Novelist
Television Writer
Producer
About Jon Cowan
Jon Cowan is a veteran television writer, showrunner, and executive producer. He is a writer and EP for the forthcoming Sony Television series SWAT: Exiles. Cowan has written for hit shows like Suits, Private Practice, and Bones; has written pilots for ABC, NBC, FOX, Netflix, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros., NBC Universal, and 20th Century Television; and has adapted the works of both John Grisham and James Patterson.
Jon began his career as a playwright, getting his MFA from UCLA’s School of Theater, Film, and Television. PROOF is his first novel, and is being developed as a television series by FOX Studios. His second Jake West thriller, INDEFENSIBLE, will be published by Gallery books in 2027. Jon lives with his family in Los Angeles, where he’s hard at work on the next Jake West novel.
PROOF
As a disgraced lawyer with a drinking problem that he doesn’t view as a problem, Jake West is coasting on what’s left of his charm and money. He used to be the kind of lawyer who could convince anyone of anything—until he decided to take on his father’s biggest client and prove his dad was corrupt. Now Jake finds himself almost at rock bottom... and that’s before his ex-best friend is murdered and Jake is accused of the crime.
In a desperate bid to save himself, Jake must sober up and search for the real killer, whom he suspects might be hidden in one of the case files of his father’s illustrious law firm. As he delves into a labyrinth of lies and corruption, Jake teams up with an eclectic group of equally broken people as they all must skirt the law in order to find the proof he needs…no matter the personal or professional cost.
Hardback/Audio/Kindle available now. Paperback on sale May 19:
RAVE REVIEWS FOR PROOF
"It’s perhaps no surprise that Cowan — a longtime writer and producer on Suits — has delivered a terrific legal thriller." -Sarah Weinman
The New York Times Book Review
“A terrifically tense legal thriller . . . Cowan manages to make his deadbeat lead easy to root for, and pairs nuanced characterizations with a deliciously serpentine plot. Readers will hope this is the start of a long-running series.”
Publishers Weekly
"Proof is the kind of fast-paced cinematic thriller a great Hollywood screenwriter like William Goldman or Joel Coen would write... Cowan has combined the best parts of classic legal thrillers with an unexpected new lead character that brings the genre into a new generation."
James Patterson, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“Intriguingly terrific. Terrifically intriguing. A truly riveting legal thriller.”
Kathy Reichs, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Temperance Brennan/Bones series
"Fans of legal thrillers like the Lincoln Lawyer series or the Eddie Flynn series should not miss this courtroom thriller . . . Not only is Proof a legal thriller for people who know the law, but Jon Cowan also does slightly off-kilter and interesting things with the tropes of the legal thriller, starting with Jake, who is a startlingly contemporary character dropped into a classic frame-up plotline, which prompts him to respond in unexpected ways. Cowan, a television writer (Suits, Bones), has crafted a thriller that’s the perfect blend of smart and propulsive."
Amazon Book Review
"Starts off with a bang and ratchets up the tension from there . . . PROOF will knock your socks off if you’re a fan of John Grisham, Scott Turow, David Baldacci or Michael Connelly. Jon Cowan is a new sensation in the legal thriller genre and even kicks it up a notch."
Bookreporter
"TV veteran Cowan’s debut begins with a bang . . . With a fast, edge-of-your-seat pace, Proof is a rollercoaster ride that fans of John Grisham and Scott Turow will enjoy. Beyond the thrills, though, Proof also looks at the impact of alcoholism, strained father-son relationships, and how the criminal justice system often takes advantage of the poor and powerless. Highly recommended."
Booklist
"The dialogue crackles with authenticity, the pacing keeps you turning pages late into the night . . . this is a must-add to your summer reading list."
Best Thriller Books
"For LA fans. For lawyer fans. For damaged LA lawyer fans."
Warwick's
"Taut, complex, and propulsive in the extreme, Proof felt like The Firm only better."
Suspense Is Thrilling Me
AWARDS/NOMINATIONS
PROOF is a finalist for the CALIBA Golden Poppy Book Awards (Best Mystery)
PUBLICITY
National Print
The New York Times Book Review / Review / LINK
Publishers Weekly / Book Review / LINK
Other Reviews
Amazon Book Review / Round-up / Best books of July 2025, as chosen by the Amazon Editors / LINK
Booklist / Book Review / LINK
Library Journal / Book Review / LINK
Best Thriller Books / Review / LINK
Library Journal / Review pick-up / NYT review / LINK
CrimeReads / Round-up / 10 New Books Coming Out This Week / LINK
Bookreporter / Review / LINK
Television Credits
Produced Television Series Credits:
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(2026): Writer/Executive Producer
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(2025): Writer/Executive Producer
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Alert: Missing Persons Unit - Sony/FOX
(2024–2025): Writer/Exec. Producer
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Panhandle - Sony/Spectrum
(2022): Writer/Co-Executive Producer -
Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector - Sony/NBCP/NBC
(2020): Writer/Co-Executive Producer
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(2016–2017): Writer/Co-Exec Producer
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(2015–2016): Writer/Consulting Producer
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(2011–2014): Writer/Exec Producer, Co-
Exec. Producer -
My Generation - ABC Studios/ABC
(2010): Writer, Co-Exec. Producer -
Private Practice - ABC Studios/ABC
(2008–2010): Showrunner/Exec Producer, Writer
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Bionic Woman - NBC Studios/NBC
(2007): Writer/Consulting Producer -
Crossing Jordan - NBC Studios/NBC
(2004–2007): Showrunner/Executive Producer, Co-Executive Producer, Supervising Producer, Writer
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(2004): Writer/Producer
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American Dreams - NBC Studios/NBC
(2003): Writer/Story Editor
Other Notable Credits
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(2001, Disney/ABC): Executive Producer.
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Take Me Home: The John Denver Story
(2000, CBS): Executive Producer
INDEFENSIBLE
Jake West is back
in another gripping legal thriller.
Coming May 2027.
Drew Carson is a white knight - he wins unwinnable cases, he charms uncharmable judges, he is a bona fide celebrity on the verge of having his own cable legal news show. But it is the promo for that show that brings April Dillane to Jake’s office. And when Jake files a lawsuit against Carson, it opens the floodgates and puts Carson’s assistant, Hailey Raines, on Jake's radar - because Carson has been sleeping with her for the better part of a year. It’s a great case… but maybe one Jake shouldn't take on, given his own history. But he can't resist, partly because Carson's firm is run by Owen Roswell, a close friend of Jake’s father. Which means winning this case will not only be a blow for justice... but a blow against his father.
And that may blind Jake to the dangers that lie ahead.