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Rogue Lawyer #0.5
Partners: A Rogue Lawyer Short Story
Discover how Rogue Lawyer 's Sebastian Rudd meets his partner and bodyguard in this thrilling short story, by master of the legal thriller John Grisham.Ten years out of law school, and running an office out of what used to be a seedy bar, Sebastian Rudd is beginning to make a name for himself - and learning that in order to get justice, you often have to cheat.When he chooses to represent Thomas Cardell, he's about to make even more enemies.At 33 years old, and with no money and a son to care for, Thomas Cardell is forced to become a drugs mule. But on his first night in the game, he's ruthlessly shot at by an undercover cop, and his only choice is to shoot back in self-defence. When the cop is killed it's Cardell's word against the other police officer on the scene, and proving Cardell innocent will be far from simple.But who ever said getting justice was easy?Featuring the characters from ROGUE LAWYER, and full of the wit and fast-paced action that makes ROGUE LAWYER so irresistibly entertaining, PARTNERS is another classic Grisham story.350+ million copies, 45 languages, 9 blockbuster NO ONE WRITES DRAMA LIKE JOHN GRISHAM
58 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 29, 2016
2638 people are currently reading
5308 people want to read
About the author
John Grisham
489 books89.5k followersJohn 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 557 reviews
February 27, 2023
I liked The Rogue Lawyer, so I was curious to see what this novella would add to the larger story. The answer, unfortunately, is not much.
Sebastian Rudd is the same character. Instead, Partners presents his friend Partner's backstory. Mr. Grisham has told similar stories before in full-length novels, so this treatment feels like the Cliff’s Notes version. It’s fine, but was not necessary.
Sebastian Rudd is the same character. Instead, Partners presents his friend Partner's backstory. Mr. Grisham has told similar stories before in full-length novels, so this treatment feels like the Cliff’s Notes version. It’s fine, but was not necessary.
June 22, 2025
Слабовато, в "Адвокат на престъпници" цялата тази история е описана по-добре, с едва няколко точни изречения.
Няма никакъв смисъл да се чете, ако си минал вече през романа.
Няма никакъв смисъл да се чете, ако си минал вече през романа.
November 6, 2017
Easy read. Dictionary's definition of Rogue is "dishonest & scoundrel".
The Rogue Lawyer is Sebastian Rudd, criminal defense attorney, he can always prove people are innocent before guilty. Other Lawyers won't take on "Tee Ray" Cardell, accused of killing Officer Buck Lester. His clients pay "nice fees" - Tee Ray's is only $75,000?
Typical dramatic court case - Judge Schofield, prosecutor Max Mancini & key witness - Officer Buck's partner, says Tee Ray killed Buck, but his $100 quickies with a teenager & family problems make him a unwilling witness to come forward.
Jury finds Tee Ray innocent. Was $75,000 worth it to being found innocent? Tee Ray is hired by someone you won't expect?
The Rogue Lawyer is Sebastian Rudd, criminal defense attorney, he can always prove people are innocent before guilty. Other Lawyers won't take on "Tee Ray" Cardell, accused of killing Officer Buck Lester. His clients pay "nice fees" - Tee Ray's is only $75,000?
Typical dramatic court case - Judge Schofield, prosecutor Max Mancini & key witness - Officer Buck's partner, says Tee Ray killed Buck, but his $100 quickies with a teenager & family problems make him a unwilling witness to come forward.
Jury finds Tee Ray innocent. Was $75,000 worth it to being found innocent? Tee Ray is hired by someone you won't expect?
May 1, 2016
Prequel to the Rogue Lawyer. Just an appetizer, probably for the next book in the series.
Rudd has matured in this short story, unlike his portrayal in Rogue Lawyer.
Keep it up like this, Sebastian, and I'll forgive you for wanting to be like the Lincoln Lawyer.
Rudd has matured in this short story, unlike his portrayal in Rogue Lawyer.
Keep it up like this, Sebastian, and I'll forgive you for wanting to be like the Lincoln Lawyer.
November 22, 2016
This is a quickie story about a money-hungry lawyer and his unlucky client. While the story was intriguing with interesting characters, I was expecting some heavy suspense and a thrilling feel, but didn't actually get any of that.
Overall, this was an okay read, but the ending was not very realistic at all for a legal drama.
Overall, this was an okay read, but the ending was not very realistic at all for a legal drama.
August 10, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
A short but very enjoyable read by John Grisham “Rouge Lawyer”.
A short but very enjoyable read by John Grisham “Rouge Lawyer”.
