I’d Love to be the Next John Grisham

I want to start this blog off by explaining to my readers that I am opinionated, for which I make no apologies.

My goal is to entertain, and for the last eight years, I have been writing for that purpose. The result is the Benjamin Davis Series, which now includes five novels featuring Ben Davis and the law firm of Steine & Davis, and their courtroom dramas. The stories are based on my personal experiences as a trial lawyer for more than 30 years. My debut novel, First Do No Harm took three years to write and publish. Since then, I have released a succeeding book the next three years. It was a learning process, which became easier with each new installment. I will soon release my next book in the series, Taking the Fifth, just in time for the holidays.

Many reader reviews have compared my work favorably to that of John Grisham. I am sincerely humbled by those comparisons. Although I do appreciate being compared to the acknowledged leading author in my genre, there are significant differences in our work. First, I have written a series with repeating characters, Benjamin Davis, Morty Steine, Sammie Davis, Bella Rosario and Amy Pierce. Mr. Grisham’s books are independent of each other and each book has a new protagonist and antagonist. Writing a series imposes certain restrictions on the author in developing his characters. In later books because the reader has already been introduced to that character and there is a history with known facts about that character. For that reason before I wrote the first word of my debut novel First Do No Harm, I wrote out a detailed backstory for each main character and several minor characters. The second significant difference is that in each of my novels the trial of the primary case is told over at least ten chapters, and I include more pages describing pre-trial events and activities. In this way, I strive to expose the reader to the realities of our modern judicial system, its virtues, and its flaws. Mr. Grisham, a great storyteller, typically devotes much less of his tale to the trials and often omits how the parties procedurally made their path to the courtroom. I hope you as a reader will not only enjoy my stories about Benjamin Davis and his courtroom battles, but learn something new about our judicial system as well. If I can be both a storyteller and a teacher I will have truly succeeded. That will make me smile.

— A. Turk

7 Comments

  1. Ron Blaufarb on October 31, 2018 at 1:42 pm

    Alan
    I’ve read two of your books and was most entertained! You have come a long way from Laura Lane! Be well my friend!

  2. Len Lerner on October 31, 2018 at 1:54 pm

    Hi Alan,
    Great hearing from you. Have enjoyed your first 2 books. Regards to Lisa. Have not seen or heard from Andy since he left Plainview

  3. Stewart Gorenberg on October 31, 2018 at 2:20 pm

    Alan you are very cool. As your neighbor and friend I have admired all your work hope you and your family are well

  4. Randi Miller on October 31, 2018 at 3:37 pm

    I wi definitely read your new book!! I’ve totally enjoy the other books you’ve written!! Hoping all is we with you & your family.
    Love you,

    Randi Hochberg Millet

  5. I'll B. The Judge on October 31, 2018 at 4:09 pm

    A. Turk’s novels have been fascinating procedurals; to me, that is incredibly informative about how a case is built and tried in the US. In each of the 4 previous novels, Benjamin Davis’s methods for investigating and taking depositions has built the drama leading up to the trial… it is fascinating! As A. Turk states, his primary characters appear in each book, with consistency in their personalities; that too is very comforting and makes me feel familiar with their motives. I am fully engaged. Super entertaining. Plus, I love A. Turk’s bedroom eyes…

  6. Becky Waldrop on October 31, 2018 at 4:10 pm

    I’ve loved your books!!

  7. Jim Figge on November 5, 2018 at 8:09 am

    I have enjoyed reading each of Mr. Turk’s novels. The character development throughout the series of both the new and the repeating cast is excellent. And my knowledge of the legal procedure has been enhanced as I am entertained by the stories. Can’t wait for the next book and hope there will be a great many to follow!

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