Recommended Jason Kolarich Reading Order
The reading order for the Jason Kolarich series is incredibly straightforward. Author David Ellis wrote the books in a chronological sequence that mirrors their publication history. To experience the attorney’s personal evolution, his battles with grief, and his career progression, you should read them in order of release.
Here is the recommended reading sequence for the series:
- The Hidden Man (2009)
- Breach of Trust (2011)
- The Wrong Man (2012)
- The Last Alibi (2013)
The Jason Kolarich Books in Detail
1. The Hidden Man (2009)
The series begins with The Hidden Man, introducing readers to Jason Kolarich, a mid-30s criminal defense attorney in Chicago with the physical build of a former football lineman. Behind his sharp courtroom demeanor is a man shattered by a personal tragedy: the death of his wife and baby daughter in a sudden car accident. Struggling to find meaning in his work, Kolarich is pulled back to his roots when he is asked to defend Sammy Cutler, his childhood best friend.
Sammy is accused of murdering the man believed to have kidnapped and killed Sammy's younger sister twenty-six years earlier. As Kolarich dives into the defense, he must prove the victim's guilt to establish Sammy's motive, exposing a long-buried conspiracy. During the investigation, Kolarich is contacted by "Mr. Smith," a mysterious and dangerous figure who attempts to manipulate the trial's outcome. The novel was critically acclaimed, earning nominations for the 2009 Los Angeles Times Book Prize in the Mystery/Thriller category and the 2010 Barry Award for Best Novel.
2. Breach of Trust (2011)
In the second installment, Breach of Trust, the series pivots toward the complex machinery of political corruption. Kolarich is hired by a shadowy federal agent to become an informant, tasked with infiltrating the inner circle of a highly corrupt Illinois governor. When a key witness in a major case Kolarich is connected to turns up dead, the stakes become deeply personal.
This novel draws heavily on the real-world experiences of author David Ellis, who served as the House Prosecutor during the high-profile impeachment trial of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. Ellis brings his unique insider perspective to the page, crafting a realistic portrayal of wiretaps, backroom political deals, grand juries, and the compromises required to bring down powerful figures in a corrupt system.
3. The Wrong Man (2012)
The third novel, The Wrong Man, places Kolarich in the middle of a complex defense case involving Tom Stoller, a homeless Iraq War veteran suffering from severe, debilitating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Stoller is caught red-handed at the scene of a young paralegal's murder, holding the victim's belongings and appearing to apologize. A conviction seems guaranteed.
Kolarich initially plans to pursue an insanity defense, but as he investigates, he realizes Stoller was systematically framed as a scapegoat. The murdered paralegal had discovered sensitive details linking a domestic extremist cell to corporate sponsors, leading to a professional assassination. After an unsympathetic judge disallows the insanity defense, Kolarich must battle an assassin named "Gin Rummy" and navigate corporate cover-ups to prove his client's innocence and protect Chicago from a looming threat.
4. The Last Alibi (2013)
The fourth and final novel in the series, The Last Alibi, completely upends the status quo by turning the defense attorney into the accused. Kolarich takes on the defense of James Drinker, a bizarre, wealthy loner who claims he is being framed for the murders of two women. However, as Kolarich reviews the evidence, he begins to suspect that Drinker is actually a serial killer who is manipulating attorney-client privilege to confess to his crimes without fear of prosecution.
The tension increases when Kolarich realizes that Drinker is setting him up to take the fall for the murders. Trapped by ethical duties and struggling with a growing dependency on pain medication following an injury, Kolarich must clear his name. The novel is unique for its structure, utilizing dual timelines—alternating between Kolarich's murder trial in the present and the events of the preceding six months—and alternating the first-person perspective between Kolarich and his professional partner, Shauna Tasker.
What to Know Before You Start
A Realistic Legal Framework
The standout feature of the Jason Kolarich series is its authenticity. David Ellis is not just a novelist; he is a practicing attorney who served as the House Prosecutor for the Blagojevich impeachment and currently serves as a Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court. His deep understanding of Illinois state law, federal prosecution procedures, and the day-to-day realities of defense investigations sets these books apart from typical legal procedurals. The legal strategies, courtroom cross-examinations, and ethical dilemmas Kolarich faces are grounded in real-world jurisprudence.
The Setting as a Character
Chicago is not merely a background for Kolarich's cases; the city's complex political landscape, neighborhood dynamics, and distinct legal culture act as a core element of the series. Ellis captures the gritty reality of Cook County courts, the influence of political machines, and the corruption that often threads through municipal institutions, giving the series a strong sense of place similar to the works of Scott Turow.
Standalones vs. Series Continuity
While each of the four books centers on a self-contained legal case that is resolved by the final chapter, the character arcs and Kolarich's personal life are heavily serialized. His journey from a grieving widower in The Hidden Man to a politically compromised informant in Breach of Trust, and eventually a pill-dependent defendant in The Last Alibi, makes it crucial to read the novels in order. Jumping straight into the later books will spoil major developments regarding Kolarich’s health, relationships, and the fates of recurring supporting characters like Shauna Tasker.
Co-Authored Works and Crossovers
Readers should note that while David Ellis is a frequent co-author with James Patterson—collaborating on hit thrillers like the Black Book series (featuring Billy Harney) and the Invisible series (featuring Emmy Dockery)—the Jason Kolarich books are entirely solo projects. There are no crossovers or shared universes between Kolarich and David Ellis's collaborative novels with Patterson, nor do these characters appear in Ellis's standalone novels such as Look Closer or Line of Vision. The Kolarich saga remains a distinct, self-contained four-book collection.