October 4, 2016
מותחן קליל כתוב היטב. הנאשם בחור שחור שיורה בשוטר לטענתו כהגנה עצמית. הסיפור מתרכז בהליכים טרום משפט ובמהלך המשפט. רק הסיום קצת חורק יחד עם זאת ניכרת היכולת של הסופר לעסוק בעיניינים עכשיווים כמו המתח בין שחורים ושוטרים ואי הצדק שבחשדות האוטומטיים נגד שחורים.
May 27, 2016
3.5 stars
This was a short little novella for the Rogue Lawyer series by John Grisham. I usually don't like novellas because they usually leave me wanting more especially in character development. I liked this one, but I did want more character development and I wish the ending wasn't so perfect. I like a little more tension. But I did like the characters and where the story was going. So now I need to get the main novel in this series.
December 15, 2020
This Sebastian Rudd, rogue lawyer story is excellent but too brief - it leaves you wanting more. Kristi & Abby Tabby
April 2, 2016
Grisham makes his mark with this wonderful short story, riding the coat tails of hi popular novel, Rogue Lawyer. Thomas Ray Cardell, aka Tee Ray, is having a hard time making ends meet. He takes a sketchy job as a drug mule for a local dealer and appears to be having much success. However, one night while walking through the projects, he is chastised by a cop, who draws his weapon and begins shooting. Only once Tee Ray has been injured and on his knees does he draw a weapon and shoot the officer, eventually killing him. The State pushes for capital murder and Tee Ray is in need of representation. Enter, Sebastian Rudd, whose legal skills are second to none, even though his clientele and antics may leave much to be desired. Rudd works to piece the story together, fighting a city prosecutor who has the officer's partner fabricating a story of his own. At trial, Rudd puts it all out there, in hopes of salvaging at least some of Tee Ray's life. With a defence strategy based on truth and honesty, Rudd must convince a jury that the prosecution is representing a police force bent on a vendetta as it is filled with guilt. A great read with succinct chapters and legalese only Grisham can bring to the table.
Grisham redeems himself with this story, after blundering through a pamphlet-style story approach to new tumor research earlier this year. His legal mind is crisp and the chapters offer the reader quick doses of the trials and tribulations of building a capital murder defence. While only a teaser of potential future Sebastian Rudd work, Grisham handles it effectively, offering advantages to both sides of the trial prep. However, Grisham finds a way to link Rudd and the previous Rogue Lawyer story in the end, which wraps the entire tale up and brings it home for anyone with an hour to spend reading this piece.
Kudos, Mr. Grisham for another legal success. While the stories need not always have the underdog winning, it is nice to see the world is not always stacked against the poor.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Grisham redeems himself with this story, after blundering through a pamphlet-style story approach to new tumor research earlier this year. His legal mind is crisp and the chapters offer the reader quick doses of the trials and tribulations of building a capital murder defence. While only a teaser of potential future Sebastian Rudd work, Grisham handles it effectively, offering advantages to both sides of the trial prep. However, Grisham finds a way to link Rudd and the previous Rogue Lawyer story in the end, which wraps the entire tale up and brings it home for anyone with an hour to spend reading this piece.
Kudos, Mr. Grisham for another legal success. While the stories need not always have the underdog winning, it is nice to see the world is not always stacked against the poor.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
March 31, 2016
The "King" of legal thrillers, James Grisham delivers PARTNERS, a novella prequel to Rogue Lawyer, Sebastian Rudd---the background history of his dedicated driver, bodyguard, law clerk, and partner.
If you read Rogue Lawyer , (recommend) we met the street lawyer, who is not afraid to take on the unlikely of client, and actually go to trial.
In this standalone prequel to his #1 bestseller ROGUE LAWYER, John Grisham tells the story of how Sebastian Rudd met someone he could trust.
Rudd only has one employee: his driver, who's also his bodyguard, law clerk, confidant, and golf caddy. How they met:
A father. Trying to keep his kid off the street. A black Thomas Ray Cardell (T-Ray) defendant. A man accused of killing a cop. A man with convictions, no priors, no arrests. A man fighting for his life.
Crack, moving drugs, a flea market, a narcotics cop working single. A missing cop. Buck Lester, a cop—two men down. However, everything is not as it seems. There is a witness to the shooting. A jury trial. A witness in rehab, an addict.
Someone loves the law, and working diligently on the case, to help Sebastian. The new partner. Entertaining, A short audio, narrated by Mark Deakins (same as Rogue Lawyer). Love short stories!
Looking forward to Thriller #24, coming Oct 26, 2016!
JDCMustReadBooks
If you read Rogue Lawyer , (recommend) we met the street lawyer, who is not afraid to take on the unlikely of client, and actually go to trial.
