Book publisher Penguin Random House announced on Friday that its imprint Doubleday will publish a new international thriller by John Grisham, titled The French Illusion, on 29 September 2026.

The novel will be released in hardcover, ebook and audiobook formats, with narration by Michael Beck. An initial print run of 1.5 million copies has been announced. In the UK, the book will be published simultaneously by Hodder & Stoughton.

In the story, newlyweds Paul and Chelsea Tanner travel to Paris for their honeymoon before being kidnapped during a day trip in the French countryside. The investigation expands internationally as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Central Intelligence Agency and French intelligence services attempt to uncover the motive behind the crime. A young lawyer is eventually recruited as bait in a complex CIA operation aimed at solving the case.

Grisham said the novel reflects his long-standing interest in espionage fiction, citing authors including Ken Follett, John le Carré, Robert Ludlum and Len Deighton as influences. He described The French Illusion as his first attempt to write an international spy thriller.

Thee author has written more than 50 consecutive number one bestsellers and has sold over 500 million books worldwide, translated into nearly 50 languages. His debut legal thriller The Firm celebrates its 35th anniversary in 2026. His most recent novel, The Widow, has remained on bestseller lists for nearly five months and has sold more than 1.2 million copies.