Beneath the Gavel — Stephen M. Murphy

A judge. A murder. A family divided.Judge Ferdinand Pitt never expected to see his estranged father in his courtroom—especially not in handcuffs, accused of murder. But when the victim turns out to be his son's volatile boss, the case takes a devastating turn. As evidence shifts suspicion from father to son, Ferd is forced to investigate the crime himself, risking his career and violating every ethical boundary he's sworn to uphold.With his rival attorney circling, his marriage unraveling, and his mother's health failing, Ferd must navigate a maze of lies, secrets, and buried resentments to uncover the truth. But in a family fractured by abandonment and silence, justice may come at the cost of everything he has left.Beneath the Gavel is a gripping mystery about loyalty, legacy, and the impossible choices we make when the law hits home. Beneath the Gavel has received early praise from bestselling authors: Beneath The Gavel is a compelling and ingenious concoction. It's a page-turning legal thriller… - Richard Dooling, author of White Man's GraveOutstanding. Judge Stephen Murphy has written a deftly plotted, propulsive legal thriller/whodunnit… - Sheldon Siegel, NY Times Bestselling Author[An] intricate tale of law and lawyers, politics and dysfunctional families, all set against the background of contemporary San Francisco… Surprise after surprise makes Beneath the Gavel one wild ride. - Walter Walker, author of Crime of PrivilegeBeneath the Gavel has the best opening chapter I have read in some time and follows it up with a unique plot filled with fascinating characters. - Phillip Margolin, New York Times bestselling author of False Witness