True crime fans and court room drama fans will enjoy this one but it wasn't my favorite. I guess I'm not into true crime enough. I did like that there was some humor in it. I would never expect to laugh out loud at a book like this!

Interesting story but the writing style wasn’t for me . It’s a good book but I lost interest midway.

This was such a heartfelt, emotional story. I knew early on, by description, that Alvin was on the spectrum. Alvin had an innocence about him that most Autistic people have, that child-like demeanor. Not gonna lie. I cringed a little every time I read about the roaches. I was very pleased with the verdict and very happy to hear the author, Alvin's attorney, has maintained a close relationship all these years. I'm thankful for the opportunity to read this and would recommend this book to others.

I was pleasantly surprised by this read. It went in-depth into how an attorney went above and beyond to help a client that was very hard to work with due to his mental restrictions.

The writing was excellent. I liked his sense of humor, and I am so glad he told this story. I was rooting for Alvin all the way. My husband is a retired detective, and I could not see how the police had enough evidence to charge Alvin from the beginning, but they did. I don’t want to give out any spoilers, but I highly recommend this one. If you like a court drama with a few twists, pick this one up.

This was a good murder mystery which grabbed my attention from the first chapter. It is also a coming-of-age story of a young boy that truly enjoyed his uncle who was accused of the murder and sent to prison which sets in place the future for Isak. Other characters in the story are Edvard’s sister, her husband and how this entire case affected the policeman that investigated the case.

The story kept my attention most of the way through, it fell a bit flat in the middle but picked back up again for a great ending. I would highly recommend if you enjoy police procedurals, it is well written.

Kensington Books and NetGalley provided this Galley edition for no requirement other than my offer to provide an unbiased review. This one comes in with 5 stars.

I remember seeing this case on Forensic Files and being fascinated. With that being said, this is not my go to genre. However, I loved seeing the the friendship between McCracken and Alvin grow. I found myself smiling every time he poked a hole in the state's case. It is a lot of information and people to keep up with, so I found myself reading it slower as to not burn out. Overall a decent read.

This is a true story that still has me shaking my head. An eccentric man is accused of murdering his wife. A wife no one knew he had. A lawyer picks apart the case trying to reveal the truth. An unreal story of finding the truth and healing.

I received this from Netgalley.com.

Tough read, I couldn't identify with either of the mc's and didn't care about their story.

2.5☆

Great breakdown of complex story of love, humanity, and murder. Poston did a masterful job of bringing clarity to a case which may never reveal the truth. If you love true crime stories, The Zenith Man is like nothing you have ever read!

This is an interesting story to learn about but I wish I could see more of Alvin Ridley's POV instead.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for this arc. I probably live about 20 minutes from Ringgold and I found this story fascinating. I remember watching the local news and hearing conversations from my coworkers about this case. I think Mr Poston did a fantastic job of telling Alvin Ridley's story. I felt very sorry for him.

This book is a great addition to the true crime genre. Many true crime books struggle to balance the emotional side of their topics with the more technical aspects (trials, forensics, etc.), but Zenith Man manages to combine both into a well-rounded and entertaining story about the outcast of a small Georgia town who is accused of murdering his wife.

The love Alvin had for Virginia (and vice versa) is fully on display, and the scene where Virginia's wedding ring is returned is heart wrenching. Coming from someone who rarely gets emotional over books, this is saying something. Zenith Man also, unexpectedly for a true crime book, made me laugh out loud. Alvin's antics and quirks are portrayed honestly and humorously, but never in a demeaning way.

Overall, along with being about a nationally televised murder trial, Zenith Man is also an insightful look at how snap judgements and public opinion influence investigations and trials.

