All We Hide by Robyn Gigl
Robyn Gigl is a practicing lawyer named in 2020 by The New Jersey Law Journal as one of the “Top Women in Law,” whose acclaimed award-winning debut novel, By Way of Sorrow (2021), launched a groundbreaking series of four legal thrillers featuring transgender attorney Erin McCabe. Her current novel, All We Hide, is a taut, multi-layered police procedural introducing a new protagonist in what exhibits the hallmarks of becoming an exciting new series.
A Transgender Detective Risks Everything to Reopen a Murder Case Left Buried
Lieutenant Lauren Kelly, recently promoted from Sergeant, is a second-generation police detective in fictional Donn County, New Jersey, now exiled as the sole investigator in the department’s newly created Homicide Cold Case Unit within the DA’s office. Lauren’s stellar work ethic combined with her success at solving cases had made her a stand-out officer with the Major Crimes Unit. This significant professional downgrade was patently a direct result of committing the unpardonable offense of transitioning into a transgender woman. Tall and slim with shapely legs and a thick head of chestnut hair, few outside of her home town of Harrison would suspect Lauren was anything other than an attractive middle-aged woman. With less than four years left before retirement and keen to retain her pension and medical insurance, she is also determined to earn the satisfaction of serving usefully on this job.
Fellow officers reacted with ostracism, whispered slurs, or shouted insults at her work, or she was shunned when Liam came out as transgender four years ago and changed her pronouns and name to Lauren. Her ex-wife, Rebecca, has remained a close friend and staunch supporter, while 13-year-old daughter Nora finds the changes awkward and embarrassing. Lauren’s younger brother and television detective series star Brian remains close after sharing a childhood fraught with their consistently angry, frequently drunken, verbally and physically abusive father, Frank, who at 68 has early-onset dementia and resides in a memory care unit. Forty years prior, their mother, Maureen, had left to “go shopping” and planned to take them to McDonald’s but never returned.
Lt. Kelly opens Pandora’s Box, risking injury or death, when she investigates the 20-year-old unsolved murder of Sherry Darling, a sex worker and former high school classmate. Sherry’s death occurred one day after a television interview in which she spoke openly about working to pay for her surgical transition. Police investigators vigorously attempted to develop a murder case involving her boyfriend, plumber Joe Riccoli, for the murder, but his alibi was solid.
Ironically, Detective Sergeant Frank Kelly had been assigned to the original investigation with lead officer Richard Snyder, who is now the Homicide Department Captain, and Lauren Kelly’s senior officer, who clearly would prefer this case remain cold. Lauren has plenty of time to comb files, conduct interviews, grill her dad during lucid moments, and stir up dangerous ill feelings as the case unravels a well-concealed conspiracy resembling an octopus’ tentacles that commingles a powerful politician, detectives who worked the case, an assistant district attorney, and multiple murders.
Twisted Secrets and Police Corruption Fuel a Riveting Mystery
All We Hide is a tense psychological drama and thrilling nuanced mystery with heightened suspense as well as tremendous emotional depth with a compelling, highly intelligent and strong transgender character. Robyn Gigl brings authenticity to the issues facing protagonist Lt. Kelly without being dogmatic and delivers a riveting, finely crafted plot. It invites speculation that this is the beginning of an intriguing new series.
About Robyn Gigl:
Robyn Gigl is the author of the Erin McCabe Legal Thriller Series, which Lisa Gardner called a “don’t miss” series. Robyn’s critically acclaimed novels include Survivor’s Guilt, which TIME Magazine named as one of the 100 Best Mystery & Thriller Books of All Time, was selected by the NYT as one of the best crime novels of 2022, and won the Joseph Hansen Award for LGBTQ Crime Writing; By Way of Sorrow, which was selected by CrimeReads as one of the best crime novels of 2021; Remain Silent, which was nominated for the Joseph Hansen Award; Nothing But the Truth, which was called “compelling, twisty, and—throughout—utterly life-changing,” (Hank Phillippi Ryan) and was selected by the NYT as one of the best crime novels of 2024. Her forthcoming novel, All We Hide, has been called, “Brilliant. Groundbreaking. Emotionally intense,” by First Clue Reviews and “will likely be the best work of crime fiction you will read this year.” (Michael Nava).
Robyn is a graduate of Stonehill College and Villanova University School of Law. Robyn lives in New Jersey, where she continues to practice law by day, and work on her next novel by night. Fortunately, she has a very boring social life.
