newlyweds leave for a dream honeymoon in Paris. Chelsea enthusiastically documents every moment of their romantic getaway on social media, sharing photos, updates, and even snapshots of the spectacular meals they enjoy. Then suddenly… nothing.

No messages.

No photos.

No updates.

Complete silence.

The abrupt disappearance sends alarm bells ringing, and soon the horrifying truth emerges: Chelsea and Paul have been kidnapped by an organized criminal network. The families are contacted separately and ordered to pay enormous ransoms—millions of dollars—in exchange for the safe return of their children.

At first, it appears to be a terrible but straightforward case of international extortion. Pay the money, get the victims back, and try to move on with your lives.

But nothing is ever that simple.

The Clayburns have the financial resources to act quickly, while the Tanners are prepared to sacrifice everything they own, including their home and future security, to save their son. Yet as the investigation unfolds, it becomes frighteningly clear that this is far bigger than a typical kidnapping scheme. Beneath the surface lurks something much darker, more organized, and infinitely more dangerous than anyone initially imagined.

From that moment on, the story becomes an absolutely wild ride.

Every chapter raises the stakes. More agencies become involved. More secrets emerge. More players enter the game. The tension escalates relentlessly, making it nearly impossible to put the book down. The suspense becomes almost unbearable at times, leaving you perched on the edge of your seat, mentally screaming at the pages as events spiral in increasingly shocking directions.

This is intense.

This is nerve-shredding.

This is the kind of thriller that has you checking how many pages remain while simultaneously dreading and needing to know what happens next.

The rescue operation itself is masterfully executed and genuinely jaw-dropping. Every development increases the uncertainty, making you question who can be trusted, who is pulling the strings, and whether the victims will ever truly escape the nightmare surrounding them. The constant sense of danger and unpredictability keeps the pages flying.

One of my absolute favorite sequences in the novel involves the church scene, where everyone waits anxiously as the clock continues ticking toward a crucial moment. The tension in that section was almost unbearable. I could practically feel my pulse speeding up with every passing minute. The various operations carried out by investigators and agents throughout the story were equally gripping and often left my heart lodged somewhere in my throat.

What impressed me most was how effectively the novel balanced its relentless action with genuine emotional weight. The characters aren't simply pieces moving across a thriller chessboard. Their fear, desperation, hope, and determination feel authentic, which makes every twist hit even harder.

Overall, this is a phenomenal thriller packed with escalating tension, nonstop suspense, and enough surprises to keep even seasoned thriller readers guessing. It feels somewhat different from Grisham’s more traditional legal-centered work, yet that willingness to explore new territory pays off beautifully. The cinematic nature of the premise practically begs for a streaming adaptation, and I would happily binge-watch every episode.

Fast-paced, addictive, emotionally engaging, and impossible to put down, this is exactly the kind of thriller that reminds readers why John Grisham remains one of the greatest storytellers working today.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for sharing this impeccable, action-packed thriller with me in exchange for my honest thoughts, which I was delighted to provide.

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[Carrie Shields · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒏 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒓𝒅 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒚𝒎𝒐𝒐𝒏, 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒐𝒎 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒏𝒐 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒕.

Paul and Chelsea Tanner should be worrying about nothing more than sightseeing and deciding where to eat dinner in Paris. Instead, their honeymoon takes a horrifying turn when they're kidnapped during a trip into the French countryside, setting off an international investigation involving the FBI, the CIA, and French Intelligence. As the search widens and the questions multiply, a young lawyer is unexpectedly pulled into a dangerous operation where becoming the bait might be the only way to expose the people behind it all. It starts like every newlywed's dream vacation and somehow spirals into an international nightmare.

One thing I've always appreciated about the author is that he doesn't need nonstop explosions or body counts to keep the pages turning. The tension comes from watching intelligent people trying to stay one step ahead of an equally intelligent enemy. The story unfolds with that steady confidence he's known for, gradually expanding from one terrifying crime into something much larger. I especially enjoyed how the investigation crossed borders and agencies, with each new revelation making the conspiracy feel a little more intricate. It's less about shocking twists every other chapter and more about the satisfaction of watching all the pieces slowly click into place.

