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Erin McCabe Mysteries #1
By Way of Sorrow
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 . . .
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 . . .
354 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 30, 2021
308 people are currently reading
8696 people want to read
About the author
Robyn Gigl
6 books316 followersRobyn 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.
Robyn can be found on X @robyngigl on Instagram @robyngigl and at robyngigl.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 387 reviews
June 22, 2022
Note: I received a free copy of this book, in exchange here is my honest review:
This book started out so slow and took me a while to get into. 😬 It reads like an episode of Law and Order SVU. Which I wouldn’t say is something I personally lean towards. 🤓 However, I will say it’s a great enlightening book for those who fail to understand transgender bias.
Thank you @goodreads and @penguinrandomhouse #goodreadsgiveaway
This book started out so slow and took me a while to get into. 😬 It reads like an episode of Law and Order SVU. Which I wouldn’t say is something I personally lean towards. 🤓 However, I will say it’s a great enlightening book for those who fail to understand transgender bias.
Thank you @goodreads and @penguinrandomhouse #goodreadsgiveaway
August 29, 2023
3.5 stars
Read this one for book club and was pleasantly surprised. The novel follows a trans criminal defense attorney who represents a young Black trans woman accused of murdering a rich white man. I thought Robyn Gigl did a nice job of portraying the horrendous transphobic violence encountered by trans women, both in terms of grotesque physical assault as well as awful interpersonal jabs. At the same time, I liked how she represented a trans female lawyer doing her best to navigate life post-transition, across her job, family, and romantic relationships. There were a few passages where I could sense a, “this is here to educate cis people about this topic” vibe, though they were brief and didn’t detract from the book much in my opinion.
I didn’t love the thriller aspect of By Way of Sorrow. I didn’t feel like the legal drama stuff was written in a particularly suspenseful or compelling way. I understand that Gigl is a lawyer herself so it makes sense to write what she knows. Overall, I found the book a pleasant read and a positive representation of transgender characters, and I appreciated this representation coming from an author who identities as trans herself.
Read this one for book club and was pleasantly surprised. The novel follows a trans criminal defense attorney who represents a young Black trans woman accused of murdering a rich white man. I thought Robyn Gigl did a nice job of portraying the horrendous transphobic violence encountered by trans women, both in terms of grotesque physical assault as well as awful interpersonal jabs. At the same time, I liked how she represented a trans female lawyer doing her best to navigate life post-transition, across her job, family, and romantic relationships. There were a few passages where I could sense a, “this is here to educate cis people about this topic” vibe, though they were brief and didn’t detract from the book much in my opinion.
I didn’t love the thriller aspect of By Way of Sorrow. I didn’t feel like the legal drama stuff was written in a particularly suspenseful or compelling way. I understand that Gigl is a lawyer herself so it makes sense to write what she knows. Overall, I found the book a pleasant read and a positive representation of transgender characters, and I appreciated this representation coming from an author who identities as trans herself.
June 24, 2021
Excellent legal thriller from a first time novelist. Although some may not accept the political corruption as being realistic, the author is a New Jersey lawyer, as am I, and I do not find it unrealistic at all. More or less business as usual in the Garden State.
January 31, 2022
Transgender criminal defense attorney Erin McCabe has been retained to defend Sharise Barnes, accused of fatally stabbing 28-year-old William Townsend Jr, the son of a U.S. senator. The transgender Sharise had been working as a prostitute and claims that she only acted in self-defense. Erin and her partner, Duane Swisher, conduct an investigation to support Sharise’s claim and are thwarted at every turn by the political mechanizations of the victim’s political savvy father. I found some of these actions to be 'over-the-top', but it does make for an action-packed plot.
Gigl’s experience as an attorney provides a window into the intricacies of the law while offering a twisty plot in her debut novel. Gigl is transgender herself and undoubtedly has faced some of the same acts of discrimination she recounts in her novel. Sad.
Gigl’s experience as an attorney provides a window into the intricacies of the law while offering a twisty plot in her debut novel. Gigl is transgender herself and undoubtedly has faced some of the same acts of discrimination she recounts in her novel. Sad.
December 12, 2021
Lo más cercano a este género que leí fueron las historias de John Grisham, que también es abogado en la vida real. Sin embargo, si entramos a comparar, las prosas son distintas. En esta obra debut, la presentación y el desarrollo de la misma se realizan sin palabras rebuscadas, pensado para alguien que es ajeno al ámbito laboral como son los juzgados. Y si creías que nada podía salir peor, la justicia (poética) es la que tiene la última palabra, donde la marginalidad en su máxima expresión no se queda atrás exponiendo sin tapujos lo que la sociedad quiere tapar. Además, dentro del círculo político, cada movimiento es crucial desencadenando consecuencias irreparables. Porque cuando la mancha está hecha, el resultado final no siempre suele ser el esperado.
Una realidad ficcionalizada, el mejor reflejo de OWN VOICE en una novela negra.
Y por último, pero no menos importante, agradecer a riverside agency por el ejemplar
RESEÑA COMPLETA EN MI BLOG: https://lavidadeungamerprincipiante.b...
Una realidad ficcionalizada, el mejor reflejo de OWN VOICE en una novela negra.
Y por último, pero no menos importante, agradecer a riverside agency por el ejemplar
RESEÑA COMPLETA EN MI BLOG: https://lavidadeungamerprincipiante.b...
January 17, 2021
First of all, huge thanks to the author and to Kensington Books, for pulling my name out of the hat!
I don't often RAVE over books but this one grabbed me from the first page and didn't let go until the last. I found By Way of Sorrow to be an engaging book that has a LOT of heart. Erin was feisty, brilliant, and sensitive. And then there was her mom, who was Erin's fiercest protector and her absolute rock!
I felt as though I learned some about what it means to be transgender even though I probably just scratched the surface of what there is to learn. I can't imagine the agony of KNOWING you belong in a body of the opposite sex. I would wish for a Peg (Erin's mom) for every one of them.
I'm glad this is a series and I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next one!
I don't often RAVE over books but this one grabbed me from the first page and didn't let go until the last. I found By Way of Sorrow to be an engaging book that has a LOT of heart. Erin was feisty, brilliant, and sensitive. And then there was her mom, who was Erin's fiercest protector and her absolute rock!
