Grisham practiced law for almost 10 years before becoming a full-time author. His books are predominantly legal thrillers that reflect his expertise, and he’s a two-time winner of the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction. Although no longer a practicing lawyer, Grisham remains active in law-related causes: For example, he serves on the board of directors of the Innocence Project and Centurion Ministries, two organizations that work to exonerate people who are wrongfully convicted of crimes.

The Boys from Biloxi, like many of Grisham’s works, benefits from the author’s personal experience in and in-depth knowledge of the US criminal justice system. Broadly, this informs the book’s intricate plot details on processes such as arraignment, trial, and appeals procedures. In addition, Grisham demonstrates familiarity with specific laws, such as the “nuisance law” that the character Jesse uses to lock away key criminals. Grisham takes care to explain these proceedings and the relevant laws, aware that his audience may not share his knowledge.

Many of Grisham’s works focus on the complexities and deep-rooted problems of the US criminal justice system, such as people being wrongfully convicted of crimes. His criticism of the criminal justice system is evident in The Boys from Biloxi.