Local attorney's fourth book earns literary recognition

ELYRIA — A local attorney's latest novel is gaining attention and awards for its authenticity and humanity. "I'm retired, so this is a labor of love," David Miraldi said. "I enjoy writing. It's not my means of income. It's just the icing on the cake." "The Edge of Guilt'' is a contemporary courtroom drama that examines grief, blame and the limits of justice, according to the author. "A father sues his daughter's psychiatrist after her suicide, and an inexperienced young attorney finds himself in a case that tests his abilities, his conscience and the law," Miraldi said. "The story is full of twists and turns, and I hope that it keeps readers engaged until the last page." The book was named best legal thriller for 2025 by the BestThrillers.com awards. Miraldi was a finalist in the legal thriller category from the 2025 American Fiction Awards and a finalist in the suspense category from the 2025 Independent Author Network Book of the Year Awards. He also took home honorable mention for general fiction from the 2025 New York Book Festival. "I wanted to write a story that reflects the moral struggle lawyers often face — where doing the right thing isn't always clear," Miraldi said. "'The Edge of Guilt' explores that uncertain territory, where justice and truth can be painfully at odds." A civil trial attorney, Miraldi retired about 10 years ago after spending his career representing everyday people against insurance companies. While he never intended to be a writer, writing was something that came naturally to him. "Particularly in my field, it's so reliant on the written word," the Avon resident said. "You have to write, and you have to write concisely." He knew his first book, "The Edge of Innocence,'' would be a piece of narrative nonfiction about a murder case his father had handled. "Of course, I wanted to write more after that," Miraldi said. "The Edge of Malice'' and "The Edge of Doubt,'' also are both narrative nonfiction pieces about area cases. "The Edge of Guilt'' is Miraldi's fourth novel, but his first entirely fiction piece. "There are elements from cases my office handled or I'd heard about through others, but this was my first foray into fiction," Miraldi said. "It's much more difficult. For one, with nonfiction, you don't have to make the characters believable. With fiction, you have to take a deeper look at what motivates them." But he enjoyed the process. "I am inclined to do fiction again," Miraldi said. "I was really pleased with the results. I found it more challenging and sometimes more satisfying. I entered it in some book contests, and it's always great to get the validation, but for me, anyone who reads it and tells me 'that touched me' or 'I enjoyed the book,' that's the part I enjoy." While he has a couple of ideas floating around for future projects, Miraldi is taking some time off to spend time with his four grandchildren. Miraldi grew up in Amherst attending Lorain Schools through eighth grade, graduating from Lake Ridge Academy for high school. He completed his bachelor's degree at the College of Wooster before graduating from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, where he met his wife, Leslee, also a retired attorney. "The Edge of Guilt'' is available in ebook, hardback and paperback, as well as on audio, through major retailers, online platforms and local businesses. For more information, visit www.davidmiraldi.com. Contact Christina Jolliffe at ctnews@chroniclet.com.