Verve Books Remain Silent.

Erin McCabe Mysteries #3

by Robyn Gigl

Erin McCabe’s years as a criminal defense attorney have prepared her for almost anything, except being on the opposite side of the interrogation table. A new client—a successful financial adviser—was found stabbed to death on the beach near his palatial Jersey Shore home. The time of death is estimated to be during Erin’s one and only consultation with him, during which he revealed that he was secretly transgender. As the last person to see him alive, Erin’s now the prime suspect.

If the evidence were simply circumstantial, Erin is sure she and her law partner, Duane Swisher, could prevail. But there are entanglements that can’t be easily explained, and connections to powerful unscrupulous politicians who hold a lot of grudges. While the investigation unfolds, Erin and Duane are called on to represent a mother charged with abducting her child—a hot-button case that has both private and public implications for Erin.

As she battles one prosecutor who wants to see her charged with murder, and another determined to send her to jail for refusing to divulge her client’s location, Erin also faces a devastating family tragedy. With her career and her relationship on the line, and her life being targeted by a desperate nemesis, there has never been more at stake—or fewer places to turn . . .

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, LGBT, Queer, Audiobook, Legal Thriller

384 pages, Paperback

First published May 30, 2023

About the author

Robyn Gigl is an author, attorney and advocate. TIME Magazine selected her novel, SURVIVOR’S GUILT, as one of the 100 best Mystery and Thriller books of All Time. Her first novel, BY WAY OF SORROW, was called “quietly groundbreaking” by the NY Times and named one of the best crime novels of 2021 by CrimeReads. SURVIVOR’S GUILT was also named one of the best crime novels of 2022 by the NY Times, and won the Joseph Hansen Award for LGBTQ+ Crime Writing. Robyn’s third novel, REMAIN SILENT, was published in May 2023 and was also nominated for the Joseph Hansen Award. Her fourth novel, NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH, was published in June 2024 and the NY Times called Erin McCabe "one of the best series characters around."

Robyn can be found on X @robyngigl on Instagram @robyngigl and at robyngigl.com.

Reviews

[Mallory · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third Erin McCabe legal thriller, but I read it as a standalone and didn’t have any issues following the story. Although there are definitely some plot lines that were continued from other books. This book starts with a bang with the main narrator and protagonist attorney Erin McCabe being a suspect for murder of a client she met with the day he died. I have to admit that at times this book was hard to read, but not because it was poorly written (it wasn’t) but because it is unflinchingly honest about the hatred towards queer people, especially transgender people. The treatment that Erin received as she was investigated was hard to watch, but I know it was an honest take. I liked the secondary plot of a little girl whose absent father returns just to oppose her changing her name as she was assigned male at birth. The murder mystery and conspiracy was fun and while it was hard to watch the characters go more slowly than me it was a wild ride and I really enjoyed it. I’ll definitely need to read the first two books in this series.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robin jiggle has broke the mold with Aaron McCabe a transgender woman Who is the defense attorney for the rich and influential she still has problems with her family coming to terms with who she is But has the support of her mother and some good friends. In the book she is accused of murder after she goes to see a political rivals employee and he winds up dead because of the politicians views and pictures that were found by the victim they accuse her of blackmail and more Bing found guilty of murder isn’t the only danger she find herself in this is a smart plot intelligent dialogue and an all-around awesome book I found it to be believable and a book that was hard to put down they say these are headlines rip straight out of the newspaper and if you read between the lines you know exactly what they’re talking about I truly enjoyed the spoken highly recommend it I’ve never read a book by this author before but will definitely read more from her in the future and would be so interested to read another book with Aaron McCain attorney-at-law I received this book from NetGalley and Kensington books but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[Valleri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many thanks to both Kensington and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Remain Silent.

Expected publication May 23, 2023

The Erin McCabe Mysteries have enthralled (and educated me) as Erin McCabe has tackled the complexities of gender, race, power, and public perception. In Remain Silent, this time it's Erin who is accused of murder! As she battles one prosecutor who wants to see her charged with murder, and another determined to send her to jail for refusing to divulge the location of a mother who has been charged with abducting her child.

I absolutely loved the first two books in this series, and I requested Remain Silent from NetGalley the moment I knew it was available. It, therefore, saddens me to say I'm rating this one 3 stars. On the positive side, I still love Erin and her boyfriend, Mark. Also, I still love the way Erin's mother always has her back! On the negative side, the plot of Remain Silent felt overly complicated and convoluted to me. Also, the number of times information about being transgender was covered in detail seemed to contribute to my inability to follow the aforementioned convoluted plot. Does this mean I won't be reading any future books in this series? POSITIVELY NOT! I love this series and I'm not giving up on it!!