I felt as though I learned some about what it means to be transgender even though I probably just scratched the surface of what there is to learn. I can't imagine the agony of KNOWING you belong in a body of the opposite sex. I would wish for a Peg (Erin's mom) for every one of them.
I'm glad this is a series and I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next one!
August 10, 2024
4.95 rating. A definite nail biter right to the very end, "By Way of Sorrow," by Robin Gigl, isn't so weighed down by confusing legalize that you are distracted from the core of the story. The character development was awesome, the storyline is intense, and the writing style was very comfortable, especially for a murder mystery. Yes, there are some narratives that might make you cringe, but nothing that would make you put down the book as DNF. I will definitely seek out to read other materials by Gigl. Wrapped up nicely in some aspects and in others that make me wonder if she is working on a series. Highly recommended.
March 11, 2022
A transgender criminal lawyer, Erin McCabe, is asked to defend Sharise Barnes, a young black transgender prostitute who killed a powerful political’s son, Willaim Townsend Jr., in the privacy of a motel room. McCabe is hesitant to take the case, worried that it would open a can of worms in her personal life. Yet she feels an obligation to Sharise and takes the case. Sharise pleads self-defense, leading McCabe along with her law partner and former FBI agent, Duane Swisher, to navigate waters dirtied by Townsend Sr., who won’t hesitate to defend his reputation.
I really wish I could’ve given this book a higher rating, the premise was interesting and had potential: A transgender main character dealing with the current political climate has to defend a client she has a special bond with against a rich and corrupt politico. The book could’ve dived deeper into the offenses trans women (specifically trans women of color) committed by the justice system in the US daily. It could have also explored a more interesting and thought out criminal plot. Unfortunately, the characters were underdeveloped, especially the main character, Erin McCabe, who came off as pretentious and compared the t-slur to the n-word (McCabe is white). Her character lacks dimension in any sense of the word. This runs true for a lot of the characters, they were black and white in terms of morality (even when there was an opportunity to have an amazing morally gray character-Sharise Barns). Another thing I found myself searching for was imagery. For the entire book I had no idea what anyone looked like, mainly Erin and Shairse (I mention them specially because their appearance on the scale of masculine to feminine is a major part of how they are treated). The first few pages were captivating (one of the reasons I say there was potential) but that didn't last very long. I mostly continued reading the book out of confusion for where in the world the author was going with it. The ending felt rushed and lacked true resolution, the entire affair/plot of the book had no lasting effect, on the characters or on myself as a reader. I was not emotionally struck, educated, or surprised by this book in the way I thought/hoped I would be.
I really wish I could’ve given this book a higher rating, the premise was interesting and had potential: A transgender main character dealing with the current political climate has to defend a client she has a special bond with against a rich and corrupt politico. The book could’ve dived deeper into the offenses trans women (specifically trans women of color) committed by the justice system in the US daily. It could have also explored a more interesting and thought out criminal plot. Unfortunately, the characters were underdeveloped, especially the main character, Erin McCabe, who came off as pretentious and compared the t-slur to the n-word (McCabe is white). Her character lacks dimension in any sense of the word. This runs true for a lot of the characters, they were black and white in terms of morality (even when there was an opportunity to have an amazing morally gray character-Sharise Barns). Another thing I found myself searching for was imagery. For the entire book I had no idea what anyone looked like, mainly Erin and Shairse (I mention them specially because their appearance on the scale of masculine to feminine is a major part of how they are treated). The first few pages were captivating (one of the reasons I say there was potential) but that didn't last very long. I mostly continued reading the book out of confusion for where in the world the author was going with it. The ending felt rushed and lacked true resolution, the entire affair/plot of the book had no lasting effect, on the characters or on myself as a reader. I was not emotionally struck, educated, or surprised by this book in the way I thought/hoped I would be.
January 9, 2021
Transgender or transspecies i don't care.
What i do care about is this a well written book and that's how i will rate this book
The loneliness, isolation, anxiety, and fear that transgender people must live with.
Erin's life is not easy. Why would she choose this life? I guess that's just it it's not a choice.
A pretty good book for a first time author. Attorney Erin McCabe is hired to defend a transgender prostitute who killed the son of a wealthy business man. Was it murder? Self defense? What secrets was the son hiding that the father is trying to keep it all quiet?
At the same time Erin is trying to reconnect with some of her family that doesn't approve of her life choice and to navigate the landmines of dating.
Thanks to Goodreads giveaway for the advance copy
What i do care about is this a well written book and that's how i will rate this book
The loneliness, isolation, anxiety, and fear that transgender people must live with.
Erin's life is not easy. Why would she choose this life? I guess that's just it it's not a choice.
A pretty good book for a first time author. Attorney Erin McCabe is hired to defend a transgender prostitute who killed the son of a wealthy business man. Was it murder? Self defense? What secrets was the son hiding that the father is trying to keep it all quiet?
At the same time Erin is trying to reconnect with some of her family that doesn't approve of her life choice and to navigate the landmines of dating.
Thanks to Goodreads giveaway for the advance copy
June 27, 2023
Premise: April 2007. Atlantic City, New Jersey. State Senator William E. Townsend, Jr.’s son has been found stabbed to death in a seedy motel. Sharise Barnes, a 19-year-old transgender sex worker, is apprehended for his murder. Erin, is handed the case by a public defender who believes she is the only one who can help Sharise. Erin has recently transitioned within the last two years, and is uniquely positioned to fight for her client’s rights.
Trans rights are front and center in this engrossing courtroom thriller. And Senator Townsend is a force to be reckoned with, pulling every string possible to convict Sherise and obscure the truth about his own son.
Who will win this battle?
This is a promising series debut. The author weaves tight, realistic plotting throughout this murder mystery, while also tackling the sensitive insights into transgender issues. I also appreciated how trans issues were examined across class and color lines.
In today’s highly charged world, it is nice to see an author creating a character that has a potential for a popular following series.
And I wasn’t surprised to see that, Erin resembled the author in some ways. I have included the attached article that the author wrote sharing their journey as a transgender attorney.
https://www.americanbar.org/groups/gp...
