Order of James Chandler Books

James Chandler is an American author known for his legal thriller novels, particularly the Sam Johnstone series. Growing up, James enjoyed playing baseball, football, and fishing. He served in the U.S. Army and retired as a Lt. Col. in Air Defense Artillery. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Eastern Oregon University, a Master’s degree from Marshall University, and a Juris Doctor from George Mason University School of Law. Before becoming a judge, James practiced law for twelve years. James and his wife have two adult daughters and a grandson.

James Chandler made his debut as a novelist in 2020 with Misjudged. Below is a list of James Chandler’s books in order of when they were first released:

Publication Order of Sam Johnstone Books

Publication Order of Smith and Bauer Books

(with Laura Snider)

If You Like James Chandler Books, You’ll Love…

• Scott Pratt
• Robin James
• David Baldacci

James Chandler Synopses: Misjudged by James Chandler is the first book in the Sam Johnstone series. Sam Johnstone was hoping for renewal when he took a job at a boutique law firm in rustic Wyoming. The mountains and streams of the west would be a refreshing, quiet place to start over after years of war and turmoil in his personal life.

But after a local woman is brutally murdered, Sam realizes that things aren’t so quiet in this rural American town. The accused is one Tommy Olsen, a known delinquent who had been sleeping with the victim. Sam is repulsed by the crime and wants nothing to do with the case, but meets with Tommy to make sure he has legal representation.

Yet things are not as they seem.

What begins as a cut-and-dry case becomes infinitely more complicated as new facts are uncovered, and Sam agrees to serve as Tommy’s defense attorney.

With the killer’s identity still unknown, Sam is enveloped in the small-town politics and courtroom drama of a murder investigation that keeps getting more shocking.

But if Sam can’t uncover the truth, an innocent man might be punished…while the real killer watches from the shadows.

One and Done is the second Sam Johnstone book from James Chandler. After an impressive performance in front of a full house, local college basketball stand-out Davonte Blair celebrates the victory with a few friends. But when a fierce argument over drugs ensues, the evening takes a violent turn—and one member of the group goes missing.

When police discover the body of the basketball team manager, the town turns into a tinderbox of emotions. The media is calling it a hate crime. The college president is desperate to avoid a scandal. And the police department is under intense pressure to solve the horrific case.

As defense attorney Sam Johnstone looks into the murder, the case grows even more complicated. Ronnie Norquist, the son of Sam’s longtime friend and law partner, was the dead student’s roommate—and Ronnie was there the night his roommate disappeared.

His personal and professional worlds colliding, Sam can tell Ronnie knows more than he’s letting on. But what is it that Ronnie witnessed? And whose guilt does it prove?

In a case that’s full of circumstantial evidence and competing versions of the truth, Sam must find out what really happened—before this college town tears itself apart.

Justice Bites is the first Smith and Bauer book by James Chandler and Laura Snider. Washed-up, small-town lawyer Marko Bauer already has enough on his plate. And with his latest case, he may have bitten off more than he can chew.

Defending Allee Smith’s cousin on what appear to be run-of-the-mill drug charges, Marko quickly discovers that the case is just the tip of the iceberg in their town’s murky waters. The eye of the storm? The Yellow Lark restaurant, an eatery with more secrets than specials on the menu.

Allee, fresh out of the clink and trying to stitch her life back together, turns out to be the ultimate wingwoman. Dragged into the fray, she and Marko discover a thumb drive crammed with the kind of secrets that make people disappear.

They’re playing with fire, and it’s about to get hot.

In a town where truth is a commodity and the price of justice is steep, Marko and Allee are caught in a desperate race against time. Unraveling the town’s secrets could be their path to redemption—or the road to disaster.