Publishers Weekly
05/13/2024
Gigl returns with an underheated fourth legal thriller featuring transgender New Jersey attorney Erin McCabe (after Remain Silent). Erin and her law partner Duane Swisher have recently taken on the case of white state trooper Jon Mazer, who’s been accused of murdering Black journalist Russell Marshall. Before his death, Marshall was reporting on a story about widespread sexual harassment and racial discrimination within the ranks of New Jersey’s state police. The governor, state attorney general, and police superintendent have all labeled Mazer “a bad apple in an otherwise stellar law enforcement agency,” but Mazer, who was outed as gay shortly before Marshall’s death, insists he was helping the reporter and is being framed. Gigl supplements Erin and Duane’s investigation, which uncovers evidence of government corruption, with updates on Erin’s personal life: she marries her boyfriend, Mark, despite pushback from his bigoted parents, and they attempt to start a family. Gigl—a transgender attorney herself—writes with authority about courtroom procedure, but her trial scenes lack spark, and the pacing is jerky throughout. This one’s strictly for committed series fans. Agent: Carrie Pestritto, Laura Dail Literary. (July)
From the Publisher
Praise for Robyn Gigl’s Erin McCabe Legal Thrillers
“Taut and powerful. Gigl’s latest legal thriller combines the very best of courtroom drama, unexpected twists and thought-provoking characters. Erin McCabe is my new favorite series character—crazy clever, quietly powerful and always compelling. Don’t miss this series!” —Lisa Gardner, # 1 New York Times bestselling author on Nothing but the Truth
“Powerfully written and completely immersive, this revealing (and heartbreaking) legal thriller had me absolutely hooked. Compelling, twisty, and—throughout—utterly life-changing. Robyn Gigl's insight and compassion are unmatched, and her storytelling skill will have you turning the pages as fast as you can.” —Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author of One Wrong Word on Nothing but the Truth
“Among this year’s standouts…hair-raising…thrillingly complex…a groundbreaking series poised to become a definitive one.” —The New York Times Book Review (Sarah Weinman) on Survivor’s Guilt
“[Survivor’s Guilt is] another barrier-breaking thriller from a voice missing too long from the mystery chorus.” —The Los Angeles Times Book Review
“Stunning…Gigl delightfully flips the usual terms of the genre with a murder victim readers are quickly drawn to hate and a murderer whom they will be rooting for. Her takes on big questions of justice, revenge, and the nature of victimhood will resonate with many.” —Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW for Survivor’s Guilt
“In Remain Silent, Robyn Gigl’s timely and compulsively evocative, cleverly constructed latest courtroom thriller, the author breaks new ground when defense attorney Erin McCabe finds herself on the other side of the law. The series is a highlight and a conciliatory toast to the transgender community and mystery lovers everywhere.” —The Press Republican
“Gigl’s legal thriller is an enjoyable read with a likable protagonist, and one who represents an important and underrepresented perspective.” —Library Journal on Remain Silent
“Emotionally resonant…Gigl is too astute and compassionate a writer to create cartoon villainy out of anti-trans attitudes…quietly groundbreaking.” —The New York Times Book Review on By Way of Sorrow
“Readers will find that BY WAY OF SORROW is a compulsively riveting page-turner with a complex heroine, a captivating plot, and no easy answers. It's one of the best thrillers of the year.” —Mystery Scene on By Way of Sorrow
“This intelligent page-turner with a social conscience illuminates the complexities of guilt and justice.” —The Bookseller, Editor’s Choice for Survivor’s Guilt
“Survivor’s Guilt is a richly-textured legal thriller that brims with authentic detail. Clever, bold and original, it skillfully pairs a compulsive plot with a cast of complex characters. In Erin and Swish, Robyn Gigl gives us a winning duo—and a riveting series that’s set to become a classic.” —Kia Abdullah, author of Perfectly Nice Neighbors
“An intelligent and resourceful protagonist with an unusual backstory...Erin's ability to navigate the intricacies of the law is just as fascinating as the subsequent perils she encounters. Gigl, an attorney, offers some enlightening insights into the workings of the legal world." —Publishers Weekly on By Way of Sorrow
“Gigl, a transgender lawyer herself, provides provocative insights into the legal system and the challenges of gender identity." —Booklist
“Gigl’s accomplishment here is to parse the serious flaws with the legal system and expose the vulnerability of homeless members of the trans community by way of subtle characterization and seamless plotting. In less skillful hands, we might get melodrama or a polemic; here, we get engrossing originality—and a brilliant point in a larger argument for the benefits of greater representation in our beloved genre.” —Lambda Literary Review on By Way of Sorrow
“A nuanced and beautiful story of standing up for what’s right, against all odds.” —CrimeReads on By Way of Sorrow
“With tight, realistic plotting interweaving a murder mystery with insights into transgender issues, By Way of Sorrow is a promising series debut… I’m looking forward to seeing where Robyn Gigl will go with this series next, and am really glad she’s writing so honestly and entertainingly about trans issues in a field with precious few trans leads.” —Criminal Element on By Way of Sorrow
“Topically relevant, edgy, and riveting, this series is one to watch. Rooting for a trans protagonist in a position of power is thoroughly refreshing and inspiring. Here’s to more Erin McCabes.” —Library Journal