Trans rights are front and center in this engrossing courtroom thriller. And Senator Townsend is a force to be reckoned with, pulling every string possible to convict Sherise and obscure the truth about his own son.
Who will win this battle?
This is a promising series debut. The author weaves tight, realistic plotting throughout this murder mystery, while also tackling the sensitive insights into transgender issues. I also appreciated how trans issues were examined across class and color lines.
In today’s highly charged world, it is nice to see an author creating a character that has a potential for a popular following series.
And I wasn’t surprised to see that, Erin resembled the author in some ways. I have included the attached article that the author wrote sharing their journey as a transgender attorney.
https://www.americanbar.org/groups/gp...
June 22, 2021
Esta es la historia de Sharise Barnes, una mujer trans acusada de asesinar al hijo de un senador, en un caso cuya evidencia parece indicar que es definitivamente culpable. Esto es hasta que Erin McCabe toma el caso y comienza a investigar y desentrañar las verdades detrás de lo sucedido. Erin sabe que el caso tendrá una gran repercusión en su vida exponiéndola de una forma en la que no habrá marcha atrás, pero algo le dice que ella es la única esperanza de salvar a Sharise de la pena de muerte.
Mi opinión:
Tengo que empezar diciendo que este libro me tomó totalmente por sorpresa. Cuando comencé a leer me esperaba el típico libro policial/judicial que me llevara por una investigación para descubrir si la acusada era culpable o inocente, sin embargo, me llevó por un entramado político complejo en el que quienes tienen el poder parecen tener la última palabra y poder manipular la opinión publica a su gusto. Es una representación que aterra por lo real que puede llegar a parecer sobre como se pueden transgiversar las cosas de tal forma que la verdad nunca se sepa, y como jugar con las emociones de la sociedad presentando todo de una forma que hace que un acontecimiento deje de tener peso por lo que sucede y pese por quién lo comete.
Realmente no quiero dar demasiados datos porque me parece que es de esas historias que uno tiene que ir descubriendo paso a paso, pero si me gustaría hablar un poco de los personajes porque fue de las cosas que más me sorprendió. En primer lugar, el libro tiene mucha representación transgénero y hace una crítica tremenda a la discriminación que mucha gente aún carga. La presión social, el desarraigo, la dificultad en generar nuevos vínculos por los preconceptos y lo dañina que pueden llegar a ser ciertas frases que se dicen sin pensar. Tanto Erin como Sharise me parecieron super desarrolladas en sus personalidades y el papel que la autora les da en la trama. La ferocidad con la que pelean más allá de lo que terminen diciendo de ellas y todo en la búsqueda de la verdad.
La verdad que recomiendo mucho su lectura, a mi me atrapó desde la primera página y me mantuvo pegada al libro para saber como iba a terminar la historia, sin contar que me dio mucho más de lo que me esperaba de un thriller.
Mi opinión:
Tengo que empezar diciendo que este libro me tomó totalmente por sorpresa. Cuando comencé a leer me esperaba el típico libro policial/judicial que me llevara por una investigación para descubrir si la acusada era culpable o inocente, sin embargo, me llevó por un entramado político complejo en el que quienes tienen el poder parecen tener la última palabra y poder manipular la opinión publica a su gusto. Es una representación que aterra por lo real que puede llegar a parecer sobre como se pueden transgiversar las cosas de tal forma que la verdad nunca se sepa, y como jugar con las emociones de la sociedad presentando todo de una forma que hace que un acontecimiento deje de tener peso por lo que sucede y pese por quién lo comete.
Realmente no quiero dar demasiados datos porque me parece que es de esas historias que uno tiene que ir descubriendo paso a paso, pero si me gustaría hablar un poco de los personajes porque fue de las cosas que más me sorprendió. En primer lugar, el libro tiene mucha representación transgénero y hace una crítica tremenda a la discriminación que mucha gente aún carga. La presión social, el desarraigo, la dificultad en generar nuevos vínculos por los preconceptos y lo dañina que pueden llegar a ser ciertas frases que se dicen sin pensar. Tanto Erin como Sharise me parecieron super desarrolladas en sus personalidades y el papel que la autora les da en la trama. La ferocidad con la que pelean más allá de lo que terminen diciendo de ellas y todo en la búsqueda de la verdad.
La verdad que recomiendo mucho su lectura, a mi me atrapó desde la primera página y me mantuvo pegada al libro para saber como iba a terminar la historia, sin contar que me dio mucho más de lo que me esperaba de un thriller.
April 17, 2021
And, fellow readers, this is why I will always be a book addict. This legal thriller took me places that I never knew I wanted to go.
Criminal defense attorney, Erin McCabe and her law partner, Duane Swisher, are assigned an unusual case. A transgender prostitute, Sharise Barnes, has been accused of killing the son of a prominent, wealthy local man with huge political aspirations. Sharise claims self defense, but the prosecutors are intent on proving murder. The case has serious implications for Erin because she, too, is a transgender woman and she knows that this is going to be a big issue as she handles the defense. Little does she know what a hornet's nest she will provoke. NO SPOILERS.
Fact: I know nothing about transgender persons nor do I know any. This book was an eye-opener with revelations and overtones that give a completely different aspect to the basic stories in this genre. I fell in love with the character of Erin McCabe and am delighted that this is the first in a new series that will feature her. The whole legal maneuvering and the case itself is one large part of this narrative, but also the novel deals with the emotional and physical aspects of being transgender. As the two different aspects merge, the plot and forward movement of the case becomes even more compelling. I read this in a matter of hours because I could not put this down. The book forced me to examine my own personal attitudes about gender identity and the treatment of those who decide to live their lives in the manner they feel compelled to do rather than in the lines circumscribed by anatomy at birth.
This is a debut and I totally enjoyed the writing and the structure with its blend of humor and perception that makes this so much more than the run-of-the-mill legal thriller. If the idea of transgender persons makes you uncomfortable, perhaps that is the most overriding reason to read it. Keep an open mind and perhaps you will find some insight.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.
