3. The Reckoning by John Grisham
It’s a testament to Grisham’s massive fandom that this book, recently released in late October, toppled legions of other successful novels that were published much earlier in the year. The book marks a bit of a departure from Grisham’s typical modern legal-thriller fare: Set in 1946, the book meditates on violence, war, and history on a larger scale while delivering high-stakes courtroom drama at the same time. “The Reckoning is Grisham’s argument that he’s not just a boilerplate thriller writer. Most jurors will think the counselor has made his case,” writes USA Today.