This is the kind of thriller that quietly gets its hooks into you. The chapters fly by, the conspiracy keeps widening, and before long you're promising yourself "just one more chapter" until you realize you've been saying that for an hour. It delivers exactly what I want from a Grisham thriller: smart characters, high-stakes suspense, and a deftly plotted story I can lose myself in. This was a tense, thoroughly entertaining read that proves sometimes the biggest danger isn't the one you see coming; it's the one that's been watching you from the very beginning. Many thanks to Doubleday Books for this early copy that will publish September 29, 2026.

[January · Rating 5 out of 5]

The French Illusion by John Grisham (September 2026) [reading in May]
317-page Digital Copy story pages 11-316
Uncorrected Proof ARC/ADC courtesy of Doubleday

Genre: Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Espionage

Rating as a movie: R

Featuring: Bibliography for John Grisham, Parts, Honeymooners, Paris, France, CIA, FBI, French Intelligence, Lawyer, Abduction Trope, Violence, Politics, Military

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½🇫🇷💒😷

My thoughts: 🔖Page 136 of 317 Chapter 25 - It's an exciting thriller, for sure.

The story was fast-paced and pretty interesting, so of course I had phone calls, errands, and chores to prevent me from getting back to the story. I had to fight all day to finish this book! It's is a good problem to have. I was blessed to get an advanced copy of this story. I usually read Grisham books on release day and let me tell you the worst part about reading a John Grisham book is finishing it and knowing that I have to wait 6 to 12 months for the next book, but in this case I'm not mad. It's only been 7 months since I read The Widow, and I think I love this one and bit more. It was quite the treat. It was completely unpredictable and but hopeful throughout. I'm looking forward to discussing it with others this fall.

Recommend to others: Absolutely! Go ahead and get your pre-order ready.

Books and Authors mentioned: Gods and Generals by Jeff Shaara, The Little Drummer Girl, by John le Carré, Call for the Dead by John le Carré, A Legacy of Spies by John le Carré, The Little Rascals by Romeo Muller [based on] Our Gang by Hal Roach

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chelsea and Paul Tanner have had the wedding of their dreams and are now enjoying their honeymoon in Paris. Suddenly things change. Both are kidnapped. They are separated and a two million dollar ransom is asked for each one. It is paid. Chelsea is returned, but Paul is kept. It turns out they are not the first honeymooning couple to have been kidnapped in Paris and the prior situations are exactly the same.

The FBI gets involved (too late) and then the CIA and the Oval Office and French authorities, but no one can find the missing men. Can a plan be devised that can get someone inside? Would someone be willing to be bait, a bait couple?

This book was really fast moving and after some very tense and violent encounters, the reason behind all of this becomes clear. The wives who are waiting on their spouses struggle to keep hope alive or even have a semi-normal life. One has to look at the actions of the United States that brought about what is basically a vendetta. John Grisham is able to put forth some grave truths, but that still doesn't make the kidnappings acceptable.. Will anyone lose their life in this game? Read it to find out.

I would like to thank DoubleDay and NetGalley for this early read. I so appreciated it.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Grisham takes his fast paced writing style and applies it to a new setting- international intrigue with intelligence agencies, military maneuvers and good old fashioned spies. In The French Illusion, we meet Paul and Chelsea, 2 newlyweds on a dream honeymoon in Paris. On a day trip to Normandy, it all changes when they are kidnapped for no apparent reason. Thus starts the rollercoaster of trying to find out who is behind the kidnapping and why, how Paul and Chelsea's parents get involved and how they react and then the devastating news that this has happened to two other couples. Grisham weaves a web following the kidnappers, the US and French governments, and their associated intelligence forces. The story moves from France to the US to Africa to Ireland and beyond. A thrill ride from start to finish with twists and turns to keep the suspense going through the entire book. If you are a loyal Grishman reader, be ready for much more military and spy content than his usual legal thrillers. If you are a lover of the spy/intrigue genre- definitely read this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for this advance e-book copy for me to read and review.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not your daddy’s John Grisham. In “The French Illusion”, Grisham steps away from his usual legal thriller, which is something he has done from time to time. But this time, it just feels different.