Criminal defense attorney, Erin McCabe and her law partner, Duane Swisher, are assigned an unusual case. A transgender prostitute, Sharise Barnes, has been accused of killing the son of a prominent, wealthy local man with huge political aspirations. Sharise claims self defense, but the prosecutors are intent on proving murder. The case has serious implications for Erin because she, too, is a transgender woman and she knows that this is going to be a big issue as she handles the defense. Little does she know what a hornet's nest she will provoke. NO SPOILERS.
Fact: I know nothing about transgender persons nor do I know any. This book was an eye-opener with revelations and overtones that give a completely different aspect to the basic stories in this genre. I fell in love with the character of Erin McCabe and am delighted that this is the first in a new series that will feature her. The whole legal maneuvering and the case itself is one large part of this narrative, but also the novel deals with the emotional and physical aspects of being transgender. As the two different aspects merge, the plot and forward movement of the case becomes even more compelling. I read this in a matter of hours because I could not put this down. The book forced me to examine my own personal attitudes about gender identity and the treatment of those who decide to live their lives in the manner they feel compelled to do rather than in the lines circumscribed by anatomy at birth.
This is a debut and I totally enjoyed the writing and the structure with its blend of humor and perception that makes this so much more than the run-of-the-mill legal thriller. If the idea of transgender persons makes you uncomfortable, perhaps that is the most overriding reason to read it. Keep an open mind and perhaps you will find some insight.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.
March 12, 2025
I knew very little about transgender women other that what I read in the paper. This legal thriller does a wonderful job of explaining the problems facing gender dysphoria. It is a very good legal thriller with some very good characters. The writing is a little above average but enjoyable. Some of the courtroom passages are loaded with excellent dialogue. Plan to read the next installment.
January 5, 2023
Qué nervios todo! Excelente thriller abogadil, muy Law and Order Criminal Intent
September 9, 2021
The best books involving alternative lifestyles don't dwell on the lifestyle issue, but tell a story compelling enough to make the reader feel like the protagonist - that whatever thing that is different - being a lucid zombie, being a vampire, being a transgender woman, being a psychopath, being autistic - is just a part of the day-to-day world, and the real thing we need to figure out is how to deal with the actual plot issue. This does not happen in this book. What happens is that the protagonist gets handed a great big capital case and she walks around bragging about it and being insulted on behalf of transgender people for at least half of the book.
The constant drumming about the rights and plights of transgender people got old fast. A lot of telling rather than showing, which is simply poor writing. A lot of passive voice, which is, again, poor writing. The author introduces hordes of new characters so that they can chime in about transgender people while the story is completely forgotten. And these characters are not defined whatsoever. All of them are just a little under six feet tall and good looking, and talk and act in ways that make it difficult to tell them apart. The one exception to this was Sherise, the defendant, and that characterization was completely dependent on a dialect that does not actually exist so far as I know.
The protagonist was annoyingly self-righteous right from the start, owning some judge for a vague reason that made no sense, and doing it with the smarmy glee of a QAnon follower owning libtards. I already didn't like her, and she did little to alter my opinion over the book's course.
If this book were not written from the point of view of a transgender woman, I don't think it would have gotten published, because it is too poorly written. The transgender issue is unique enough to make the pitch viable, but the book was certainly not viable. It is not compelling and the characters are indistinguishably humorless and bland. If the purpose was to help people understand and sympathize with what it's like to be a transgender woman, it does not succeed. If the purpose was to tell a story, it does not succeed. If the purpose was to entertain, it does not succeed.
The constant drumming about the rights and plights of transgender people got old fast. A lot of telling rather than showing, which is simply poor writing. A lot of passive voice, which is, again, poor writing. The author introduces hordes of new characters so that they can chime in about transgender people while the story is completely forgotten. And these characters are not defined whatsoever. All of them are just a little under six feet tall and good looking, and talk and act in ways that make it difficult to tell them apart. The one exception to this was Sherise, the defendant, and that characterization was completely dependent on a dialect that does not actually exist so far as I know.
The protagonist was annoyingly self-righteous right from the start, owning some judge for a vague reason that made no sense, and doing it with the smarmy glee of a QAnon follower owning libtards. I already didn't like her, and she did little to alter my opinion over the book's course.
If this book were not written from the point of view of a transgender woman, I don't think it would have gotten published, because it is too poorly written. The transgender issue is unique enough to make the pitch viable, but the book was certainly not viable. It is not compelling and the characters are indistinguishably humorless and bland. If the purpose was to help people understand and sympathize with what it's like to be a transgender woman, it does not succeed. If the purpose was to tell a story, it does not succeed. If the purpose was to entertain, it does not succeed.
April 7, 2021
A Brilliant Legal Thriller
This novel is not only an exciting, edge-of-your-seat thriller on par with any of John Grisham’s books, but it also takes an unflinching exploration of how transgender people, and in particular trans women of color, are treated by the patriarchal legal system.
I can’t wait to read the next Erin McCabe novel.
This novel is not only an exciting, edge-of-your-seat thriller on par with any of John Grisham’s books, but it also takes an unflinching exploration of how transgender people, and in particular trans women of color, are treated by the patriarchal legal system.
I can’t wait to read the next Erin McCabe novel.
May 30, 2020
My Mystery Scene magazine review of this book can now be seen here: https://www.mysteryscenemag.com/compo...
April 8, 2020
This is a very assured and exciting #ownvoices series debut with tons of surprises in a twisty plot that dives into the mud of local politics. It also introduces a fantastic new lead in Erin McCabe, a tough and relateable defense attorney and trans woman who agrees to take on the case of a trans prostitute accused of murder.
May 8, 2023
"Droga Smutku" Robin Gigl to thriller prawniczy - wyjątkowy i przełomowy debiut.👍
Mocny i brutalnie szczery, który dostarcza czytelnikowi nie tyle rozrywki, co przed wszystkim emocji wyzwalających przemyślenia związanych z przełamywaniem koncepcji płci.
Fabuła wstrząsa, wzbudza złość na niesprawiedliwości tego świata, na brak empatii i człowieczeństwa.
Jakie szanse na sprawiedliwą rozprawę ma 19-letnia Afroamerykanka, transpłciowa prostytutka, która nie przeszła pełnej tranzycji, oskarżona o morderstwo białego mężczyzny, syna wpływowego człowieka, zajmującego wysokie stanowisko w polityce?