In this standalone prequel to his #1 bestseller ROGUE LAWYER, John Grisham tells the story of how Sebastian Rudd met someone he could trust.
Rudd only has one employee: his driver, who's also his bodyguard, law clerk, confidant, and golf caddy. How they met:
A father. Trying to keep his kid off the street. A black Thomas Ray Cardell (T-Ray) defendant. A man accused of killing a cop. A man with convictions, no priors, no arrests. A man fighting for his life.
Crack, moving drugs, a flea market, a narcotics cop working single. A missing cop. Buck Lester, a cop—two men down. However, everything is not as it seems. There is a witness to the shooting. A jury trial. A witness in rehab, an addict.
Someone loves the law, and working diligently on the case, to help Sebastian. The new partner. Entertaining, A short audio, narrated by Mark Deakins (same as Rogue Lawyer). Love short stories!
Looking forward to Thriller #24, coming Oct 26, 2016!
JDCMustReadBooks
December 2, 2016
This is advertised as a prequel to Rogue Lawyer, but it seemed more like a sequel to me. Lawyer Sebastian Rudd seems much more mature and nicer than he was in Rogue Lawyer even though this novella tells us the events happened prior to that story. What we get to find out here is how Sebastian and the man called Partner in Rogue Lawyer met. In that novel Partner is the only person that Sebastian can trust. He is his driver, bodyguard, law clerk, and well, partner. He wasn't always called Partner though. From this short novella we learn their back story. Back when Sebastian was Partner's attorney defending him on charges of murdering a police officer, he was was known as Tee Ray. He was an out of work father struggling to survive and keep his 14 year old son from a life on the streets. The ending was a little too tied up nicely with a bow, but still a pretty darn good courtroom drama. I would have liked a lot more of the courtroom stuff, but like most of these prequels lately, things get resolved fairly quickly.
March 4, 2021
Lets try to keep polotics out of books that arent political.
December 18, 2022
is this what we're spending money on now, bücherhalle hamburg?
July 4, 2020
Really about a 3.5/5, but Grisham's writing is always good. Here, he had another idea for a story where someone is railroaded by the system and a "rogue" lawyer takes his case. He probably could have churned out a 400-page novel but realized the story idea didn't have enough depth, so he wrote a quickie 50-page short story. It's entertaining but nothing remarkable. At least it was the correct length.
December 1, 2017
3* It’s very seldom that I’m lukewarm about anything Grisham writes, but this one did not do as much for me. Hard to say why exactly, except that it lacked the usual Grisham magic. Not that this will put prevent me from pouncing on the next book of his that I find. Mr. Grisham has earned that.
January 1, 2020
Nice prequel.
July 21, 2025
"That’s all Tee Ray wanted; nothing fancy, nothing rich. Just a dignified life built on honest labor."
Short Story and prequel to Rogue Lawyer which I have not read is an introduction to attorney Sebastian Rudd, not exactly your everyday criminal attorney. Rudd takes the case of Tee Ray, a good guy struggling to keep himself and his son Jameel afloat with the only "employment" available in Little Angola, delivering drugs for the neighborhood king pin. Unfortunately a drug delivery turns real bad when he has a deadly encounter with a cop.
I get very strong Michael Connelly Lincoln Lawyer vibes, but I'm a sucker for a legal thriller so I'll be moving on to Rogue Lawyer eventually.
Short Story and prequel to Rogue Lawyer which I have not read is an introduction to attorney Sebastian Rudd, not exactly your everyday criminal attorney. Rudd takes the case of Tee Ray, a good guy struggling to keep himself and his son Jameel afloat with the only "employment" available in Little Angola, delivering drugs for the neighborhood king pin. Unfortunately a drug delivery turns real bad when he has a deadly encounter with a cop.
I get very strong Michael Connelly Lincoln Lawyer vibes, but I'm a sucker for a legal thriller so I'll be moving on to Rogue Lawyer eventually.
August 27, 2020
In Rogue Lawyer, "Partner" is working with Sebastian as his guy Friday, body guard, & driver. This is why he does so. Good, short, & to the point. Well narrated.
September 5, 2018
A very short read and a prequel to Rogue Lawyer. Classic Grisham, though i felt the story has been rushed through. Being a short story, there is no time for character backstories. Anyway, I loved it.
October 19, 2018
I picked this up because it was short and I had a wait for an appointment. I didn't realize this was background for a series of books about this attorney, Sebastian Rudd. This gives us an insight into how he came to be partners with "Partner". I kid you not, that's all Rudd ever calls him. This guy is his bodyguard, helper, researcher, etc. and he never calls him by name!
