She Treads Softly: The French Illusion

Saturday, August 29, 2026

The French Illusion

The French Illusion by John Grisham
9/29/26; 352 pages
Doubleday

The French Illusion by John Grisham is a highly recommended thriller that begins with a kidnapping and ransom demand.

Paul and Chelsea Tanner are on their honeymoon in Paris and Chelsea is posting everything they see and do on social media. Neither of them realize that they have been under surveillance. Then the nefarious plan of the unknown perpetrators is set into motion. The two end up kidnapped, drugged, held in separate places and the ransom demands start. First Chelsea's parents, Dr. Lowell and Justine Clayburn, are contacted. They can tell no one, no law enforcement, if they want Chelsea to remain alive.

The demand is a $2 million ransom. The Clayburns are able to meet this demand. Their son, Sam, has the foresight to get and set up burner phones for the families so they can communicate privately. Lowell travels to Paris for the exchange. Next Paul's parents Fritz and Linzy Tanner are hit with the same $2 million ransom and demands. They have to sacrifice almost everything to raise it. It is here that the story takes a dark and dangerous turn. It also marks the second part of the novel.

The first part of The French Illusion is excellent and held my complete attention. The second part lost some of the initial tension and marks a change in tone as it becomes a rescue mission involving FBI, CIA, and French Intelligence. It seems the kidnapping and ransom demands have occurred at least twice before. Now the plan is to recruit a young lawyer to be the bait in an elaborate rescue operation.

This time the novel is not a legal thriller with a trial and a courtroom, although there are several lawyers. It should be noted that there are very graphic torture scenes described and a plethora of drugging characters. I felt the pace slowed down in the second part of the novel as more logistics are undertaken and discussed. The ending felt rushed. It also leaves Chelsea behind even though readers care about and sympathize with her character. There is a plot element that involves/is described as dental implants that is not realistic.

The French Illusion is a good choice for those who enjoy thrillers and fans of Grisham. Thanks to Doubleday for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

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John Updike's six rules for reviewing:

1. Try to understand what the author wished to do, and do not blame him for not achieving what he did not attempt.

2. Give him enough direct quotation--at least one extended passage--of the book's prose so the review's reader can form his own impression, can get his own taste.

3. Confirm your description of the book with quotation from the book, if only phrase-long, rather than proceeding by fuzzy precis.

4. Go easy on plot summary, and do not give away the ending.

5. If the book is judged deficient, cite a successful example along the same lines, from the author's oeuvre or elsewhere. Try to understand the failure. Sure it's his and not yours?

To these concrete five might be added a vaguer sixth, having to do with maintaining a chemical purity in the reaction between product and appraiser.....Review the book, not the reputation.... Better to praise and share than blame and ban. The communion between reviewer and his public is based upon the presumption of certain possible joys in reading, and all our discriminations should curve toward that end.