Szczerze: niewielkie, żeby nie powiedzieć żadnych.
Sharise Barnes twierdzi, że działała w obronie własnej, ale dowody przeciwko niej są przytłaczające. Ciąży nad nią widmo kary śmierci lub dożywotniego więzienia w męskim więzieniu, bo w oczach wielu jest Samem Barnsem. Jej tożsamość płciowa to jej problem, bo w dokumentach wciąż ma przypisaną płeć męską.
Sprawa wydaje się zamknięta; nie ma wątpliwości, że Sharise dźgnęła syna senatora Williama Townsenda, ale pytanie brzmi: dlaczego? Czy to było morderstwo, czy samoobrona?
Jak daleko może posunąć się senator z obsesją na punkcie władzy, by ukryć sekrety syna?
Sytuacja Sharise jest dramatyczna. Jako nastoletnia osoba trafiła na ulicę, wyrzucona z domu przez swoich transfobicznych rodziców. Ta młoda, czarnoskóra i transpłciowa osoba, należy do intersekcjonalnej grupy tożsamościowej, szczególnie narażonej na śmiertelną przemoc. Jej historia jest smutna i przygnębiająca, ale nie jest niezwykła. Niezwykłe jest jednak to, że ma adwokatkę, która jest w stanie naprawdę zrozumieć jej tożsamość płciową.
Erin McCabe podejmuje wyzwanie obrony Sharise, mimo, że może wiele ją to kosztować. Ta atrakcyjna prawniczka ma równie traumatyczne doświadczenia, gdyż ponad dwa lata temu sama przeszła pełną tranzycję.
Rozgłos, jaki wyniknie z tej sprawy może przysporzyć jej problemów. Jednak spotkanie z Sharise przekonuje ją, że warto zawalczyć o prawa swojej klientki. O sprawiedliwy proces, a przede wszystkim o szacunek.
Erin to postać złożona i dynamiczna. Jest wrażliwa, empatyczna, ale i niezwykle profesjonalna. Za wszelką cenę będzie bronić swojej klientki mimo, że sprawa wygląda beznadziejnie, a za sznurki pociągają wpływowi ludzie.
Kiedy McCabe i jej partner, były agent FBI Duane Swisher, zbliżają się do prawdy, sytuacja staje się coraz bardziej niebezpieczna.
Jednak najbardziej uderzające są te mniejsze momenty, które sprawiają, że powieść wybrzmiewa autentycznie. Mikroagresje i dyskryminacje w środowisku zawodowym, polityce systemu prawnego, zmagania ze znalezieniem akceptacji ze strony członków rodziny. Determinacja Erin, by być sobą wydaje się heroiczna, ale nie jest przesadzona.
Prawa osób transseksualnych zajmuje pierwsze miejsce w tym wciągającym, emocjonalnym i bogatym w przeżycia thrillerze.
Autorka ujęła mnie podjęciem tematyki, która wciąż wzbudza wiele kontrowersji. Zwróciła uwagę i przeanalizowała poważne wady systemu prawnego i ujawniła bezbronności członków społeczności trans.
Myślę, że wiele sytuacji i emocji zawartych w powieści są bliskie jej doświadczeniu, to czuć, tu nie da się oszukać.
Robin Gigl jest prawniczką i aktywistką działającą na rzecz społeczności LGBTQ+, sama jest osobą transpłciową.
Mocny i brutalnie szczery, który dostarcza czytelnikowi nie tyle rozrywki, co przed wszystkim emocji wyzwalających przemyślenia związanych z przełamywaniem koncepcji płci.
Fabuła wstrząsa, wzbudza złość na niesprawiedliwości tego świata, na brak empatii i człowieczeństwa.
Jakie szanse na sprawiedliwą rozprawę ma 19-letnia Afroamerykanka, transpłciowa prostytutka, która nie przeszła pełnej tranzycji, oskarżona o morderstwo białego mężczyzny, syna wpływowego człowieka, zajmującego wysokie stanowisko w polityce?
Szczerze: niewielkie, żeby nie powiedzieć żadnych.
Sharise Barnes twierdzi, że działała w obronie własnej, ale dowody przeciwko niej są przytłaczające. Ciąży nad nią widmo kary śmierci lub dożywotniego więzienia w męskim więzieniu, bo w oczach wielu jest Samem Barnsem. Jej tożsamość płciowa to jej problem, bo w dokumentach wciąż ma przypisaną płeć męską.
Sprawa wydaje się zamknięta; nie ma wątpliwości, że Sharise dźgnęła syna senatora Williama Townsenda, ale pytanie brzmi: dlaczego? Czy to było morderstwo, czy samoobrona?
Jak daleko może posunąć się senator z obsesją na punkcie władzy, by ukryć sekrety syna?
Sytuacja Sharise jest dramatyczna. Jako nastoletnia osoba trafiła na ulicę, wyrzucona z domu przez swoich transfobicznych rodziców. Ta młoda, czarnoskóra i transpłciowa osoba, należy do intersekcjonalnej grupy tożsamościowej, szczególnie narażonej na śmiertelną przemoc. Jej historia jest smutna i przygnębiająca, ale nie jest niezwykła. Niezwykłe jest jednak to, że ma adwokatkę, która jest w stanie naprawdę zrozumieć jej tożsamość płciową.
Erin McCabe podejmuje wyzwanie obrony Sharise, mimo, że może wiele ją to kosztować. Ta atrakcyjna prawniczka ma równie traumatyczne doświadczenia, gdyż ponad dwa lata temu sama przeszła pełną tranzycję.
Rozgłos, jaki wyniknie z tej sprawy może przysporzyć jej problemów. Jednak spotkanie z Sharise przekonuje ją, że warto zawalczyć o prawa swojej klientki. O sprawiedliwy proces, a przede wszystkim o szacunek.
Erin to postać złożona i dynamiczna. Jest wrażliwa, empatyczna, ale i niezwykle profesjonalna. Za wszelką cenę będzie bronić swojej klientki mimo, że sprawa wygląda beznadziejnie, a za sznurki pociągają wpływowi ludzie.
Kiedy McCabe i jej partner, były agent FBI Duane Swisher, zbliżają się do prawdy, sytuacja staje się coraz bardziej niebezpieczna.
