Reading A.X. Foster’s fast-paced, riveting, and thoroughly readable first novel, Gavel to Gavel, I’m reminded of a line from Shakespeare that Foster’s protagonist, the well-intentioned, highly skilled, and ethically challenged state prosecutor, Mac MacIntyre, could surely cite by act and scene that relates to when the troubled Hamlet advises his friend, Horatio, “The readiness is all.” Given life’s endless variables and the changing, often conflicting, motivations of so many players on life’s stage, the best we can do is ready ourselves to adjust to all that life will inevitably throw at us. Foster’s Mac Macintyre knows this truth at his core, and he seems to live his life in a constant state of readiness, noting the smallest details in persons, places, and things, knowing he may need to draw upon such information in the heat of battle in or outside the courtroom. Foster creates a modern Sherlock Holmes … with a J.D.

What I found most refreshing about this legal thriller was the care Foster took in educating readers about the meticulous process of building a case, step by step, for prosecuting a murderer. In Foster’s Seneca County Courthouse, the rules of evidence and criminal procedure actually matter, and for a fellow trial lawyer who has tried hundreds of trials in both the civil and criminal realms, I found Foster’s vivid, detailed descriptions of the legal process both accurate and familiar. I have never defended a homicide case (where I would argue the stakes are higher than any other kind of case), but I admire Foster for his courage in taking these most challenging cases on year after year, “gavel to gavel” for three decades.

I often advise firm associates two things about trial advocacy: (1) Trial outcomes are often determined by decisions made months before trial; and (2) A jury trial should not be viewed as a single monolithic challenge, but rather 8-9 smaller tasks undertaken in sequence, i.e., a voir dire examination of prospective jurors, opening statement, direct exams, cross exams, expert witness examinations, rebuttal, closings, and post-verdict motions. Foster, through the persons of Mac MacIntyre and Santiago Garcia, carries the reader through each of these trial stages, while also highlighting the import of prompt investigation, securing evidence, and pre-trial motions which are an integral, albeit underappreciated, part of successful trial advocacy.

The trial of Rikki Van der Hook (and Mac MacIntyre) began the moment Mac received a phone call from Detective Okoye. The reader quickly realizes this truth, and the realistic and thoroughly satisfying journey that follows is a remarkable first novel that bodes well for this author and his already sizeable fan base.
Karen Swoffer396 5

A Gripping Must Read

If you love books by John Grisham, you’re going to love Gavel To Gavel, the debut release by A.X. Foster. With a headline grabbing storyline, and captivating characters A.X. Foster brings his knowledge of the legal system to life.
Centered around a murder case, Mac MacIntyre is the smart and arrogant prosecutor who knows the ins and outs of the system. Santiago Garcia, the public defender, has to once again go up against the man who gave him a second chance earlier in his life. The supporting characters are so expertly written that they play a pivotal role in the flow of the storyline.
From start to finish, the story grabs you and doesn’t let go. Full of courtroom drama and a look of what goes on behind the scenes, you can feel the tension, and taste the stress only a lawyer would know. Gavel To Gavel is a definite must read. I cannot wait to read the next case that Mac puts his own spin on for the prosecution.
Mommy’s Book Escape 306 11

A Gripping Must Read

If you love books by John Grisham, you’re going to love Gavel To Gavel, the debut release by A.X. Foster. With a headline grabbing storyline, and captivating characters A.X. Foster brings his knowledge of the legal system to life.
Centered around a murder case, Mac MacIntyre is the smart and arrogant prosecutor who knows the ins and outs of the system. Santiago Garcia, the public defender, has to once again go up against the man who gave him a second chance earlier in his life. The supporting characters are so expertly written that they play a pivotal role in the flow of the storyline.
From start to finish, the story grabs you and doesn’t let go. Full of courtroom drama and a look of what goes on behind the scenes, you can feel the tension, and taste the stress only a lawyer would know. Gavel To Gavel is a definite must read. I cannot wait to read the next case that Mac puts his own spin on for the prosecution.
Raymond451 15

There are very few books that accurately describe the criminal justice system this one. It takes you through the steps of a criminal homicide trial with attention to details.

The story also introduces interesting characters and has a few twists and surprises. Donna George274 2

Pretty good for a new author. A bit wordy at times but kept my interest Sue Goodenough28

Great read!!!!! Marley Sheffer3

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