Viola Davis and James Patterson Co-Author Legal Thriller

The Oscar-winning actress and bestselling author team up on a new book exploring controversial social issues.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Acclaimed actress Viola Davis has teamed up with renowned author James Patterson to co-write a new legal thriller novel titled "Judge Stone." The book centers around a respected Black female circuit judge in a small Alabama town who presides over a highly controversial case involving the rape and illegal abortion of a teenage girl. Davis drew on her own experiences as a survivor of sexual assault to help develop the character of the victim. Patterson and Davis, who come from very different backgrounds, say they connected during the writing process and hope the story will spark important conversations around sensitive social issues.

Why it matters

The novel's exploration of the divisive topic of abortion rights comes at a time of heightened political and social tension around the issue. By tackling this subject through the lens of a legal drama, Davis and Patterson aim to present a nuanced perspective that avoids the typical partisan rhetoric. The collaboration between the acclaimed actress and bestselling author also represents an interesting intersection of entertainment and literature.

The details

In "Judge Stone," Davis portrays a respected Black female circuit judge in a small Alabama town who presides over a controversial case involving the rape and illegal abortion of a teenage girl named Nova. To help develop the character of the victim, Davis drew on her own personal experiences as a survivor of sexual assault. Patterson, known for his prolific output of bestselling thrillers, says he and Davis connected during the writing process despite their very different backgrounds. The co-authors hope the story will spark important conversations around sensitive social issues like abortion rights.

  • "Judge Stone" is set to be released on March 9, 2026.

The players

Viola Davis

An acclaimed actress who has won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award. She co-wrote the new legal thriller novel "Judge Stone" with James Patterson.

James Patterson

A bestselling author known for his prolific output of thriller novels. He co-wrote "Judge Stone" with Viola Davis.

Nova

A teenage girl who is raped and has an illegal abortion, the central case presided over by the judge character in "Judge Stone."

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What they’re saying

“To make it so it's not a lightning rod. And I think that's why this story is so good, why it's so powerful, because we're going into areas that people aren't [talking about]. We need to talk about it.”

— James Patterson, Co-author (CBS News)

“I felt a responsibility to women who have been sexually assaulted and raped, especially children, as I am one of them. And what they also deserve is the truth of how it made them feel.”

— Viola Davis, Co-author and actress (CBS News)

What’s next

The novel "Judge Stone" is set to be released on March 9, 2026.

The takeaway

By co-authoring a legal thriller that explores the divisive issue of abortion rights, acclaimed actress Viola Davis and bestselling author James Patterson aim to present a nuanced perspective on a sensitive social topic and spark important conversations around it.