[Gabriella · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m still mostly enjoying this series, but sometimes I fear the stories have become a bit too redundant. It often feels like we’re rehashing the same five points, four of which are gender identity 101 speeches intended for a cis audience.

I did enjoy Remain Silent’s layering in of 2009 realities, like the Tea Party’s rise in local government. Erin’s main client in this book is a victim of the Tea Party’s hyperfocus on trans children, which has devolved even further in the Trump era. Despite this dark reality, there is hope in this story, and I loved seeing Erin become a role model for Hannah.

Overall, I do wish we had a little more emphasis on the courtroom scenes and legal drama (where Robyn Gigl shines), and less emphasis on Erin helping people manage their transphobia (where this series really drags.) I will probably be back to round out the series, because I do think Robyn Gigl is fleshing out a fun world with a unique perspective. However, I definitely need her to give us a glossary for these books in the future—there are just too many side characters to keep track of, especially when she switches between using their last and first names!!!

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I even begin? This book was just absolutely incredible. It’s unique in the way that it introduces so many trans characters in power, but also that the plot is a complex political mystery. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything like it before, and it kept me intrigued cover to cover.

TW/CW: There’s a lot of transphobia, homophobia, sexism, racism and bigotry feather all throughout this book.

One thing that will really resonate with you in this book is that there is absolutely no sugar-coating as to how trans people are treated in day to day life. It’s infuriating and depressing to read and It’s incredibly disheartening. Which the privilege I have as a CIA person, it’s heightened my acknowledgment about just how important it is that trans children MUST be allowed to affirm their gender however they feel it. It’s incredibly frustrating as a child for your voice to not be heard because people take your age as a reason to not listen. As a whole, this novel just supports that we need to listen to kids, trans kids, more when they are hurting.

With the political aspect of this book, though it takes place in 2004, it brought up a lot of issues that we’re dealing with right now, of laws make to discriminate against queer individuals. I was pissed MULTIPLE times throughout the book, seeing these bigoted politicians making bigoted opinions about topics that are just so understandable to me.

However, that leads to another running theme that is sprinkled throughout the book: people learn and they grow. Erin, the main character, who is a trans women, struggled with people turning their backs on her after she came out. Her father, her brother, and even her current boyfriend. But she never gave up on them, and a lot of the people around her loved her for who she was, and found that they didn’t need to fully understand her to support her and be there in her life.

This to me, to Erin, and to many others seems so easy to understand, and yet people just don’t get it. However “Remain Silent” makes a point that, yes, there are evil and horrible people in the world that will just hate for no reason. But there are more people that are willing to learn and just having been given that to chance to than you realize, and who actually have a lot of love to give underneath. Erin had to deal with both of those people, and she always came out on top because she trusted herself and had the love of her around to support her. People who she’d never given up on, even when she absolutely had the right to give up on.

All in all, 4-5/5. It’s not too long of a book, thought the word count per page can be a lot. (However, I did read the arc instead of the official copy, so it could be different.)

[Roxanne Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Erin McCabe series never fails to confront the prejudice faced by the LGBTQ+ community, and the latest is no different. I'm glad that the book takes place in the recent past (2009) because I'd like to hope that things have improved (though I'm worried that they haven't, even considering that the book is set in New Jersey which is considered to be more liberal than many states). A great thriller that I read in one sitting, as well as a social commentary that should open one's eyes to the overt and covert discrimination present in our world.

Thanks to Kensington Books for access to a digital ARC on NetGalley.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was somehow both a hit and miss for me, and I wanted to like it a lot more than I did. To start with what I enjoyed: Erin. Erin is hands down one of my favorite main characters. I love everything about her and she is my newest role model and icon. I seriously cannot get enough of her. I also loved the other reoccurring characters of Swish and Erin’s family. And I think I can finally say I genuinely like Mark. But my new favorite character besides Erin is Logan. They are so fierce and awesome and I hope they get to appear in future books! The last thing I loved that I am trying very hard not to let be a spoiler, but there was a very very satisfying conclusion for one character. Now for the things I struggled with: the plot(s). I will say that I was engaged and absorbed the whole time. However, I was also often confused. There was so much going on at once, and even though I understood how it was all tied together, I was still overwhelmed. But overall I did enjoy this book and I continue to recommend the Erin McCabe series.

