Erin McCabe is a criminal defense attorney practicing in New Jersey alongside her law partner Duane Swisher. She is transgender, and her transition is part of her life but not the entirety of it. Gigl writes Erin as a sharp, competent lawyer first, someone whose legal skills drive the plot while her personal experiences add depth to the cases she takes on.
The series follows Erin through cases involving murdered sex workers, political corruption, and systemic bias. Each book works as a standalone legal thriller with a complete case, but the ongoing threads of Erin’s relationships, her standing in the legal community, and the threats she faces give the series continuity.
Reading Order#
See the complete Erin McCabe Legal Thriller reading order for all books in the series.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Erin McCabe?
Erin McCabe is a criminal defense attorney in New Jersey and one of the few openly transgender lawyers in the state. She and her law partner Duane Swisher take on cases that intersect with bias crimes, political corruption, and the legal challenges facing transgender people.
What order should I read the Erin McCabe books?
Start with By Way of Sorrow (2021), then read Survivor’s Guilt (2022), and continue with Nothing But the Truth (2024). Each book has its own case, but Erin’s personal and professional life develops across the series.
Is the Erin McCabe series based on real experiences?
Author Robyn Gigl is herself a transgender attorney in New Jersey, and she draws on her own legal career and life experiences to inform the series. While the cases are fictional, the legal and social issues Erin faces reflect real challenges in the justice system.