We join a beautiful couple on their honeymoon in France. Then things go horribly wrong as they are kidnapped. Are the kidnappers just looking for money or is there something more diabolical at play. Eventually, the FBI and CIA are involved, for better or worse.

This novel was near perfection. I literally consumed this book in one day and Grisham had me on every page. The characters are so well written. There are glimpses of Grisham’s sense of humor that show up, but overall, this is just a heart-pounding, edge of your seat thriller.

My rating is 4.9999. The .0001 that is missing is because I think he could have cut some of the “prep time” for the rescue attempt and spent more time on the actual rescue attempt. The rescue attempt felt a little rushed and was such a dramatic scene, it could have breathed a bit more.

I don’t know if this was just a one-off style change for Grisham, or a new direction for a period of time, but I’m all in on this. Excellent book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing • Fast-paced • Engaging

📚 The French Illusion by John Grisham

This is another classic John Grisham read that hooked me from the start and kept me turning pages the entire time. The story moves quickly, with plenty of intrigue and momentum, making it an easy book to fly through. Grisham has a way of pulling you into a situation and steadily unraveling it while keeping you invested in what happens next.

It had been a while since I’d read a novel written in third person, so that took a little adjustment for me at first. Once I settled into the style, though, I found myself fully engaged in the story. As usual, Grisham delivers a compelling plot and a smooth reading experience that makes the pages disappear.

🌟 Rating: 4/5
Would recommend to: Readers who enjoy intelligent, plot-driven fiction, fast-paced storytelling, and books that are easy to get lost in for a few hours. 📖✨

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 💛

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book grabbed me from the first page and kept me riveted until the end.

It's a story about three American couples, all of whom were kidnapped in Paris (at different times) while on their honeymoon. The husbands and wives are separated and meet different fates. Grisham keeps us going until the end about where these couples went, who is holding them and what their ultimate fate will be. Of course, U.S. intelligence services get involved with a wild plot to locate and rescue the kidnap victims.

I thought this book was great -- well-written and fast-moving, of course, because it's Grisham after all! My only critique would be the very end. After laying out the plot methodically throughout the book, I felt like the end was rushed. The plot wraps up, with all plot lines resolved in only about 10 pages -- it's very fast. So I felt kind of cheated, like the author had a page count he couldn't surpass or there was some other reason to wrap everything up quickly.

Other than that, I highly recommend this book and wouldn't be surprised if we see it in film form in the future.

[cyndi thomas Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Grisham is back! I received the ARC and was hesitant to be excited because his last two books have left me wanting more. This one, while different from his courtroom lawyer dramas, did not disappoint. Here is the set upL. an American couple on their honeymoon in Paris are kidnapped. Their parents receive a ransom demand and the reader follows their pain and worry as they try and collect the ransom money while follow instructions to not involve the authorities. Grisham does a great job taking the reader through the trauma of this situation experienced by all those involved. While the book gets a bit repetitive midway, things pick up when another couple are introduced involving an interesting twist I finished the book in two days, mainly because i wanted to find out how it ended for all involved. I was not disappointed. I believe it is being released in October. So much better than his last book, The Widow that I thought never took off. This one takes off and soars.

[Ivy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read several books by John Grisham and have enjoyed them all so was not surprised to find that this one was just as good.

It starts with a very expensive wedding, paid for mostly by the bride's father. After the wedding, the couple leave for a honeymoon in Paris, France. The bride, Chelsea, documents everything on social medial until one day she doesn't post anything. Her family start to wonder why she has not posted anything for several days until they get the ransom request.

From here on you are taken on a roller coaster ride to find the couple and pay the ransom. The hoops that Chelsea's father has to jump through to get her back.

I felt like I was right there with each family, experiencing every emotion and terror that they go through. It is an experience that kept me turning pages to see how it was all going to turn out. With every page turn the stakes go up and I had to see how they were going to find the newlyweds and rescue them from the kidnapers.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways

I had not read a Grisham novel in a while, so I was really looking forward to sitting down with my NetGalley advanced copy of The French Illusion.
Grisham steps away from his typical courtroom thriller and into the world of espionage. The suspense, intrigue and emotions are compelling – the pacing is a bit uneven. The details of the kidnappings and captivity are steady and spellbinding. But the ending came rather abruptly, and it felt like some important details were missing – it had a “the deadline has passed, get it done” conclusion. I needed more details, more explanations – especially in the very last chapter. There were several tidbits shared by the characters that had me wondering who they were referring and/or how they knew.
Still – it was a typically good Grisham book. Thank you to Goodreads for the entertaining read.

[Priscilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

After Paul and Chelsea Tanner’s fairytale wedding, it takes a shocking turn when they are kidnapped while on a day trip to the French countryside. Who would target them, and why?

Unlike his usual courtroom/lawyer thrillers, Grisham says this is his “first attempt” at an international espionage thriller, and he has succeeded (as I knew he would). He has combined his trademark courtroom suspense with thrilling espionage scenarios. Also, it has the European flavor that most of his other books don’t have. As a longtime Grisham fan, it was a refreshing change – I could not put it down – I loved it!

[Simone Bal · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit hard to believe that a single man would invest all this time & energy, hire dozens of people to trace, kidnap and guard these victims for years, only to settle a "personal" score with a US government, and then at a certain moment just drop everything and abandon the scheme after he feels he "got even". Organization on this large scale is what we know is done by large groups of people, with terroristic or religious reasons. Not a single disgruntled individual. The story does not convince me on that level.

[Mehva · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast paced thriller about a couple kidnapped on their honeymoon and the rescue attempts to save the husband who is still in captivity. The pain and fear of the families, the pain/fear of the man captured and the work of various agencies to try to arrange a similar kidnapping is all well described and is absorbing. The end comes a little fast but the overall ride was very interesting. 4.5 rounded up

[Dawn Byers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
Another winner by Grisham!!!
A couple marry and honeymoon in Paris where they are kidnapped. Who and why did this happen? Because this has been happening often a young lawyer is asked to be the bait to get to the bottom of this—- but will he be safe??

[Drea · Rating 4 out of 5]

No one does Grisham like Grisham. Right from the start, the novel took off and I was all in. This is what should be in the dictionary next to "beach read". It clips along and has twists and turns that will leave you turning the pages faster and faster. Really fun - recommend. Thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy!

[Likestotravel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an excellent story! Wrenching, exhilarating, and breathtaking plus the fun of some unexpected surprises. Did not want this one to end - SO good!

Thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[Julia Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has all of the action and suspense that you’d expect from a John Grisham novel. Loved every minute of it! Rae Claire is a CIA agent with heart, and Stuart is a refreshing recruit for this mission! Fans of Grisham will be happy with this latest book!

[RavenNoir]

GR giveaway

[Janet Alderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Instant page turner !
From the very beginning it keeps you interested as each character is revealed and suspense evolves.
Never disappointed with John Grisham.

[Terri Ramsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not a courtroom in sight, and Grisham still had me turning pages - I finished in one sitting! Excellent thriller!! Highly recommend!

[Kirstin Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of ARC-

Thank you to Goodreads and Netgalley for the ARC. This book was a fun ride from start to finish. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Deborah Kremer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not going to say much about this book but there is some violence. The ending has a gap in it.

[Angela McCabe · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ I love spy novels and was hooked, I had to know what happened to the couple and had a hard down putting it down. I’m also a big fan of John Grisham and enjoy his writing.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy!

Grisham steps outside of his comfort zone here, with a fast-paced story of international intrigue.

Young American newlyweds Paul & Chelsea are kidnapped during their dream honeymoon in Paris, with ransom demands and terrifying videos going out to their families. As their shocked loved ones try to figure out what to do, it soon becomes apparent that Paul and Chelsea are only the latest victims of a far-reaching network. Soon, the FBI, CIA, Interpol and other government agencies get involved, and a daring rescue plan is hatched.

Spanning several continents, and involving a huge roster of characters, the action is non-stop. It certainly held my interest, although in some spots it felt more like a screenplay treatment. I never really felt connected to any of the characters. And the ending felt a bit unsatisfying.

[Sbatdorf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of The French Illusion by John Grisham. This is a riveting tale of revenge. The French Illusion lives up to the excellent story telling you expect from John Grisham.