[Jessica Long · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just want to thank the author and publisher for a giveaway ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. First off, let me say that I do not know much about the LGBTQ or Trans community. That being said, how some of the characters were treated throughout the book was sickening to me. No human should be treated the way they were. My heart broke for them. Secondly, while this was a good thriller, I feel that the culprits and the motives were given away too easily and I wish that it could have kept me guessing a little bit more. However, I do like how everything worked out in the end, just wished the power player would have faced justice rather than being a coward.

[Amy McCalla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book as an advanced readers edition. I didn’t realize it was part of a series at the time. I read it as a stand alone and could follow the story pretty easily. I didn’t know what to expect since I haven’t really read anything about transgenders before. It was very eye opening. It has lots of parts that all tie together in the end. Overall a great read.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for providing me with a free ARC of "Remain Silent"! This LGBTQIA read offers an authentic portrayal of the transgender experience, accompanied by rich character development that elicited strong emotions toward each character. Erin, the main character, serves as an admirable role model, and I found myself enamored with her. The plot is intriguing, with multi-layered twists and turns that kept me captivated throughout. Despite not having read the first book in the series, I thoroughly enjoyed "Remain Silent" as a standalone novel and am now eager to delve into Robyn Gigl's previous work.

[Lila Goos · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book as an ARC and have not read the other books in the series however, I was able to follow this as a stand-alone. I really enjoyed the story although there is a lot that is hard to read regarding the treatment of transgender individuals. Overall a good read with an ending that tied it all together.

[Sheila Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC and was thrilled. This book had everything I love in a book, an independent strong woman. This book had it all, transgender strong, independent woman who was able to take care of herself and others, didn't put up with any crap, a black man and a bad politician. I can usually tell from the beginning if its going to be a good book or not. I read this and after several chapters I was ready to quit reading, it wasn't holding my interest. But I kept reading and did enjoy the rest of the book. I was saddened when her father died, and when the knife was to be planted I worried about that. And I figured it out that Rachel would be in the apartment and she was and she dealt with him. And the politician knew that he was done, so he did what needed doing. Thank you for an interesting read.

[Alysan Azman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read!

[Emma Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author and I enjoyed it. I’d definitely recommend it to other readers and will read another in the future. I’d never read a book with these issues before so it was a nice change and very enjoyable. Also I liked the style of writing. Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read and review the book. #netgalley.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

This legal thriller had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish! With intricate plot twists, compelling characters, and high-stakes, it’s definitely worth the read!

Thanks to the publisher for an advanced reader copy.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I read in this series and I loved it. There's a solid legal thriller, advocacy, and a fast paced plot.
I appreciated the characters and the fast paced tightly knitted plot.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

[Patricia Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Erin is a transgender lawyer, she finds herself of the other side of the table now. Accused of murder.
This book has some very touchy subjects, thank goodness for my daughter on educating me already.
You could feel all the emotions brought up in this and it was an edge of your seat read. I really enjoyed reading this one.
Many thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Cathy Geha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remain Silent by Robyn Gigl
Erin McCabe Mysteries #3

Interesting and sometimes difficult to read story of social, political, and personal issues that intertwine to provide readers with a different look at life and in the reading, may open a few eyes.

What I liked:
* Erin: intelligent, professional, good friend, true to self, loves her family, takes on tough cases, in law partnership with longtime friend, under the spotlight, in a relationship with Mark, has much to deal with in this book.
* Mark: Erin’s boyfriend, educator, supportive, has made difficult decisions to be with the woman he loves
* Duane Swisher: Erin’s law partner and friend, intelligent, ex-FBI, supportive, husband, father, a good person and friend
* Peg: Erin’s mother, loving, kind, compassionate, wise, there for all of her family
* Michelle & Hannah: mother and transgender daughter who face some difficult times in this book
* The family aspects of the story and how people in families react to LGBTQIA issues
* That it paralleled what is happening in the news – at last in some ways
* The way all the threads were tied up in the end with more than one having a happy ending
* That I could thoroughly dislike the bad guys and was thrilled when they met their comeuppance at the end of the book

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* That there are people as evil, bigoted, intolerant, and phobic as some of the ones in this book
* Wondering if people are as verbally and physically abusive in real life as they were in this book

Did I like this book? Yes – though it took me longer to read than the previous two
Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

[Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

This, #3 was my favourite so far in the Robyn Gigl legal thriller series. Content note for transphobia, incarceration, and transphobic violence.

