Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The #1 Lawyer  By  cover art

The #1 Lawyer

By: James Patterson, Nancy Allen
Narrated by: Kevin Stillwell
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $24.95

Buy for $24.95

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Biloxi’s best criminal defense attorney has never lost a case. Then his client’s beautiful wife is murdered, and America’s #1 lawyer suddenly becomes its #1 suspect.

Stafford Lee Penney is a small-town lawyer with a big-time reputation for winning every case he tries. In his sharp suits and polished Oxford shoes, Penney is Biloxi, Mississippi’s #1 Lawyer and top local celebrity.

Just as Penney notches his latest courtroom victory, his wife is scandalously killed. He spirals into a legal and personal losing streak, damaging his reputation and ruining his career.

That’s when Penney makes a bold decision. He stops trading on his power-lawyer identity and creates a new one: lawyer lifeguard. Moonlighting at the beach, showing up to court in flip-flops, mentoring a law student, the new Penney is at first unrecognizable.

It’s said that a lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client. But when Penney is accused of murder, the #1 Lawyer will find a way to triumph.

©2024 James Patterson and Nancy Allen (P)2024 Little, Brown & Company

Critic reviews

“Excellent legal drama… Courtroom scenes are top-notch, and Patterson & Allen have once again hit a home run.”—Red Carpet Crash

"Patterson knows how to entertain readers ... [will] keep your head spinning right up until the end."—Bookreporter

Love Books? You'll Love Audible.

Placeholder Image Alt Text

Transform your day

Replace endless scrolling with endless listening. Chores can be fun.

Placeholder Image Alt Text

Listen everywhere

Download titles to listen offline, wherever you are in the world.

Placeholder Image Alt Text

Carry your entire Library

Your stories go where you go. Audiobooks don’t weigh a thing.

Placeholder Image Alt Text

Listen and learn

Discover stories that can change your mind, your well-being, and your life.

Placeholder Image Alt Text

Reach your reading goals

You can’t turn pages while you drive—but you can press play.

Placeholder Image Alt Text

Find your niche

WIth thousands of titles to explore, there’s something for everyone.

Try for $0.00 $14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

What listeners say about The #1 Lawyer

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    665
  • 4 Stars
    204
  • 3 Stars
    69
  • 2 Stars
    14
  • 1 Stars
    18
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    678
  • 4 Stars
    169
  • 3 Stars
    61
  • 2 Stars
    13
  • 1 Stars
    14
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    646
  • 4 Stars
    185
  • 3 Stars
    61
  • 2 Stars
    23
  • 1 Stars
    20

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Finally an excellent “Patterson” lent name book!

Many of the books released in past years with Patterson as a co-author were clearly not written with much, if any input from Patterson. I don’t know if Nancy Allen wrote most of this book , or all of it, but it’s a winner! Interesting plot, great narration ( so glad narrator didn’t use a phony, syrupy Mississippi accent🥖), and a surprise ending. One note, ending was somewhat spoiled by another reviewer who revealed they figured out whodunit, and proceeded to give the name. Shame on them!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Legal book

A good listen. Was a bit slow, but there were 2 trials and an usual finish

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Mississippi Law has a type

Good story great narration. Succinct story, great plot with lots of plot twists that held my attention. I loved the character arch, just when you thought he was done he was able to pull through and move on to the next level of life’s mayhems.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Suspense didn’t know who was involved into the end

I loved all of it couldn’t stop listening it keep me guessing right to the very end

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

the whole shoe being on the other foot premise

I Iiked the book and enjoyed the narration. The book was well written and engaging for readers.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

He’s back!!!

Great book. I Enjoyed it from beginning to end. All the characters were real and the story was a page turner. “Charge On” Mr Patterson!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Creative suspense

Creatively suspenseful, written and read well, it was an entertaining listen with twists and turns

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

it kept me on edge

wistful and full of surprises! it will keep you going right to the end. highly recommend it!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

good

finally a james Patterson book that was good and every other word wasn't a 4 letter word

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Liked the characters and the mystery of it all. Liked that the language wasn’t riddled with unnecessary foul language.

I thought Jenny’s voice could have been better but the story was intriguing and kept me guessing.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!