Primal Fear (novel)

{{Short description|1993 American thriller novel by William Diehl}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Infobox book

| name = Primal Fear

| title_orig =

| translator =

| image = Primal Fear Cover.jpg

| author = William Diehl

| cover_artist =

| country = United States

| language = English

| series =

| genre = Thriller

| publisher = Villard

| release_date = January 1993

| media_type = Print (hardback & paperback)

| pages =

| isbn = 0-679-40211-X

| isbn_note = (first edition, hardback)

| dewey = 813/.54 20

| congress = PS3554.I345 P75 1993

| oclc = 25632732

| preceded_by =

| followed_by = Show of Evil

}}

Primal Fear is a 1993 American thriller novel by William Diehl about Aaron Stampler, an altar boy accused of murder, and Martin Vail, the attorney defending him.{{cite web|work=Publishers Weekly|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-679-40211-4|title=Primal Fear}}

It was adapted into the 1996 film of the same name, starring Richard Gere and Edward Norton.{{cite web|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=940DEED81239F930A35757C0A960958260?|title=FILM REVIEW; A Murdered Archbishop, Lawyers In Armani|authorlink=Janet Maslin|author=Maslin, Janet|date=April 3, 1996}}

The characters of Stampler and Vail appear in two additional novels by author Diehl, Show of Evil and Reign in Hell.{{cite web|work=Publishers Weekly|title=PW: Diehl Begins His Reign|first=Daisy|last=Maryles|date=October 13, 1997|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/19971013/31588-pw-diehl-begins-his-reign.html}}