I feel like Gigl is really hitting her stride in terms of plot construction. There was a bit more of a mystery element here, in the sense that we don't necessarily know who the killer is, whereas the previous books in the series focused more on proving a known case. There are probably the most nail-biting moments of danger in this book than in any in the series, so hold on and keep those pages turning!

There's some interesting trans history included in the plotline around the victim, who was a closeted trans woman (this is revealed in the beginning, so not a spoiler), and the second plotline around a trans child's name and gender change being contested felt all too topical to the current political moment in America (and the world), even though the book takes place in the early '00's.

At times Gigl's didacticism is a little heavy-handed but I actually love that. If she can educate about the injustices of transphobia and racism while also telling a good story all the better. In this volume, I especially appreciated the way uses her characters Erin (a white trans woman) and Swish (a black cis man) and the interplay between them as partners at law, to highlight their differing experiences of privilege and systemic discrimination, even as upper-middle-class people.

I loved Logan as a character (yay non-binary representation!) and hope we see more of them.

Also, the bridge scene was so poignant. Gigl had me in tears.

[Peter Maglocci · Rating 3 out of 5]

One hesitates sometimes to comment on an issue in which one is not personally involved or does not have a great deal of personal experience. In this case, the issue is sexual orientation and discrimination. However, as has been noted by others, one does not have to be 15 and pregnant to be aware of the pregnancy issue, nor 35 and a drug addict to realize the depth of the drug problem.

One would have hoped that the author's previous writings would have expunged the necessity to consistently opine about sexual orientation and the difficulty of "coming out" (although, as long as the issue exists, should advocacy ever stop?). In this case, the social issue often gets in the way of what could be an interesting story. The challenges faced by the transgender defense attorney in this book are certainly daunting, and the idea of a transgender attorney being clandestinely contacted by a well-known figure (who himself harbors a secret) and then is later accused of this man's murder is certainly an interesting one. However, perhaps it is too narrow to expect a book like this to be focused on entertaining, and the information on social issues to be obtained elsewhere. In any event, one wishes the author would have spent more time on the murder premise and placed less emphasis on social commentary.

[Mackenzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Kensington Publishing for an arc of Remain Silent in exchange for an honest review.

This book is the third book in the Erin McCabe series although I read it as a stand alone. The only problem I had was in the beginning when all of the characters where thrown in and everyone seemed to have an unknown backstory as I hadn’t read the first two. This problem was solved over time as you become ire familiar with the characters. The book had a very interesting and interesting plot that had me wanting more.

The characters seemed to be very…interesting. Some characters seemed well developed while others were very two dimensional, such as Hannah who seemed like her only character trait was being Transgender. Yes this was a main part of the plot however it was made to be her entire story and that was the only reason she was in the book. Each character had a distinct purpose, they lived they died. The ending was very sappy and heartwarming, however the other aspect of the ending, everyone got what they deserved which I rather enjoyed. If you like intricate plots where there is A LOT to keep track of, than this one is for you.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Alan Cohen · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a disclaimer, I won this in a Goodreads giveaway before it was published.

This is the first ever novel by Robyn Gigl that I read, and my overall impression is positive. It's fictional, medium/fast paced, and despite the many different scenes, characters, and situations happening simultaneously, it's not hard to follow who is who and what's happening in every chapter. The plot is very engaging, especially for regular readers of legal thrillers. The book has everything, from very insightful and relatable LGBTQ+ themes (as several characters are members of the trans community, along with Gigl herself) to legal, carceral, and judicial scenes. Some characters are not too thoroughly developed, which makes it easier to box them as "good" and "bad" guys, despite lacking some nuance. The structure of the book is a very traditional introduction-climax-resolution but very engaging. The proportion of mystery, thrill, Grisham-like legal scenes, and LGBTQ+ relevance make it a very enjoyable read.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trigger warnings: Transphobia, violence.

I received a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.

It's important to mention right out of the gate that while this book is full of transphobic commentary, it was not written with the intent of being hateful. It was intended to illustrate the stupidity of transphobia, and I felt the author did a fantastic job of that without getting overly preachy or what the people who most need to see those examples would call "political." This made it a little difficult for me to continue reading at first because I struggled to see past my anger over what was playing out in the story, but once I adjusted to it, I really enjoyed the book and felt it was on par with some of the most well-known authors of legal thrillers. There were a handful of intersecting storylines, but they all connected to each other without being detrimental to the flow of the book. I was really impressed with this author and look forward to reading more of her work!

[Katelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book is really important and impactful. It’s an educational piece of work that demonstrates the lived experiences of transgender people. It also educates the reader on the use of incorrect/correct language, effects on transgender people and the many issues transgender people experience on a daily basis. It’s definitely hard to read at times because I feel so bad for the characters because I know that the issues covered in this book are a reality for so many people 😔

However, I didn’t enjoy the American politics setting which is really prominent and I also didn’t like how it changes pov so quickly without any indication which I found disorientating 🥴

I recommend reading this book if you want to gain more knowledge and understanding of LGBTQ+ social issues 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Read if you like reading about:
- American politics
- Corrupt governments
- Social issues
- Criminal defence lawyers
- LGBTQ+ representation
- Multiple POV’s

[Mark Menard · Rating 4 out of 5]

More Heart Than Mystery

Written in elegant prose, the story flowed effortlessly—accessible and uninterrupted, making for a truly enjoyable read. The plot was satisfying and well-paced, with enough emotional depth to keep me engaged throughout.

The characters felt believable and relatable. I especially appreciated the dynamic between Erin and Duane; their friendship was inspiring and grounded in mutual respect. Mark’s arc added further depth—his initial resistance gave way to acceptance, and his eventual embrace of Erin’s identity was both moving and meaningful.

My only critique is that the book leaned more toward a narrative about the challenges of being transgender than a traditional mystery. While that shift in focus may surprise some readers, it didn’t detract from the overall experience. In fact, the emotional resonance made it a fantastic read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Between the Chapters Book Club, Kensington Publishers and Robyn Gigl for an ARC of Remain Silent. I don't give away spoilers in my reviews.
Remain Silent is a strong crime/mystery with courtroom scenes, politics and a a lawyer forced to the other side of the interrogations. Erin McCabe isn't used to having to fight for herself as a defendant - she is the one who fights for her defendants as a partner in her law firm.
Erin has already spent so much of her life fighting as a woman who is transgender - which factors into every part of her life - her relationship with her dad, her reputation as a lawyer, etc. Erin never gives up - not ever.
I enjoyed the fast paced crime/mystery and wasn't able to figure out how it all intertwines until I read the reveal in the book. As a reader, I so appreciate that!
I also loved Erin's strength and determination. Great book.

[Virginia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Remain Silent is a solid addition to this engrossing series. I think Gigl tends to overwhelm her characters with too much plot (and the plot involves a lot of sinister plotting in this entry) but the people populating the series are so relatable and well-drawn that you can overlook the over-the-top murder mystery. Erin is one of my favorite characters in a mystery series - she is one stand-up woman and if I am ever arrested I would want her to be my defense attorney. The transgender angle gives this series some special sauce - there is a bit too much righteous exposition but it's also timely. Gigl has done a great job with these books and I hope the series is getting some traction.
Marguerite Gavin, the narrator of all 3 of the McCabe mysteries, does an excellent job with the large cast and especially with Erin. It's a fine series to listen to as audiobooks.

[Elaine Esan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Robyn Gigl and the Kensington Publishing Corp for this book. I really enjoyed it. Well written with engaging characters, strong plot, Remain Silent held my attention to the very last page. The transgender aspect of this book, made me appalled how ignorant people can be. The very notion that someone sexuality is another person personal business if so wrong on so many levels. This book showed the worst and the best of people on being transgender. Most of all it made me think and emphasize with transgender people and their families.

The plot was excellent, a murder all the subplots of corruption, police brutality, and acceptance of little child’s sexual orientation made this book an exceptional read.

[Catherine Woodman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a trans woman lawyer author, writing about a trans woman lawyer--write what you know--I enjoyed this one, which has a fair amount of trans phobia in it, but not over the top, and certainly in the current climate, the issues raised are legit and timely. The murder mystery part of this is good (not the best, but reasonably well written, with a not too complicated plot, and certainly not the worst, and the protagonist is not super macho, which is always a plus) and the social commentary is above average. The "when do you know" question is addressed, and the answer is consistent with what I see professionally. It matters to allow youth to start transitioning before puberty if that is what they want, because afterwards the challenges multiply.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the paperback edition of Remain silent in a goodreads giveaway.

This is the first Erin McCabe novel I have read. And its also the first book I have read that had transgender characters in it.

My favorite characters was William Townsend and Michael Gardner. I was interested to see how they would cover up the crimes that Gardener committed for Townsend.

I liked that the characters had challenges that they have to overcome in the store and its not just smooth sailing and everything they touch goes right for them. And I also liked that there were twists and turns that did not see coming. I also thought that the story was realistic.

Now I want to read the first 2 books.