The Joe Dillard Series
by Scott Pratt
The Wall Street Journal bestselling legal thriller saga set in the mountains of Northeast Tennessee. Courtroom drama meets pulse-pounding action meets devastating family emotion.
Pratt's richly developed characters are vivid and believable, especially the strong Southern women who fight their male-dominated culture from behind a facade of vulnerability in this brilliantly executed debut.— Publishers Weekly
Who Is Joe Dillard?
Joe Dillard is a criminal defense attorney in Washington County, Tennessee — a principled, sardonic, physically imposing lawyer who will kill to protect his family and cry when his wife loses another round to cancer. A U.S. Army veteran (Silver Star, Grenada), Joe brings combat training to a legal career that takes him from cynical defense attorney to prosecutor to district attorney and back to private practice across eleven books.
His cases range from courtroom procedurals to full-throttle thrillers involving cartels, serial killers, and professional assassins. But the series' emotional spine is the Dillard family: his wife Caroline's decade-long cancer battle, his son Jack's evolution from baseball prospect to attorney, his sister Sarah's struggle with addiction, and his friendship with the unforgettable Sheriff Leon Bates.
Joe has been compared by readers to Jack Reacher, Mickey Haller, Harry Bosch, and Jake Brigance — but he's something none of those characters are: a family man whose greatest battles happen at home.
Complete Reading Order
The books should be read in order. Each has a self-contained case, but Caroline's cancer storyline and the family's evolution build across the full series. Here's every book with what to expect:
-
An Innocent Client
2008 · Written by Scott Pratt
A burned-out defense attorney makes a birthday wish for one innocent client — and gets a case involving a murdered preacher, a mysterious young woman, and a truth that will change everything. The book that started it all.
Courtroom Drama Murder Mystery Wrongful Accusation Small-Town Southern Setting Cancer Diagnosis -
In Good Faith
2009 · Written by Scott Pratt
On his first day as a prosecutor, Joe catches a case so horrific — an entire family slaughtered in a ritualistic massacre — that it forces him to confront an evil he never imagined existed in the Tennessee hills.
Ritualistic Murder Prosecutor Protagonist True Detective Vibes Death Penalty Debate Cult/Fanaticism -
Injustice for All
2010 · Written by Scott Pratt
A despised judge is found murdered and Joe's best friend is the prime suspect. When a missing girl and a killer with a devastating backstory collide with the investigation, Joe discovers justice is far more complicated than any courtroom proceeding.
Judicial Corruption Missing Person Loyalty vs. Duty Dual Timeline Childhood Trauma -
Reasonable Fear
2011 · Written by Scott Pratt
When a billionaire's deadly secret brings Colombian assassins to his doorstep, Joe discovers that protecting his family requires becoming something far more dangerous than a lawyer. The "Reacher" book — military action meets legal thriller.
Cartel Assassins Military Action Home Defense Billionaire Villain Vigilante Justice -
Conflict of Interest
2013 · Written by Scott Pratt
A six-year-old girl vanishes, her father is wrongly charged with murder, and the father Joe believed died in Vietnam returns from the dead with a devastating secret. A kidnapping thriller wrapped in a family mystery.
Child Kidnapping Wrongful Accusation Race Against Time Family Secrets Military Veteran Antagonist -
Blood Money
2013 · Written by Scott Pratt
Fifty million in Prohibition-era mob gold lies hidden in the Tennessee mountains, a brilliant young lawyer inherits the property above it, and both the Philadelphia mob and the justice system come calling. Introduces Charleston "Charlie" Story — the series' breakout female character.
Hidden Treasure Mob Antagonists Racial Justice Love at First Sight Mentor-Protégé -
A Crime of Passion
2014 · Written by Scott Pratt
A million-dollar murder case in Nashville's music industry pits Joe against a manipulative diva, a professional assassin, and a justice system that can't see the truth — even when a killer confesses on the witness stand.
Music Industry Murder Professional Assassin Femme Fatale Nashville Setting Shocking Epilogue -
Judgment Cometh (And That Right Soon)
2016 · Written by Scott Pratt
A man found with a dismembered Supreme Court justice in his truck may be innocent — but to prove it, Joe must expose a monstrous secret hidden behind the most powerful robe in Tennessee. The series' darkest book.
Serial Killer Judge Institutional Corruption Child Abuse Backstory Black Site Interrogation Silence of the Lambs Energy -
Due Process
2017 · Written by Scott Pratt
Two college football players are falsely accused of rape by a woman whose story doesn't hold up, while a racist investigator, a cowardly university, and a media frenzy conspire to destroy them. All while Joe's wife is dying.
False Accusation Campus Controversy Racial Bias Media Frenzy Terminal Illness -
Last Resort
2023 · Written by Scott Pratt & J.D. Pratt
On his fiftieth birthday, Joe faces three simultaneous crises: his son is framed for kidnapping, a child he loves is in the hands of sex traffickers, and his wife is dying of cancer. The most emotionally devastating entry in the series.
