Thriller
The Client
An eleven-year-old boy sees something he should not have seen and ends up with knowledge that the mob and the FBI both want. He hires a recovering-alcoholic lawyer to protect him.
Facts last checked 2026-10-16
- First published
- 1993
- Pace
- Fast
- Length
- Medium
- Pages
- 422
- Format
- Standalone
Read this if you want a quick legal thriller anchored by a smart, scrappy kid and his unlikely lawyer.
Skip this if you dislike legal procedure or want a more realistic portrait of how child witnesses are treated.
The feel
Content warnings
Quick answers about The Client
- What is The Client about?
- An eleven-year-old boy sees something he should not have seen and ends up with knowledge that the mob and the FBI both want. He hires a recovering-alcoholic lawyer to protect him.
- Who should read The Client?
- Read it if you want a quick legal thriller anchored by a smart, scrappy kid and his unlikely lawyer. Skip it if you dislike legal procedure or want a more realistic portrait of how child witnesses are treated.
- How long and how fast is The Client?
- It is a fast-paced, medium read of about 422 pages, first published in 1993.
- Does The Client have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Violence, Death, Suicide.
- Can I borrow The Client for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends The Client; the borrow button above searches it for you.
- What should I read after The Client?
- Readers who liked it often move on to The Firm, To Kill a Mockingbird, Presumed Innocent.
Your shelf
Saved in this browser only. Open my shelf
Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
| Google Play Books | Check price | Buy ebook from Google Play Books |
| Audiobook | ||
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
Prices appear here as retailer feeds are connected. Where none is shown, check the store. Links open the store in a new tab.
Some store links, including Kobo, are affiliate links: we may earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. Library links are never affiliate links. How this works
Share this pick
Because you might love it
If you loved The Client
-
The Firm Another brisk Grisham thriller about a clever young person stuck between criminals and the law.
-
To Kill a Mockingbird
A more serious classic about a lawyer and a case seen partly through children's eyes.
-
Presumed Innocent A slower, more thoughtful courtroom novel for readers who enjoy the legal side more than the chase.
Thriller