michael mcauliffe

"Michael McAuliffe has written a terrific first novel in “No Truth Left to Tell,” a story of race, police corruption, violent extremism, and the rule of law, set in Louisiana in the mid-1990s. His storyline and writing deftness make “No Truth” a page turner. The spot-on relevance of its themes today, a generation later, somehow managed to give me perspective into the current national chaos." 
—Jack Shea with The Martha's Vineyard Times. The full review appears at Martha's Vineyard Times 

“Hate is shockingly alive and well in America these days, but so is moral courage and a passion for justice. This is a compelling, emotionally taut first novel by an accomplished attorney. We are intrigued by the protagonist, a self-doubting white prosecutor who joins forces with a seasoned black agent who knows the sting of prejudice. They battle the Klan, police corruption, and sometimes each other, but in the process, forge a memorable alliance. Through it all, Michael McAuliffe's fresh, image-infused style makes reading a pleasure.” 
—Rose Styron, poet, human rights activist, and journalist "It’s 1994 in Lynwood, Louisiana, a fictional large city with a history of Klan activity. As a purposeful remnant of supposedly long-ago racial hatred, five cross burnings take place in one evening, at the NAACP center, a private home owned by a single and elderly African American woman, an Islamic center, and a synagogue.

The seductive plot continues to the office of a young and idealistic prosecutor in the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, who promptly takes charge of an obviously “juicy” investigation, which leads to indictment. But don’t assume anything about the rest of this plot — part of the charm of this fine first novel rests on the unanticipated twists and turns, with some romance centered on Martha’s Vineyard, and a surprise climax.

Michael McAuliffe, an adjunct professor at Duke Law School and an alumnus of the Civil Rights Division who also served as an elected state prosecutor in Florida, has included a lot of juicy and poignant dialogue between the Klan member who was arrested, the assigned FBI case agent, the local cop who made some boo-boos, and the “feds” — and a not-to-be-forgotten presiding judge. Entertaining, and very true to life — this will become a great movie!"
—Hon. Michael Baylson. Review appears in Judicature ("Judge Reads" section) "For decades, a small team of prosecutors from the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division has traveled across the United States investigating and prosecuting some the most heart wrenching and challenging cases in the justice system - hate crimes and police misconduct. Having been a member of this team, Michael McAuliffe gives voice to the pain felt by entire communities and the difficulties of working to uphold the rule of law when the law doesn’t always follow the rules. Though fiction, at this particular moment in America, McAuliffe’s incredible detail paints the complicated picture of justice we all can learn from."
—Roy L. Austin, Jr., lawyer and former Deputy Assistant to President Barack Obama leading the White House Office of Urban Affairs, Justice, and Opportunity. “It is the rare work that can create a gripping plot—fueled with meaningful characters—that also seamlessly weaves in the law and the inner workings of criminal investigations and trials all at once. No Truth Left to Tell does just that and more, raising important questions about character, justice, and who we are as Americans.” 
 —Richard Zabel, former deputy US attorney for the Southern District of New York "Michael McAuliffe’s No Truth Left to Tell is a spellbinding, suspenseful, and important contemporary novel. He uses complex characters and his own professional experiences to address issues of race, justice, and morality. I suspect his career of public service enabled him to write a novel that so captures reality."
—Jon Sale, former Watergate Asst. Special Prosecutor & former First Assistant US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. Read the full book review in the Florida Bar Journal. "The novel’s story is about how America deals with homegrown violent extremism, both in and out of the courtroom. Are the Klan’s actions domestic terrorism? Should the same rules apply to violent extremists as other criminal defendants? These are challenging,  meaningful questions, and the author wraps them inside a story that entertains and challenges at the same time. 

No Truth Left To Tell is a non-political book that forces us to reflect on the choices we’ve made about constitutional rights and due process, especially when those rights are for the despicable among us––that is, the Klansmen. There are chapters about the feds trying to get the Klan’s membership lists with a grand jury subpoena and, more dramatically, how a local detective obtains a confession from the Klan leader. Lawyers (and those trained or working in the law) would no doubt see the constitutional issues that arise from these events.