Child Trafficking Framed by Planted Evidence Rescue Mission Wedding Amid Chaos Death of a Beloved Character -
Vindicate
2025 · Written by J.D. Pratt
Jack Dillard — Joe's son — takes over as protagonist. A year after being framed for kidnapping, Jack must rebuild his reputation by taking on a wrongful conviction case that pits him against powerful enemies tied to the Dillard family's past. A new chapter begins.
Generational Handoff Wrongful Conviction Podcast/Journalist Catalyst Cold Case Rebuilding Identity
How Joe Dillard Compares to Other Thriller Icons
Readers constantly compare Joe Dillard to other beloved thriller protagonists. Here's how he stacks up:
| Character | Similarity | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Jack Reacher | Military background, physical presence, willingness to use lethal force, operates by a personal code of justice | Joe has a family, a law practice, and cases in actual courtrooms. He can't walk away — his roots are in the community. |
| Mickey Haller | Defense attorney protagonist, first-person narrator, morally complex clients, sardonic wit, navigating a flawed system | Joe practices in rural Appalachia, not LA. His family is central to every book. And Joe has killed people — Haller hasn't. |
| Harry Bosch | Relentless pursuit of justice, a personal code that sometimes conflicts with the system, military veteran | Joe operates from the legal side (defense and prosecution), not law enforcement. The family emotional arc is far deeper. |
| Jake Brigance | Small-town Southern lawyer, controversial cases, courtroom drama, community pressure | Joe's series spans 11 books and a decade of character evolution. Brigance is largely defined by one case; Joe is defined by how each case changes him. |
| Walt Longmire | Rural American lawman, colorful community, blend of humor and violence, strong sense of place | Joe's the lawyer, not the sheriff — though his friend Leon Bates fills the Longmire role. |
If You Like These, You'll Love Joe Dillard
Start with An Innocent Client. Same courtroom drama DNA, but grittier, more personal, and set in the Appalachian South rather than Mississippi.
Start with Reasonable Fear (Book 4). Joe uses claymore mines and military training to fight Colombian assassins. Then go back to Book 1.
Start with An Innocent Client. Joe Dillard is a Southern Mickey Haller with combat training and deeper family stakes.
The balance of legal thriller with devastating family emotion is nearly identical. Caroline's cancer arc rivals anything in the Tracy Crosswhite series.
If You Watch These Shows
The Tennessee setting, the colorful characters, the blend of dark humor and sudden violence. Leon Bates could walk right onto the set.
Military veteran, small-town setting, righteous violence. Joe Dillard is Reacher with a law degree, a wife, and roots he can't leave behind.
Defense attorney, morally complex clients, courtroom twists. Joe Dillard is Mickey Haller transplanted from LA to the Appalachian foothills.
Family loyalty above all else, rural America's beauty and violence, a patriarch who'll do anything to protect what's his.
Key Characters
Joe Dillard — The Protagonist
Criminal defense attorney turned prosecutor turned private practitioner. U.S. Army veteran (Silver Star, Grenada). Born in Washington County, Tennessee. Sardonic narrator, fierce father, devoted husband. Will cross any line to protect his family — including lethal force. Ages from 40 to 50+ across the series.
Caroline Dillard — The Heart of the Series
Joe's wife. A dancer, a dance studio owner, and the moral center of the Dillard family. Her decade-long battle with breast cancer — from diagnosis through remission through metastasis to bone, liver, skull, and brain — is the series' most devastating and most human conflict. Publishers Weekly specifically praised the "strong Southern women" in the series, and Caroline is their exemplar.
Jack Dillard — The Next Generation
Joe and Caroline's son. Former minor league baseball player (drafted by the Detroit Tigers), Vanderbilt Law graduate, criminal defense attorney. Marries Charlie Story. Becomes the series protagonist in Book 11 (Vindicate), carrying his father's principles, his father's enemies, and his father's rage into a new era.
Charleston "Charlie" Story — The Breakout Character
Introduced in Book 6 (Blood Money). Brilliant, tough, direct. Her father served 25 years in federal prison for growing marijuana, which shaped her entire life. Falls in love with Jack Dillard at first sight. Becomes co-protagonist and one of the series' strongest characters.
Leon Bates — The Fan Favorite
Sheriff of Washington County. Tall, lean, cowboy hat and boots. Calls Joe "Brother Dillard." Famous for his "kiss my biscuits" contempt-of-court outburst. Saves Joe's life by shooting a Colombian assassin. Maintains "the farm" — a black site where he uses unconventional methods when the legal system fails. In a long-running relationship with Erlene Barlowe. The character readers consistently ask to see more of. A Leon Bates spinoff series is currently in development.
Erlene Barlowe — The Unforgettable
Owner of the Mouse's Tail Lounge. Brassy, fiercely loyal, smarter than anyone expects. Hires Joe for his first case (An Innocent Client) and remains a recurring presence through the series. Her relationship with Leon Bates evolves from mutual respect into domestic partnership.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Joe Dillard series about?
