GROUP A BOOKS 2023-2024: 14 Nominated books. Vote for no more than 7.

A3 Type: Legal/Courtroom/Attorney By Way of Sorrow by Robin Gigl, 2022 / MVLC+: 34

Basics · Protagonist: Erin McCabe, a criminal defense attorney, takes a client, a young, Black, transgender prostitute accused of murdering a wealthy politician’s son. As she considers all avenues of a defense, she and her client find that their lives are in danger. · Setting: Contemporary Atlantic City area of New Jersey · Context: This is the 1st of a series of 3 with defense attorney Erin McCabe · % of Amazon readers giving 5-star ratings: 46% · Combined % of Amazon readers giving either 4 OR 5-star ratings: 82%% · Total all Amazon ratings this book: 409 Long Form Erin McCabe is a criminal defense lawyer doing her best to live a quiet life in the wake of profound personal change. But when a young, Black, transgender prostitute is accused of murdering a wealthy politician’s son, Erin feels duty-bound to defend her – even if it puts her career and life in jeopardy… 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 against her, there seems little doubt of a guilty verdict. Erin knows that defending Sharise will blow her own private life wide open, and doubtless deepen her estrangement from her family. Yet as a trans woman, she feels uniquely qualified to help Sharise, and duty-bound to protect her from the possibility of a death sentence. Sharise claims she killed the senator’s son in self-defense. As Erin assembles the case with her partner, former FBI agent Duane Swisher, the circumstances hint at a more complex and chilling story with 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. Behind the scenes, his tactics are even more dangerous. His son had secrets that could destroy the senator’s political aspirations—secrets worth killing for. And as leads begin mysteriously disappearing, it’s not just the life of Erin’s client at stake, but her own… ------- For me, By Way of Sorrow was a fantastic blend of interesting characters, page-turning suspense, and most importantly - authentic courtroom action and behind the scenes legal maneuvering and negotiating. I couldn't ask for more in a "legal thriller," but I got "more" anyway. I got authentic insights into what it means to be a transgender woman. The author is a very successful NJ attorney and also a transgender woman, so I found the book holding my interest on so many levels. As soon as possible, I will be reading her second book. –Dick “Readers will find that By Way of Sorrow is a compulsively riveting page-turner with a complex heroine, a captivating plot, and no easy answers. It’s one of the best thrillers of the year.” –Mystery Scene “Gigl, a transgender lawyer herself, provides provocative insights into the legal system and the challenges of gender identity.” —Booklist “Robyn Gigl has delivered a compelling, provocative legal thriller like no other. It’s addictive as hell, one of those ‘just one more chapter’ books that keep you reading late into the night. Topical and fast-paced, By Way of Sorrow grabs you on the very first page with a brutal murder, and then sends you on a twist-filled thrill-ride that doesn’t let up until the startling finale. Gigl introduces a new kind of heroine with attorney Erin McCabe—she’s brilliant, resourceful, a little vulnerable and completely unique. Bravo! Is it too soon to ask when we can expect the next Erin McCabe thriller?” —Kevin O’Brien, New York Times bestselling author of The Bad Sister. No Awards for this Book from the 15 awarding groups as reported by SYKM.