I would suggest reading this before delving into the series because I really disliked not knowing who "Partner" was. If you read this first it will at least be clear why he is so loyal.
I would suggest reading this before delving into the series because I really disliked not knowing who "Partner" was. If you read this first it will at least be clear why he is so loyal.
March 9, 2017
Very short but entertaining read, it gives you another angle to the main character who is the protagonist of Rouge Lawyer! It took me less than a day to finish.
September 15, 2017
It's hard to know, but usually, when they right a prequel before you start the series later, it is right to read the prequel first. I'm guessing that's not true here. I suspect this sequel was written to explain how such a bizarre pair ever became legal partners, and it was written for people who already loved them and wanted that backstory. Not yet having experienced that, this was a partially disjointed story about two guys going through a rough experience and then, bizarrely, concluding by saying, "Hey! We should be legal partners. I mean, after I stop being a criminal and go to law school."
So... read this one after the later books. At least the first one. But Grisham's ability to tell a story and keep you turning pages made this pretty good even given that problem.
So... read this one after the later books. At least the first one. But Grisham's ability to tell a story and keep you turning pages made this pretty good even given that problem.
April 2, 2023
eBook Review - Partners - John Grisham
Rogue Lawyer Sebastian Rudd defends people other lawyers won't go near and conducts, performs, and initiates controversial and dangerous work to service these ‘questionable’ clients and needs a bodyguard/assistant/sidekick - a “Partner,” to do the work. In this John Grisham standalone short story prequel to his best selling “Rogue Lawyer” novel, Grisham tells the story of how this ‘rogue lawyer,’ the most unpopular lawyer in town, finally found someone he could trust to be his driver, bodyguard, law clerk, and ‘partner.’
“Partners” is the real story of why this man of few words who's as good with a gun as he is with the law is now the partner of the Rogue Lawyer. Excellent short story!
Rogue Lawyer Sebastian Rudd defends people other lawyers won't go near and conducts, performs, and initiates controversial and dangerous work to service these ‘questionable’ clients and needs a bodyguard/assistant/sidekick - a “Partner,” to do the work. In this John Grisham standalone short story prequel to his best selling “Rogue Lawyer” novel, Grisham tells the story of how this ‘rogue lawyer,’ the most unpopular lawyer in town, finally found someone he could trust to be his driver, bodyguard, law clerk, and ‘partner.’
“Partners” is the real story of why this man of few words who's as good with a gun as he is with the law is now the partner of the Rogue Lawyer. Excellent short story!
April 2, 2016
It was actually quite good for a short story, I just wanted more that's all. Hope there's more to the Rogue Lawyer series.
February 22, 2020
Love love love this series! Write more! This is story of how the lawyer met Partner! Amazing and fast paced! Great courtroom!
May 26, 2023
Entertaining short story. Great to be able to finish on a car ride.
May 15, 2021
I am not usually one to pick up or like short stories in part of a series or continuation of a story as most of the time they don't really add much to the main plot, but this short story is different. If you enjoyed reading Rogue Lawyer, I would strongly recommend picking up this as it gives us more of a background to the dynamic between Sebastian Rudd, the lawyer, and his driver/bodyguard/many other job descriptions I won't list right now.
Although this is described as a prequel, I actually read this after reading Rogue Lawyer and I found that I appreciated this story so much more knowing what was going to happen afterwards and knowing the characters from Rogue Lawyer.
For more reviews, please check out the link below:
Debra's Book Cafe
Debs :-)
Although this is described as a prequel, I actually read this after reading Rogue Lawyer and I found that I appreciated this story so much more knowing what was going to happen afterwards and knowing the characters from Rogue Lawyer.
For more reviews, please check out the link below:
Debra's Book Cafe
Debs :-)
August 23, 2018
"Partners" is a short story prequel to "Rogue Lawyer." It's the story of how said Rogue Lawyer met his partner named (wait for it) Partner. Well, he's not when the story begins. This story is entertaining and definitely does a good job of establishing why Partner has such loyalty to him. I suspect he wrote this for "Rogue Lawyer" but couldn't find anywhere in the story to place it.
All in all, if you liked "Rogue Lawyer", I recommend picking this one up.
All in all, if you liked "Rogue Lawyer", I recommend picking this one up.
September 5, 2017
A fast-paced story about a criminal defense lawyer who takes on the case of a man who's guilty-- but not guilty of the murder he's charged with. Showing the inner workings of putting a defense together from both the lawyer's side as well as the police. I enjoyed this so much I'm wondering why I ever stopped reading Grisham.
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