Gabriel Lock: Bound by Law

by D. & H. Cancio

Gabriel Lock is a young lawyer who chooses a forced resignation and leaves the state attorney’s office. At his father’s civil law firm, he represents industrious, salt of the earth men and women who build honest lives on the other side of Miami Vice. Armed with his smarts, morals, and faith, Gabriel battles for his clientele. As his practice develops, he learns that his duties to his clients, and the search for truth are often at odds. He discovers that justice is more than black or white, and results not only affect his clients’ lives, but his own.

The year is 1981 and his adventure is about to begin.

324 pages, Hardcover

Published August 30, 2024

About the author

D. & H. Cancio are a father-son writing team where they combine writing styles and lived experience to bring Gabriel Lock to life. Humberto has practiced law for over 45 years and David has been his son for most of them. What began as a project to make up for lost time turned into a father-son series for the ages, one they hope that you'll enjoy!

Reviews

[Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gabriel Lock was a prosecutor at the State Attorney's Office in Miami, Florida. When his division chief forced him to choose between politics and principle, Gabriel resigned. The office deemed politics more critical than an individual prosecutor's pursuit of justice for his client—but Gabriel chose his values. His explanation to his division chief was simple: it was time to join his father's civil law practice. Now, Gabriel would represent clients as an attorney pursuing justice through civil litigation. Justice was always the reason he had chosen to become an attorney.

The storyline takes place from December 1980 to December 1981 with a few flashbacks. This is Gabriel's story. The multiple cases in this book are as unique as the clients they serve. I loved Gabriel's relationship with his father, Thomas. The shining star of their relationship is Gabriel's trust in his father's wisdom and the openness that allows Gabriel to ask questions freely. Thomas answers with awareness that Gabriel is transitioning from prosecutor to civil attorney, giving him room to breathe and reach his own conclusions when the decision is his to make.

Through the narrative, it becomes clear why individuals feel confident asking Gabriel to represent them. Father and son are guided by principles, values, integrity, faith, and the law. This is perhaps best captured by the epigraph at the beginning of the book:

"The Sacred Charge of Lawyers is to give themselves to those who need them." —Thomas Lock

Gabriel does not waver from these principles, making for gripping, page-turning reading.

I look forward to reading more of this series.

Reviewer's Note: I first read this compelling legal thriller in autumn 2024, but at that time, I had paused writing book reviews. I reread this novel to acknowledge it as a legal thriller that stands out in a meaningful way. This novel is one of seven planned by a father-son writing team, inspired by true events spanning Humberto Cancio's 45+ years as a civil attorney in Miami.

[Moriah Ruthford]

Cuban culture mixed with Miami law presents a gripping novel, as a young lawyer follows what’s morally right through complex cases. You’ll love the cases, you’ll love the dialogue, and you’ll be even more amazed when you realize David and Humberto wrote the perspectives separately and seamlessly wove the two separately written pieces together. This is a page turner novel with so much to offer beyond “law.” Incredible start for a debut novel.

*I typically am not drawn to read about fictionalized law cases or law and order type shows, but I would read this again and others published by D&H Cancio