A Truly Inspiration Story
This is a true story about Alvin "The Zenith Man" Ridley. Alvin is a man of very few words, and very few friends. who is a recluse Autistic, and a very paranoid person. One morning Alvin Ridley finds his wife dead due to an epileptic seizure but after he reports her death Alvin finds himself being charged with his wife's murder.
People think Harold killed his wife and this is partly due to nobody in this small town knowing that she existed except her husband Harold and his best friend. The story is told by McCracken King Poston the author and Alvins lawyer who is determined to free this innocent man accused of murdering the wife no one knew he had.
The Zenith Man is an inspiring tale about courage but is also a warning how a rush to judgment can find people who are different can be unfairly swept up into the justice system for no other reason. There are plenty of twists and turns in this book, which is sometimes very humorous, and sometimes heartbreaking.
The amazing truth in this true crime drama is there was no crime committed at all. Alvin was a difficult client, storing evidence in a cockroach-infested suitcase, and reluctantly Alvin is unwilling to reveal key facts to his attorney. McCracken does an excellent job convince the jury that Veronica was not kept hostage and murdered by Alvin but through her own words which she had written down she was loved and cared for.
This small-town TV repair man a harmless eccentric is the extraordinary story of Alvins personal battles and the unlikely friendship that develops between himself and his lawyer by the time the trial has finished. A truly inspiration story that you will not be able to put down. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I remember watching the Forensic Files episode about Alvin Ridley and the death of his wife Virginia. There was something different about Alvin, he was maybe not relatable, but he had a unique charm that made my heart go out to him. I felt terrible for him that he had spent 30-ish years married to a woman who loved him and accepted him for who he was in a way no one else ever really had, and she passed away suddenly at a very young age. As if that loss wasn't enough, Alvin suddenly found himself on trial for killing her. He ends up represented by a young lawyer who obviously took the case very personally and was nothing like any other lawyer I saw on any other episodes of Forensic Files. I chuckled when he revealed in this book that he has five older sisters. You can tell!

This book dives deep into the background of the case, telling Poston's story leading up to the case, how he and Alvin connected, and how Poston brought Alvin around to helping build his own case and letting Poston into his life, first as legal representation and then as a friend. The entire trial is described in this book, which doesn't sound like it would be that interesting but was in fact very interesting. As you read, you come to an understanding of Alvin much as the jury, and even the town of Ringgold, did. There are also some really humorous moments where Poston's sense of humor comes out.

Poston in this book is much more forgiving of some of the people involved in this case than I might be. Specifically, Vanita Hullander, a brand new county coroner fed the medical examiner some false information when she delivered Virginia's body. He took what she told him as fact (also a mistake) and he based his report on this false information. I think if she had carried out her duties professionally, the medical examiner might have done the same, and then Alvin may never have been charged with murder. At any point between the autopsy and the trial, they could have admitted their fault and changed the course of this case, but they stuck to their guns to the bitter end. I'm frankly surprised that Hullander continued as coroner for that county for more than two decades after this case and still holds an elected office. Perhaps this case was a learning experience for her.

I'm not sure how I would classify this book, it's not true crime, it's not biography, it's non-fiction, maybe legal/medical non-fiction but not dry as that classification might suggest. I'm hard-pressed to say "people who enjoy ____ would enjoy this book" but I will say that I think just about anyone would enjoy this book.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Many thanks to both Citadel and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Zenith Man. The expected publication date is February 20, 2024.

The author is a criminal defense attorney and former state legislator in the Georgia House of Representatives. Alvin Ridley was a local character who once sold and serviced Zenith televisions. Years after his trial, Alvin was diagnosed with being on the autism spectrum, a revelation that sheds light on much of his lifelong personal battle—and shows how easily those who don’t fit societal norms can be castigated and misunderstood.

Like the book blurb states: Zenith Man is part true crime, part courtroom drama, and full of local color, Zenith Man is also the moving story of an unexpected friendship between two very different men that changed—and perhaps saved—the lives of both. I couldn't have written that paragraph any better!! It's such a shame it took so long for people to understand what it means to be on the autism spectrum.

I was fascinated by Alvin but less interested in reading about the author's life. (Sorry, Mr. Poston Jr. I realize that's the polar opposite of what your publisher told you.)

If the author needs a second career, I think he has found one.
I loved the way the writing flowed throughout the pages. it was insightful, heartfelt, and a dash of humor.

I know, I know its a true crime book, however, there was certainly parts that made me laugh or at least chuckle.

The author does a great job at presenting Alvin Ridley as a flawed human that was stuck in the past. Was he capable of murder? That was up to the jury to decide.

The author, who was the defense attorney, takes the reader through all of the ups and downs of representing Alvin.
I thought it was a brilliant book and I can't wait to read more from the author.
I just hope he has more cases like this one to highlight.

One of the most enjoyable books I’ve read in a while. It’s written with heart and Southern sass about a criminal case in my adopted state of Georgia. It was a welcome distraction for me every time I picked it up. It was always hard to put back down. The people are better than characters in crazy fiction, and the story is as well.