Jednak najbardziej uderzające są te mniejsze momenty, które sprawiają, że powieść wybrzmiewa autentycznie. Mikroagresje i dyskryminacje w środowisku zawodowym, polityce systemu prawnego, zmagania ze znalezieniem akceptacji ze strony członków rodziny. Determinacja Erin, by być sobą wydaje się heroiczna, ale nie jest przesadzona.
Prawa osób transseksualnych zajmuje pierwsze miejsce w tym wciągającym, emocjonalnym i bogatym w przeżycia thrillerze.
Autorka ujęła mnie podjęciem tematyki, która wciąż wzbudza wiele kontrowersji. Zwróciła uwagę i przeanalizowała poważne wady systemu prawnego i ujawniła bezbronności członków społeczności trans.
Myślę, że wiele sytuacji i emocji zawartych w powieści są bliskie jej doświadczeniu, to czuć, tu nie da się oszukać.
Robin Gigl jest prawniczką i aktywistką działającą na rzecz społeczności LGBTQ+, sama jest osobą transpłciową.
May 2, 2023
Erin to prawniczka, która dokonała w swoim życiu ogromnej przemiany. Pewnego dnia dostaje propozycję jako obrońca ciemnoskórej, transpłciowej, dziewiętnastoletniej prostytutki, która jest oskarżona o zabójstwo białego, syna bogatego i wpływowego polityka. Dziewczyna twierdzi, że zrobiła to w samoobronie. Erin rozpoczyna swoje śledztwo i zbieranie dowodów. Okazuje się, że ta sprawa jest powiązana z innymi morderstwami. Ta sprawa robi się niebezpieczna, ponieważ zaczynają ginąć ludzie.
Moi drodzy jest to thriller prawniczy, w którym porusza się wątek rasizmu, transpłciowości, władzy w rękach nieodpowiednich ludzi. Kiedy Erin opowiada o swojej przemianie, mówi o kobiecie uwięzionej w ciele mężczyzny, po przemianie wiele osób unika jej pomimo tego że wcześniej z nią rozmawiano, ale nic nie jest tak przykre, jak odwrócenie się osób jej najbliższych. Dodatkowo pojawienie się w książce drugiej postaci transpłciowej pokazało jak społeczeństwo widzi takie osoby. Z czym one muszą się mierzyć każdego dnia. Książka daje do myślenia. Zaciekawia od początku i trzyma w napięciu do końca. Akcja idzie mieszanym torem, prawda próbuje być zatuszowana, a do tego wystarczy władza, znajomość odpowiednich ludzi i oczywiście pieniądze. Książka ta jest inna niż dotychczas przeze mnie czytane z tego gatunku. Polecam.
Moi drodzy jest to thriller prawniczy, w którym porusza się wątek rasizmu, transpłciowości, władzy w rękach nieodpowiednich ludzi. Kiedy Erin opowiada o swojej przemianie, mówi o kobiecie uwięzionej w ciele mężczyzny, po przemianie wiele osób unika jej pomimo tego że wcześniej z nią rozmawiano, ale nic nie jest tak przykre, jak odwrócenie się osób jej najbliższych. Dodatkowo pojawienie się w książce drugiej postaci transpłciowej pokazało jak społeczeństwo widzi takie osoby. Z czym one muszą się mierzyć każdego dnia. Książka daje do myślenia. Zaciekawia od początku i trzyma w napięciu do końca. Akcja idzie mieszanym torem, prawda próbuje być zatuszowana, a do tego wystarczy władza, znajomość odpowiednich ludzi i oczywiście pieniądze. Książka ta jest inna niż dotychczas przeze mnie czytane z tego gatunku. Polecam.
July 7, 2022
Es una historia entretenida e interesante. Pero a medida que iba leyendo, todo se tornaba muy de telenovela, y las cosas que ocurrían más allá de sorprenderme, me parecían un poco absurdas. El tema de los personajes transgéneros me gusto mucho, pero al mismo tiempo el que por ratos tuviéramos mucho de la vida personal de Erin me comenzó a aburrir.
August 15, 2023
meu deus
January 4, 2024
I didn't know anything about By Way of Sorrow when I started this book (yay for book club books!), so when I discovered early on that this book featured two trans women, I was really excited. Then I looked up the author and found out she is trans as well, and, well, that's even better.
Random-but-related-tangent incoming... I wasn't always an avid reader. It wasn't until I randomly picked up John Grisham's The Firm when I was 14 at an airport newsstand that I finally understood why people liked to read. And I read a lot of John Grisham for a spell. The night I sacrificed to finish A Time To Kill in one sitting was completely worth it. Fast forward a *cough* few years *cough* and I rarely read legal thrillers anymore. I haven't even read a John Grisham book in years. So starting By Way of Sorrow was nostalgic--in a way I didn't expect but completely loved.
Unfortunately, that nostalgia only lasted through the first third of the novel. I began to get a little bored and a little lost in the narrative. There are a lot of characters and even more who are mentioned briefly only to be seen again in some relevant detail later. A lot of these characters provide a brief narrative point of view.
There's also a lot going on. There's the main storyline--the prosecution and defence of a murder of prominent and powerful man's son at the hands of a black trans prostitute, Sharise Barnes, in a case that looks open and shut, which is the most high stakes/high profile case of Erin McCabe's career. But there's also time devoted to Erin's family's journey on accepting her transition, Erin's legal partner's ongoing investigation from an event that happened while he was in the FBI, Erin's newfound romance, the political games of South New Jersey, and small other storylines that really clog the narrative. I know Gigl is building a universe here, but it was a lot to cover in one book.
And the ending was, well, not what I expected. I'm not even saying it was the wrong way to go, but I have to admit my disappointment.
There were two other things that really bothered me about this book:
1. There's something very off-putting about a white author trying to write AAVE. There are a lot of black characters in this book, but only Sharise's speech is written this way. I had hoped I would find explicit evidence that Gigl had used a sensitivity reader or someone to help her with those parts, but there was nothing in the acknowledgements that points to that, which means I'm even more uncomfortable about it.
