McCracken Poston Jr.

Zenith Man

Death, Love, and Redemption in a Georgia Courtroom

Zenith man

True Crime Legends Speak

"A case that simply defies belief.  You can't make something like this up!"

- Paul Dowling, Executive Producer, with Vince Sherry, Senior Producer, Forensic Files

"Was this a case of murder - or a most unusual love story?"

- Bill Kurtis, A&E's American Justice

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McCracken Poston is a good storyteller and has a good story to tell, with the kinds of twists and turns that will make readers think it’s great fiction—except it all happened.

Jon Meacham

New York Times bestselling author, winner of the Pulitzer Prize



Poston found himself defending a guy everyone thought was guilty in what appeared to be a slam-dunk murder case. But the amazing truth in this true crime drama is there was no crime at all. It’s one hell of a story.

Jonathan Karl

author of Betrayal, Chief Washington Correspondent for ABC News



Poston is a natural storyteller in the great Southern Gothic tradition. He sees the pain, but finds the humor, too, and ultimately the humanity, turning a tale of murder into a remarkable story of love, friendship and justice.

Rory Kennedy

Emmy Award‑winning documentary filmmaker



McCracken King Poston Jr.’s skillful account in Zenith Man is a warning about prejudice, a rush to judgment, and how Americans who are different can be swept up unfairly in our justice system. An inspiring tale about courage and how both lawyer and client helped each other find redemption. A must-read.

Pete Earley

New York Times bestselling author of The Hot House, Crazy, and No Human Contact



Poston's unique voice has brought to life two fascinating characters thrown into a case that challenges our basic assumptions about law enforcement, the courts, and the media. You won't be able to put down The Zenith Man until the very last word.

Charles Bosworth, Jr, and Joel Schwartz

authors of Bone Deep
McCracken Poston Jr

McCracken Poston Jr

McCracken King Poston Jr, is a criminal defense attorney and former state legislator in the Georgia House of Representatives. He gained national attention for his handling of several notable cases that were featured on CNN Presents, Dateline NBC, A&E’s American Justice and Forensic Files.

Book Clubs

McCracken Poston Jr. is scheduling Book Clubs for  private appearances!  Depending on location and availability, the session could be in person or virtual! 

Book Now!

McCracken Poston Jr and Alvin Ridley, 2023.

LATEST NEWS

McCracken Poston Jr

Thanks to everyone who has given ratings and reviews of "Zenith Man: Death, Love, and Redemption in a Georgia Courtroom". We are surprising some folks in New York City with this little story out of Ringgold, Georgia! All honest reviews are much appreciated, and they are part of…

Dr. Sam Perri is a state psychologist who has provided forensic psychological evaluations in Northwest Georgia for as long as I can remember. His finding of Alvin's "somatization" really helped me understand the stress that Alvin was under - and gave me a rational explanation for…

Folks over a certain age in Ringgold, Georgia, will recognize the handwriting of Dr. Charles W. Stephenson, the man who delivered over six thousand babies in his little clinic on Tennessee Street and cared for many of them until his age and the medical board would no longer allow…

Virginia would have turned 76 years old Monday. Alvin, now 82, watched the moon eclipse the sun as we noted it quietly. She loved him, and wrote extensively of their shared world view. But she clearly wished to be left alone.

This story has always been like a long-distance runner, even before Alvin's diagnosis, which explained so much. "Gold Bird" pitched the Forensic Files episode, which made us mad, but we are glad we took part - it's been on constant rerun for decades! Then the others came around:…

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