Anthony Franze

Anthony Franze is a lawyer in the Appellate and Supreme Court practice of a prominent Washington, D.C. law firm, and a novelist with St. Martin’s Press.

His 2016 novel, The Advocate's Daughter, was named “best legal thriller of the year” on influential critic Stacy Alesi’s annual best books list, and received significant praise.

Franze's new novel is The Outsider.

Recently I asked the author about what he was reading. Franze's reply:

I’m a rare breed in Washington, D.C.: I love my morning commute on the Metro. It’s not because the subway system is particularly reliable. On any given day you’re bound to see me running down Massachusetts Avenue late for a meeting because of a train delay. Nor is the Metro particularly comfortable—I’m usually forced to stand in a packed car, unable to reach a handrail and required to balance wide-legged like a surfer to avoid falling on the jostling train. And don’t get me started about the smells.

So why do I love it? What’s the allure?

It’s when I get to read.

And over the past few weeks I’ve read some great books.

First, there’s Anatomy of Innocence: Testimonies of the Wrongfully Convicted, a new anthology where bestselling thriller writers (including many friends of mine) tell the stories of fifteen men and women who spent years in prison for crimes they did not commit. It’s a powerful book that captures the human cost of our flawed justice system. It also illustrates the generosity and spirit of the thriller writer community.

Second, I recently read Shining City, veteran journalist Tom Rosenstiel’s debut novel set in the midst of a Supreme Court nomination battle. You couldn’t get more ripped from the headlines. And as someone who also writes fiction against the backdrop of the secretive world of the Supreme Court, I enjoyed his skilled take on One First Street.

Finally, I just finished Chevy Stevens’s Never Let You Go. My wife is a longtime Stevens fan and she turned me on to her work. The book is about a woman who escaped an abusive relationship, and a decade later fears the abuser is back and as obsessed as ever. Tense, emotional, and a big twist. I really admire Stevens’s style and verve.

As for tomorrow’s trip into downtown, I just started a new book, Peter Swanson’s Her Every Fear, which has already pulled me in. So, if you’re in D.C. and you see a bald guy on the train trying to balance while holding a novel—or with pen in hand editing his own book—come over and say hello.

Visit Anthony Franze's website.

--Marshal Zeringue