2. The romance... Setting aside all of that, I thought the way the romance was handled was lovely, even if I wasn't rooting for the pairing. And while I don't think the narrative needed a romance, I also know how important it is for there to be a legitimate romance for Erin.
I enjoyed it more than I didn't. And for a debut novel, it's pretty good. I did find the ending confusing with the political games that were playing out and all the various characters we were supposed to keep track of, but it's a solid start to what I'm sure is a series that will get better now that Gigl has set up her characters. I'm just not sure I'm going to keep reading the series. 2.5 stars for my two reasons above, but I'm rounding up because it's a debut.
Random-but-related-tangent incoming... I wasn't always an avid reader. It wasn't until I randomly picked up John Grisham's The Firm when I was 14 at an airport newsstand that I finally understood why people liked to read. And I read a lot of John Grisham for a spell. The night I sacrificed to finish A Time To Kill in one sitting was completely worth it. Fast forward a *cough* few years *cough* and I rarely read legal thrillers anymore. I haven't even read a John Grisham book in years. So starting By Way of Sorrow was nostalgic--in a way I didn't expect but completely loved.
Unfortunately, that nostalgia only lasted through the first third of the novel. I began to get a little bored and a little lost in the narrative. There are a lot of characters and even more who are mentioned briefly only to be seen again in some relevant detail later. A lot of these characters provide a brief narrative point of view.
There's also a lot going on. There's the main storyline--the prosecution and defence of a murder of prominent and powerful man's son at the hands of a black trans prostitute, Sharise Barnes, in a case that looks open and shut, which is the most high stakes/high profile case of Erin McCabe's career. But there's also time devoted to Erin's family's journey on accepting her transition, Erin's legal partner's ongoing investigation from an event that happened while he was in the FBI, Erin's newfound romance, the political games of South New Jersey, and small other storylines that really clog the narrative. I know Gigl is building a universe here, but it was a lot to cover in one book.
And the ending was, well, not what I expected. I'm not even saying it was the wrong way to go, but I have to admit my disappointment.
There were two other things that really bothered me about this book:
1. There's something very off-putting about a white author trying to write AAVE. There are a lot of black characters in this book, but only Sharise's speech is written this way. I had hoped I would find explicit evidence that Gigl had used a sensitivity reader or someone to help her with those parts, but there was nothing in the acknowledgements that points to that, which means I'm even more uncomfortable about it.
2. The romance... Setting aside all of that, I thought the way the romance was handled was lovely, even if I wasn't rooting for the pairing. And while I don't think the narrative needed a romance, I also know how important it is for there to be a legitimate romance for Erin.
I enjoyed it more than I didn't. And for a debut novel, it's pretty good. I did find the ending confusing with the political games that were playing out and all the various characters we were supposed to keep track of, but it's a solid start to what I'm sure is a series that will get better now that Gigl has set up her characters. I'm just not sure I'm going to keep reading the series. 2.5 stars for my two reasons above, but I'm rounding up because it's a debut.
March 22, 2023
What a fantastic start to a series!
The prologue really grabs you attention.
All the characters were really well developed, I especially can’t wait to see how Erin’s romance pans out.
A must for thriller/criminal procedural fans.
The prologue really grabs you attention.
All the characters were really well developed, I especially can’t wait to see how Erin’s romance pans out.
A must for thriller/criminal procedural fans.
November 22, 2020
By Way of Sorrow by Robyn Gigl is a legal thriller with a bit of a different twist. The book opens with a riveting scene of a murder or was it an act of self-defense?
The characters are thoughtfully written with the defense attorney Erin McCabe and the defendant Samuel Barnes being transgender. As the story develops the reader becomes aware that more is at stake than just defending a transgender person for taking the life of a senator's son. Erin has never won a murder case and it is understandable Samuel would be hesitant to trust her immediately. Erin wants to defend her client as her female self, Sharise, to show respect and provide more protection for her while incarcerated.
Sharise is tormented as she sits in her cell or when she is taken from her cell by threats against her from the guards and other inmates. Her fears of attack are very real, and she wonders why she didn't kill herself when she was a young boy. She knows that if she is ever put into the general population the inmates will kill her. Sharise remembers how Tonya tried to comfort her one of the times her father beat her with a belt, back when she was young Sammy and had been punished for hiding girls' clothing in his closet.
Erin's partner, former FBI agent Duane Swisher begins to uncover disturbing cases of unsolved murders that are linked back to the senator's son. Senator Townsend has a lot to lose if the truth about his son is revealed. He is devious as he takes actions to discredit every lead Swisher follows.
By Way of Sorrow is a legal thriller with a lot of emotional elements. I had never read a book with transgender characters before. Erin is written as a witty and highly intelligent lawyer and reading of Sharise/Samuel's memories and troubles was heartbreaking. I personally did not like the overuse of unnecessary profanity and that is the reason I reduced the star rating.
Publication Date: March 30, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The characters are thoughtfully written with the defense attorney Erin McCabe and the defendant Samuel Barnes being transgender. As the story develops the reader becomes aware that more is at stake than just defending a transgender person for taking the life of a senator's son. Erin has never won a murder case and it is understandable Samuel would be hesitant to trust her immediately. Erin wants to defend her client as her female self, Sharise, to show respect and provide more protection for her while incarcerated.
Sharise is tormented as she sits in her cell or when she is taken from her cell by threats against her from the guards and other inmates. Her fears of attack are very real, and she wonders why she didn't kill herself when she was a young boy. She knows that if she is ever put into the general population the inmates will kill her. Sharise remembers how Tonya tried to comfort her one of the times her father beat her with a belt, back when she was young Sammy and had been punished for hiding girls' clothing in his closet.
Erin's partner, former FBI agent Duane Swisher begins to uncover disturbing cases of unsolved murders that are linked back to the senator's son. Senator Townsend has a lot to lose if the truth about his son is revealed. He is devious as he takes actions to discredit every lead Swisher follows.
By Way of Sorrow is a legal thriller with a lot of emotional elements. I had never read a book with transgender characters before. Erin is written as a witty and highly intelligent lawyer and reading of Sharise/Samuel's memories and troubles was heartbreaking. I personally did not like the overuse of unnecessary profanity and that is the reason I reduced the star rating.
