1 of 1 copy available
—The New York Times Book Review
In a fresh and riveting thriller debut, Robyn Gigl introduces Erin McCabe, a New Jersey criminal defense attorney doing her best to live a quiet life in the wake of profound personal change—until a newsworthy case puts both her career and safety in jeopardy . . .
Erin McCabe has been referred the biggest case of her career. Four months ago, William E. Townsend, Jr., son of a New Jersey State Senator, was found fatally stabbed in a rundown motel near Atlantic City. Sharise Barnes, a nineteen-year-old transgender prostitute, is in custody, and given the evidence, there seems little doubt of a guilty verdict.
As a trans woman herself, Erin knows that defending Sharise will blow her own private life wide open, and doubtless deepen her estrangement from her family. Yet she feels uniquely qualified to help Sharise, and duty-bound to protect her from the possibility of a death sentence. Because Sharise admits she killed the senator's son—in self-defense.
As Erin works with her partner, former FBI agent Duane Swisher, circumstances hint at ties to other brutal murders. Senator Townsend is using the full force of his prestige and connections to publicly discredit everyone involved in defending Sharise. And behind the scenes, his tactics are even more dangerous. For his son had secrets that could destroy the senator's political aspirations—secrets worth killing for . . .
"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."
—Publishers Weekly
"Gigl, a transgender lawyer herself, provides provocative insights into the legal system and the challenges of gender identity."
—Booklist
-
Creators
-
Series
-
Publisher
-
Release date
March 30, 2021 -
Formats
-
Kindle Book
-
OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9781496728272
-
EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9781496728272
- File size: 4543 KB
-
-
Languages
- English
-
Reviews
-
May 1, 2020
Debut author Gigl's legal thriller features lawyer Erin McCabe, a transgender woman who faces family and public scrutiny when she takes on the case of Sharise Barnes, also a transgender woman, who is accused of murdering the son of a powerful New Jersey state senator. During her and her partner's investigation of the crime, McCabe discovers some evidence implicating the victim, William Townsend, Jr., in the murders of transgender women. Seeking to clear her client, McCabe endangers herself and the people helping her seek justice, including a member of the prosecution. Subplots involve the reactions of McCabe's family and McCabe's attraction to a heterosexual man. Gigl, a transgender lawyer herself, provides provocative insights into the legal system and the challenges of gender identity.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.) -
November 23, 2020
Gigl’s enjoyable debut and series launch introduces criminal defense attorney Erin McCabe, an intelligent and resourceful protagonist with an unusual backstory. One day in 2006, 28-year-old William Townsend Jr., the son of a U.S. senator who’s “a big player down in South Jersey,” is found stabbed to death in a sleazy hotel outside Atlantic City. The cards are stacked against Sharise Barnes, the Black, transgender, teenage prostitute who’s arrested for the crime. Sharise admits to killing Townsend, but claims it was in self-defense. With the aid of an FBI agent, Erin searches for witnesses to support Sharise’s self-defense claim and for clues to what led Townsend to his death. Slowly a pattern emerges, one that the victim’s wealthy, well-connected, and politically savvy father will do anything to keep buried. 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. Agent: Carrie Pestrito, Laura Dail Literary.
-