I could easily see No Truth Left To Tell as a law school “read” because the book is set in the legal world as much as it is in a southern town. The book is a hybrid. It’s a crime thriller carried in bookstores and online, but it’s also a worthy teaching tool for lawyers and students of the law."
—Sam Bassett, Esq., former president of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Association. The full review appears in Voice For The Defense (April 2020). “Nicely done. Not only does the book address serious legal and ethical issues, but it tells an engaging story that keeps us turning the pages!” 
—Mark Tunick, Professor of Political Science, Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University “I loved this story about vindicating civil rights, a tenderly portrayed heroine and a great depiction of suspenseful detective work, closed door grand jury proceedings and the trial, all while masterfully interweaving a modern love story. Has the authenticity of a Scott Turow novel.” 
—David W. Ichel, Adjunct Professor at Duke and University of Miami Law Schools & Retired Partner, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett "No Truth Left To Tell expertly brings to life how those dedicated to uphold the rule of law are challenged when good people are victimized by the continued scourge of hate and racism and when not so good people are victimized by corrupt cops. An important read in today’s world.”
—Michael Gennaco, Founding Principal of OIR Group, former Chief Attorney of the Office of Independent Review for Los Angeles County, and former federal civil rights prosecutor. "McAuliffe spins a fabulous story about racism and truth. There were good guys and bad, all of whom were believable characters. I was hooked on this one from the beginning, and you will too."
—Men Reading Books Blog “No Truth Left to Tell is an incredible story of courage, perseverance, kindness in the face of hatred and racism. It is well written, with a plot that keeps you reading well into the night. You can’t put this book down, as you want to see criminals brought to justice and the shock you feel at our legal system. No Truth Left to Tell is a definite must read novel."
—Working Mommy Journal “No Truth Left to Tell is worth reading not only for the intriguing legal tangle, but in order to meet Nettie Wynn. I am sure Nettie Wynn is based on someone or perhaps a composite of someone McAuliffe knew. The world is better place for people like her as much as it is for motivated upholders of the law like Adrien Rush. Sure, read the book for the legal thriller and the dangers posed by lawless people. Learn about the Holocaust survivor who brings some understanding to young people after the cross burns at her synagogue. But savor No Truth Left to Tell for the nobility of Nettie Wynn.”
—English Plus Language Blog "Michael McAuliffe has brought his own experience and expertise in the legal field to this thriller. He served for over 30 years and has been a federal prosecutor, law professor, and an elected state attorney in Florida. As a debut novel this book highlights his skills while also creating a thriller and frightening story focused on evils that can lurk in the darkness surrounding a neighborhood. Lynwood acts as a perfect example of ideologies not evolving over time and how this can be dangerous to all those who live there. If you are a fan of thrillers you’ll love this book."
—The Nerdy Girl Express "Suspense and tension, an FBI angle, racial hatred and KKK, the judiciary system’s role in convicting perps and a tinge of romance make No truth Left to Tell a must-read legal thriller of 2020.”
—The Book Decoder "No Truth Left To Tell, the debut novel by Michael McAuliffe is an intense, action packed story about a fictional hate crime, that gets told from multiple perspectives. While the story may be fictional, the thoughts and questions this book raises are true. I learned a lot from reading this book, and I look forward to Michael McAuliffe’s next novel.”
—Red Carpet Crash "McAuliffe tells it like it is and has an incredible way of expressing situations with compelling characters. I was immediately invested in the story and had strong emotions throughout the trial and impending conclusion. The ending chapters were a wise choice, but rather hard to take, which made for an excellent storyline.”
—Lori’s Book Loft "No Truth to Tell is a fascinating read that is sure to please those who love crime novels and the stories therein."
—Crystal Book Reviews “A compelling page-turner that continues to draw you in until the end."
—Riana Shahid “A brilliant work..I cannot recommend this book enough to lovers of historical fiction, law & order writing, or anything dealing with big race issues, and anybody who loves the South for all its eccentricities.” 
—The Plucky Reader “Michael McAuliffe wrote an excellent book. “No Truth Left to Tell” explores in its purest essence ethical behavior. The pace is good, the chapters are well proportioned, the font is eye-friendly, and the characters are believable. When the plot unfolds the pace picks up but pay attention: as the pace picks up one of our main characters seems frozen. It is exactly this display of humanity and grief that makes this book great. Highly recommended reading.”
—Defrosting Cold Cases "A clever plot and well developed characters make this a compelling thriller from start to finish.”
—The Bookwormery "Some of the best legal thrillers revolve around ethical dilemmas that make an easy conviction hard to obtain.  Such is the case with “No Truth Left to Tell,” Michael McAuliffe’s excellent debut novel about a civil rights case in the Deep South. The courtroom drama is interesting and written without any complicated legal terms so it is easy to follow.”
—SA Examiner

Michael McAuliffe