Publication Date: March 30, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
April 24, 2021
Robyn Gigl’s sensational debut, “By Way of Sorrow,” is a propelling and provocative read. Gigl writes with enthusiasm as her New Jersey criminal defense attorney, Erin McCabe, struggles to represent Sharise Barnes, a 19-year-old transgender prostitute. She flees a sleazy motel late one night, leaving behind the dead body of William Townsend Jr., son of a prominent senator, fatally stabbed to death.
Was it murder or self-defense?
Erin decides to defend Sharise in the case of the year that could make or break Erin’s career. The stakes are high for Erin as she navigates the dangerous pitfalls of the judicial system. The evidence against Sharise mounts, and the possibility of a death sentence hangs over the proceedings.
Erin’s defense is not the only thing at stake. Her life is in danger when death threats are made against both her partner, Duane Swisher, and herself. The real present danger hits too close to home when a stranger shows up at Erin’s apartment with a gun.
Gigl weaves in a personal angle involving Erin’s family dynamics. Erin’s transitioning becomes a hot topic with both of her parents, primarily her father. At times, the family relationships trump the murder case. Without a lot of courtroom scenes, the novel becomes more about the characters than the case.
“By Way of Sorrow” is an eye-opening thriller told from multiple points of view—two thumbs up for Gigl.
Was it murder or self-defense?
Erin decides to defend Sharise in the case of the year that could make or break Erin’s career. The stakes are high for Erin as she navigates the dangerous pitfalls of the judicial system. The evidence against Sharise mounts, and the possibility of a death sentence hangs over the proceedings.
Erin’s defense is not the only thing at stake. Her life is in danger when death threats are made against both her partner, Duane Swisher, and herself. The real present danger hits too close to home when a stranger shows up at Erin’s apartment with a gun.
Gigl weaves in a personal angle involving Erin’s family dynamics. Erin’s transitioning becomes a hot topic with both of her parents, primarily her father. At times, the family relationships trump the murder case. Without a lot of courtroom scenes, the novel becomes more about the characters than the case.
“By Way of Sorrow” is an eye-opening thriller told from multiple points of view—two thumbs up for Gigl.
March 22, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
𝘼𝙩𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙍𝙤𝙗𝙮𝙣 𝙂𝙞𝙜𝙡 𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧, 𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙚, 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙘 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙚𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙-𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢-𝙩𝙝𝙚-𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙦𝙪𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙤, 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛, 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙮.
🦋 This was a really fun legal thriller. I read this back in January and remember enjoyed it for the most part. I read this because I got the second book - along with this one - from the publisher for a book tour I did awhile ago. I haven’t read the second yet but hopefully can get to it this year.
🩸I really enjoyed our main character and the diversity in this book. I think it’s such an interesting take and worked for this story. There were some emotional elements in which I was not expecting at all. I haven’t read anything like this mystery before and I really do hope I can see more of this in other future books. This cover is also absolutely stunning!
🦋 If I’m being honest I went into this book with such low expectations. I wasn’t too excited to get to it, however I’m glad I read it. The only reason I knocked a few stars off was because I felt like there were some errors and also didn’t get the use of profanity. The ending was absolutely amazing but there were some other pacing issues. Overall I really enjoyed the take on this story - it was a good legal thriller.
✨Thank you Kensington for sending me this edition along with the second one in the series for a book tour awhile ago✨
𝘼𝙩𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙍𝙤𝙗𝙮𝙣 𝙂𝙞𝙜𝙡 𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧, 𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙚, 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙘 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙚𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙-𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢-𝙩𝙝𝙚-𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙦𝙪𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙤, 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛, 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙮.
🦋 This was a really fun legal thriller. I read this back in January and remember enjoyed it for the most part. I read this because I got the second book - along with this one - from the publisher for a book tour I did awhile ago. I haven’t read the second yet but hopefully can get to it this year.
🩸I really enjoyed our main character and the diversity in this book. I think it’s such an interesting take and worked for this story. There were some emotional elements in which I was not expecting at all. I haven’t read anything like this mystery before and I really do hope I can see more of this in other future books. This cover is also absolutely stunning!
🦋 If I’m being honest I went into this book with such low expectations. I wasn’t too excited to get to it, however I’m glad I read it. The only reason I knocked a few stars off was because I felt like there were some errors and also didn’t get the use of profanity. The ending was absolutely amazing but there were some other pacing issues. Overall I really enjoyed the take on this story - it was a good legal thriller.
✨Thank you Kensington for sending me this edition along with the second one in the series for a book tour awhile ago✨
January 10, 2021
Thanks NetGalley, Kensington Books and Robyn Gigl for an ARC to review.
Erin is trying to defend 19 years old Sharise in a solid murder case. Sharise is accused of murdering the son of one of the most powerful men in the state. Did she murder him or was it self defense?
An interesting well written book and I'd like to read more for the author.
Erin is trying to defend 19 years old Sharise in a solid murder case. Sharise is accused of murdering the son of one of the most powerful men in the state. Did she murder him or was it self defense?
An interesting well written book and I'd like to read more for the author.
January 3, 2021
Thanks for another Goodreads Giveaway! This is a fast moving legal thriller which focuses on the corruption of politicians and the biases facing people who are transgender. Well done!
January 29, 2023
4.5⭐️ rounded down because I found it hard to keep track of all the political characters
This is a darn good thriller! I was glad to know the main character appears in future books because there were passages where I was scared for her life!
This book is about a transgender client represented by a transgender lawyer and wears written by a transgender lawyer. I was really happy to see trans characters written about honestly. Both trans MCs experienced considerable difficulties with their families. Representation in literature is important and I thought this book did a great job with "education" as an integral part of the story.
The political machinations, while believable, were pretty complex and involved a few too many "extra" characters for my taste! But, it was a fun read and a great start to a series!
This is a darn good thriller! I was glad to know the main character appears in future books because there were passages where I was scared for her life!
This book is about a transgender client represented by a transgender lawyer and wears written by a transgender lawyer. I was really happy to see trans characters written about honestly. Both trans MCs experienced considerable difficulties with their families. Representation in literature is important and I thought this book did a great job with "education" as an integral part of the story.
The political machinations, while believable, were pretty complex and involved a few too many "extra" characters for my taste! But, it was a fun read and a great start to a series!
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