The Joe Dillard series is an 11-book legal thriller saga by Scott Pratt, set in Northeast Tennessee. It follows criminal defense attorney Joe Dillard through morally complex cases — from wrongful accusations to serial killers to cartel assassins — while his wife Caroline battles breast cancer across a decade. With 6+ million copies sold, the series blends courtroom drama, pulse-pounding action, and devastating family emotion.
What order should I read the Joe Dillard books?
Read them in publication order, starting with An Innocent Client. While each book has a self-contained case, the family storyline — especially Caroline's cancer battle and the Dillard family's evolution — builds powerfully across the full series. The emotional payoff of Book 10 (Last Resort) is multiplied exponentially if you've read the preceding nine books.
Is Joe Dillard like Jack Reacher?
Joe Dillard shares Jack Reacher's military background, physical presence, and willingness to use lethal force when necessary. In Book 4 (Reasonable Fear), Joe uses claymore mines to defend his home against Colombian assassins — it's as action-packed as any Reacher novel. However, Joe is also a practicing attorney with a family, adding courtroom drama and deep emotional stakes. Readers describe the series as "Grisham meets Reacher with a ton of heart."
Who writes the Joe Dillard books now?
Scott Pratt wrote Books 1–9 before his passing in November 2018. Books 10 (Last Resort, 2023) and 11 (Vindicate, 2025) were co-written by his son J.D. Pratt, who manages Scott's estate and literary legacy. Book 11 transitions the series to Jack Dillard — Joe's son — as the new protagonist, launching a new chapter in the saga.
What is the setting of the Joe Dillard series?
The series is set primarily in Northeast Tennessee — Johnson City, Jonesborough (the oldest town in Tennessee), and the surrounding Appalachian foothills. Boone Lake, Washington County Courthouse, and East Tennessee State University are recurring locations. Book 7 (A Crime of Passion) takes a detour to Nashville. The setting is so vivid that Publishers Weekly and readers frequently cite the "colorful characters" and "crackling dialogue" rooted in Southern Appalachian culture.
What books are similar to the Joe Dillard series?
Readers who love Joe Dillard typically also enjoy: John Grisham's A Time to Kill (small-town Southern courtroom drama), Michael Connelly's Lincoln Lawyer series (defense attorney protagonist), Lee Child's Jack Reacher (military veteran action), Robert Dugoni's Tracy Crosswhite series (legal thriller with family emotional depth), and Craig Johnson's Longmire (rural American setting, community, humor and violence). For TV comparisons, fans of Justified, Reacher, The Lincoln Lawyer, Yellowstone, and Bosch tend to love the Dillard books.
Can I start with any Joe Dillard book?
Each book features a self-contained case that resolves within the novel. However, the series is best experienced in order because the family storyline, Joe's character evolution, and the relationships between recurring characters build across all eleven books. If you want a taste before committing, An Innocent Client (Book 1) is the ideal starting point. If you're a pure thriller fan, Reasonable Fear (Book 4) is the most action-packed standalone entry.
Who is Leon Bates and why does he have a spinoff?
Leon Bates is the Sheriff of Washington County and Joe Dillard's closest friend. Beloved by readers for his cowboy-hat-and-boots persona, his catchphrase ("Brother Dillard"), his famous "kiss my biscuits" contempt-of-court incident, and his willingness to operate in the gray area between legal authority and extralegal justice. He saves Joe's life by shooting a Colombian assassin in Book 4 and runs a "black site" interrogation facility in Book 8. A Leon Bates spinoff series is currently in development.
About Scott Pratt
Scott Pratt (1956–2018) was a Wall Street Journal bestselling author of legal thrillers. Born in South Haven, Michigan, he grew up in Jonesborough, Tennessee. He was a United States Air Force veteran, earned a B.A. in English from East Tennessee State University (receiving the McClellan Award for outstanding writing), and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Tennessee. He practiced criminal defense law for approximately eight years before turning to writing fiction.
Pratt published An Innocent Client in 2008 with a traditional house. After going bankrupt, he got his rights back and self-published his work in 2012. The books found a massive audience on Amazon and eventually sold over six million copies worldwide, translated into more than ten languages. He later signed with Thomas & Mercer (Amazon Publishing) for his Darren Street series.
Scott passed away in November 2018. His son, J.D. Pratt, manages the estate and continues the Joe Dillard series, with Last Resort (2023) and Vindicate (2025) co-written to honor Scott's legacy and plans for the characters.
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Get An Innocent ClientSources & Further Reading
- Joe Dillard Series on Amazon — All 11 books with reader reviews
- Joe Dillard Series on Goodreads — Ratings and community reviews
- Scott Pratt on Goodreads — Author page and bibliography
- FantasticFiction: Joe Dillard Series — Complete bibliography
- Publishers Weekly — Review of An Innocent Client
- BookSeriesInOrder.com: Scott Pratt — Author biography and series listing