In 2021, Robyn Gigl introduced readers to transgender defense lawyer Erin McCabe in her debut novel By Way of Sorrow. Erin is back in Survivor’s Guilt, another quietly affecting legal thriller that tackles timely themes surrounding identity and acceptance. In Survivor’s Guilt, published in 2022, a businessman is shot dead and his adopted daughter Ann, who is trans, confesses to the crime. Erin isn’t so sure—and after Ann withdraws her guilty plea, a tantalizing trial ensues. Gigl, who is also an attorney, is especially adept at crafting thrilling courtroom scenes, and skillfully asks pressing questions about gender, power, and justice. Her description of her trans characters are heartfelt and human—cementing her status as a vital voice in a genre where LGBTQ stories have rarely been centered. —Annabel Gutterman
Buy Now: Survivor’s Guilt on Bookshop | Amazon
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- How Far Trump Would Go
- Why Maternity Care Is Underpaid
- Scenes From Pro-Palestinian Encampments Across U.S. Universities
- Saving Seconds Is Better Than Hours
- Why Your Breakfast Should Start with a Vegetable
- Welcome to the Golden Age of Ryan Gosling
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time