The Murder Trial: The gripping new legal thriller from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The No.1 Lawyer

James Patterson

Nov 2026 · Random House

Ebook

416

Pages

Eligible

This book will become available on November 19, 2026. You will not be charged until it is released.

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About this ebook

A young woman stands trial for the murder of her adoptive parents, trapped between damning evidence, her own hidden truths, and a justice system ready to condemn her in the gripping new legal thriller from the world's bestselling thriller writer.

‘Patterson is in a class by himself’ GUARDIAN

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The evidence is overwhelming. But what if it hides the truth?

When Janelle Thompson takes the stand accused of murdering her adoptive parents, she already knows how this story ends.

The case against her is airtight, the jury is watching her every move, and every mistake she’s ever made is about to be used to prove she’s a killer.

But Janelle won’t confess to a crime she didn’t commit. As the trial races towards its verdict, she is forced to uncover what really happened the night her parents disappeared.

Because if she loses, the real killer won’t just walk free... they’ll make sure the truth stays buried, along with whoever knows it.

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PRAISE FOR JAMES PATTERSON

‘Nobody does it better' JEFFERY DEAVER

'No one gets this big without amazing natural storytelling talent - which is what Jim has, in spades' LEE CHILD

'Patterson boils a scene down to the single, telling detail, the element that defines a character or moves a plot along. It's what fires off the movie projector in the reader's mind' MICHAEL CONNELLY

'James Patterson is The Boss' IAN RANKIN

'One of the greatest storytellers of all time' PATRICIA CORNWELL

‘Patterson knows where our deepest fears are buried... there's no stopping his imagination’ NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

‘One of the greatest storytellers of our time’ DAILY MAIL

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About the author

JAMES PATTERSON is one of the best-known and biggest-selling writers of all time. Among his creations are some of the world's most popular series including Alex Cross, the Women's Murder Club, Michael Bennett and the Private novels. He has written many other number one bestsellers including collaborations with President Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Viola Davis, stand-alone thrillers and non-fiction. James has donated millions in grants to independent bookshops and has been the most borrowed adult author in UK libraries for the past fourteen years in a row. He lives in Florida with his family.

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