Order of Scott Turow Books

When you think of legal thrillers, one name rises like a gavel over the quiet hum of a courtroom: Scott Turow. Before Grisham, before the TV dramas and true crime podcasts, there was Turow—crafting stories where the line between guilt and innocence blurred with every page. His books are masterclasses in moral ambiguity, and the man behind them is just as fascinating.

Who Is Scott Turow?

Scott Frederick Turow was born on April 12, 1949, in Chicago, Illinois—a city that, in many ways, would become the shadowy backdrop for much of his fiction. Raised in a Jewish family by an educator father and a mother with a love for reading, Turow was steeped early on in a world where stories mattered and words held weight.

Turow's academic path reads like a dream itinerary for any aspiring writer-lawyer hybrid. He graduated from New Trier High School, followed by Amherst College in 1970, where he studied English and quickly gained a reputation as a brilliant writer. That same year, he earned a prestigious Stegner Fellowship at Stanford University, where he taught Creative Writing from 1972 to 1975 and penned the seeds of what would become his future novels. But here’s where the story takes a turn worthy of fiction itself—Turow then shifted gears, trading metaphors for motions as he entered Harvard Law School, graduating with a J.D. in 1978.

Yes, the man who writes about courtroom chaos actually lived it.

A Lawyer Who Writes—or a Writer Who Practices Law?

After law school, Turow worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Chicago. He prosecuted high-profile corruption cases, handling everything from tax fraud to espionage. If you're wondering how his fiction feels so vivid, so real—this is why. He didn’t just imagine the tension of a high-stakes trial. He lived it.

But Turow didn’t abandon his literary side. In 1987, he released "Presumed Innocent", a novel that changed everything. Not only did it become a New York Times bestseller, but it also redefined the legal thriller genre. Here was a courtroom drama with a literary soul—layered characters, razor-sharp prose, and a twist that made readers drop their jaws (and possibly their gavel).

Since then, Turow has published over a dozen novels, many set in the fictional Kindle County, a place that feels more real than most small towns in America. His books are less about “whodunit” and more about “what does it mean if they did?” His protagonists are often lawyers, judges, or prosecutors who are forced to confront their own ethical limits, making Turow’s work a mirror of our justice system—and ourselves.

The Man Beyond the Page

Turow isn't just a novelist or a former prosecutor. He’s also a passionate advocate for prison reform, intellectual property rights, and legal ethics. As a practicing lawyer, he’s served on the Illinois Executive Ethics Commission and was even President of the Authors Guild. He’s that rare figure who straddles two worlds—law and literature—without compromising the integrity of either.

He’s also a man who’s resisted the pull of fast fame. Despite his books being adapted into blockbuster films (with Harrison Ford starring in Presumed Innocent), Turow has always taken his time. His novels don’t come out annually—they arrive when they’re ready, finely aged like the best legal arguments or a perfectly prepared closing statement.

And no, Scott Turow is not dead. As of now, in 2025, he’s alive, writing, and still holding court on both the page and in real life. But if you're expecting a retirement announcement, think again. The man shows no signs of slowing down—and that might be the most ironic twist of all.

Why His Bio Reads Like Fiction

Scott Turow’s life mirrors the very stories he tells: complex, layered, and driven by a relentless search for truth. He’s a lawyer who didn’t lose his soul to the system and a writer who didn’t let success dilute his voice. His fiction isn’t about legal loopholes or dramatic verdicts—it’s about the people who stand behind the bench, trembling, flawed, and unforgettable.

Whether you’re diving into The Burden of Proof, Identical, or Testimony, know this: every Turow novel is more than a legal puzzle—it’s a psychological deep dive. And every page carries the weight of a man who’s seen justice up close, in all its imperfect glory.

So grab a copy, open the cover, and enter Kindle County. Just be warned—once you step into Turow’s world, you may never want to leave.