Law and Order is one of television's most iconic police procedurals. With the plots ripped directly from the headlines, Law and Order follows the imperfect yet beloved NYPD detectives who work to solve horrific crimes. Through shocking twists and turns, along with the help of the always rational assistant district attorney, everyone does their best to put the bad guys away. Although we always root for justice to prevail, Law and Order also shows us the hard truth; the American justice system is flawed, and the guilty aren't always punished.
If you can't get enough of Law and Order in 2022, check out these recommended books, movies, TV shows, and podcasts that have also mastered the perfect recipe for thrills, crime, and drama. Let's get started, dun-dun!
Read:
All kinds of unsavory characters have passed through the Law and Order courtroom, but as you know, everyone has the right to an attorney. In Unsympathetic Victims, Ashley Montgomery is a public defender who is too good at her job since her unlikeable clients are being found innocent. In a rapid turn
of events, Ashley finds herself arrested for murdering one of these clients. Now Ashley needs some defending in the courtroom! The trial brings suspense and drama as scandals begin to unfold. Read here.
Nepotism, murder, and celebrities are crowd favorites in the Law and Order universe, so the next recommendation is Blood Defense by Marcia Clark. If you're wondering why that name sounds familiar, it's because Marcia Clark was the lead prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson murder trial. Clark writes about
Samantha Brinkman, a hotshot defense attorney, defending one of their own, an LAPD detective on trial for murdering a TV celeb. The conflict of interest thickens the plot. It leaves the reader wondering if the legal system favors loyalty over justice. Having seen Law and Order, you know it can go either way. Read here.
Here we have the opposite situation in Every Reasonable Doubt. The attorneys Vernetta and Neddy not only have their own beef but also have zero loyalty for their socialite client on trial for murdering her husband. But from what we've learned on Law and Order, just because a client is unlikeable doesn't mean
they're guilty. It's also fun to see the outright disdain between the defense and the prosecution, a Law and Order favorite which definitely makes for some fun courtroom scenes. Read here.
An Innocent Client makes the list for its messy combination of murder and small-town politics. Defense attorney Joe is burned out, but like every crime drama protagonist, Joe is married to the job. He'll fight with everything he's got to prove his stripper client, Angel, is innocent. One of the most captivating tropes in
Law and Order is when all the odds are stacked against someone we think is innocent. This same trope keeps readers on the edge of their seats in An Innocent Client. Read here.
Law and Order is a fairly serious drama, but a few episodes are less horrifying and have more wholesome elements. That's why the show is so well-loved; there is an episode for everyone. If that is more of your L&O vibe, you can't miss Still Life. This novel is considered "cozy," even though an old lady is murdered
in a small Quebecois village. However, don't confuse cozy with dull. Readers will still feel the suspense as secrets are uncovered about a victim who may not have been as lovely as she seemed. Read here.
Join ThrillerFix for Free
Sign up here for exclusive access to giveaways, discounts, and outstanding book recommendations.
Watch
While Law and Order is mainly detective work with a sprinkle of the courts, All Rise is primarily in the courtroom with a sprinkle of the police. The protagonist is Lola Carmichael, the former LA district attorney who is now a judge pushing boundaries in her new role. This different perspective is great for any Law and
Order fan to learn more about the courts. It also helps viewers understand the thoughts of the judges, prosecutors, and ADAs, who are often seen as inflexible (and irritating) as they strictly abide by the law. Watch here
The setting of Broadchurch is the antithesis of gritty New York City. Yet, this ITV crime drama still captures the same "whodunit" suspense and the devastating effects of loss. When a young boy is found murdered in a sleepy English beach town, his death sends the town spiraling and left wondering who among them
committed such a heinous act. Broadchurch demonstrates both police work and trial scenes across seasons. Fans of Law and Order will also love the familiarity of the dynamic between the two lead detectives, Hardy and Miller, as they deal with their personal problems on the job. Watch here
Law and Order likes to keep it real by showing the NYPD's highs and lows and their virtuous and immoral behaviors. Based on the book by Justin Fenton, We Own this City follows the corruption and eventual downfall of the Gun Trace Task Force in Baltimore. Although pessimistic, it is a refreshingly realistic take on
corruption based on actual events, similar to how Law and Order bases its episodes on true crime stories. Like in Law and Order, this HBO mini-series shows the reality of the police force; not all good guys are on the right side of the Watch here.
The Judge is a good movie recommendation for any Law and Order fan. Hank is a Chicago-based lawyer who defends his father, a small Indiana town judge, on a second-degree murder charge in court. Everyone enjoys the messiness of someone else's life. It's simply entertaining when it's not our problem to deal
with. Personal conflicts incessantly arise in Law and Order, which always adds drama and thrills to the plot, like The Judge. Watch here.
The Dutch film, Accused, grapples with human error, an unfortunate theme also seen in Law and Order. We are often reminded that police and lawyers are human and make mistakes. Even when things are set right, it doesn't mean justice is fully restored. In Accused, pediatric nurse Lucia is convicted of
murdering patients. But later, the prosecutor who put her away realizes she might have been wrong. Like other recommendations, Accused is based on a true story. Well-intended people are not perfect and have lapses in judgment. However, extreme miscarriages of justice are more than just mistakes. Watch here.
Join ThrillerFix for Free
Sign up here for exclusive access to giveaways, discounts, and outstanding book recommendations.
Listen
Ripped from the Headlines is 100% inspired by the OG Law and Order that started it all. Two hosts summarize an episode while commenting on the ridiculousness that often ensues in a 90s series. Then they go over the actual crime that Law and Order "ripped from the headlines" and compare and contrast
fact versus fiction throughout each episode. Listen here.
Similar to the recommendation above, That's Messed Up focuses solely on Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. Two comediennes summarize an episode of the show, discuss the actual crime it's based on, and then interview someone from the episode. Listening to a summary brings light to the otherwise dismal topic of
sex crimes, primarily against women and children. It pays tribute to the show but doesn't hold back from the absolute absurdities in Law and Order's fictional courtroom and the questionable actions of the NYPD. Listen here.
3. Jurisfiction Podcast
Being a fan of Law and Order, you may wonder how accurate television and movies are from a legal standpoint. The Jurisfiction Podcast is hosted by two lawyers who discuss precisely that. They dive into fictional worlds bringing up legal issues that are entirely disregarded. Although the topics are silly, this
4. Deliberation Podcast
Disagreeing with the jury's verdict is something you sometimes need to accept as a Law and Order viewer. The Deliberations Podcast allows criminal justice fans to see how they would do under that pressure. Every season explores a different fictional case, and the participants improvise as if they were on a jury
coming up with a verdict. Nothing is black and white, making decisions difficult when you can only rely on the evidence presented by the lawyers in a court of law.
5. Bravo Docket
Law and Order can have laughable plot lines. Still, most are based on true stories, and sometimes reality is stranger (and pettier) than fiction. Although not fictional, The Bravo Docket is hosted by two lawyers who rehash legal issues and court cases concerning reality stars. These examinations give background
