About
A native Californian now thriving in the Pacific Northwest, Gary McAvoy began writing early in life, for a small-town newspaper and regional Southern California magazines, then corporate communications for his own businesses and client projects, and on to published nonfiction books. As a technology industry veteran, Gary developed and edited “Cracking the New Economy: Business Tools for the Entrepreneur,” published in 2000 by the Washington Software Association, on whose Board he served as Vice Chair and a Director for six years.
From 1999 to 2005 Gary worked closely with primatologist and animal ethicist Dr. Jane Goodall, serving as Seattle Base Camp Chair for the Jane Goodall Institute, managing Northwest fundraising efforts in support of the institute’s global initiatives. In 2003 Gary convinced Jane she should speak to global food issues, and in 2005 they co-authored "Harvest for Hope: A Guide to Mindful Eating" (Warner Books) with Gail Hudson.
Nurturing a lifelong passion for collecting handwritten history, in 1997 Gary founded VintageMemorabilia.com, featuring authentic signed letters, documents, manuscripts, books, photographs, and other memorabilia of historical or cultural significance. Those who share this passion know that few things compare to holding history in your hands—a letter written by Abraham Lincoln, for example, or one by Truman Capote discussing work on his book "In Cold Blood."
It was this last acquisition, in fact, that sparked the adventures leading up to Gary's second nonfiction book, "And Every Word Is True" (Literati Editions, 2019), a fresh look at the investigation of the infamous 1959 Clutter family murders, heinous crimes chillingly portrayed in Capote's landmark nonfiction novel. Having prevailed in a four-year lawsuit brought by the State of Kansas—a tenacious campaign of suppression and intimidation to prevent the book’s publication—"And Every Word Is True" pulls back the curtain for a suspenseful encore to the true story of “In Cold Blood.”
Gary is now writing fiction full-time. His bestselling series, The Magdalene Chronicles, features the Vatican Secret Archive and a cast of unforgettable characters as they plunge into the secret and mystifying world of ancient documents.
Featured Work
The Apostle Conspiracy
Amid the grandeur of the Vatican, the bones of Saint Peter—the Church’s most sacred relics—hold secrets that could reshape its history. Father Michael Dominic, Prefect of the Vatican Secret Archives, uncovers a mysterious, nearly forgotten inscription linking Linus, Saint Peter’s first successor, to foundational decisions that shaped the early Church. What begins as a scholarly exploration of Linus’s legacy quickly becomes an urgent quest to protect the truth. With the help of Vatican archaeologist Marcus Russo, Michael follows cryptic clues buried deep within the Archives, revealing Linus as a pivotal yet hidden architect of the faith—and uncovering a history the Church may not be ready to face.
But Michael’s work draws the attention of Elliot Voss, a shadowy and powerful figure obsessed with the bones of Saint Peter. For Voss, the relics are more than sacred artifacts; they are a path to immortality and ultimate control. His dangerous ambition drives him to manipulate and deceive, drawing Michael into a web of intrigue where every revelation is a potential threat to the sanctity of the Church. Voss’s relentless pursuit of power forces Michael to confront the darker side of faith and the fragility of legacy, as the sacred bones become the centerpiece of a deadly game.
As Michael and Marcus uncover Linus’s hidden legacy and navigate the peril surrounding Saint Peter’s relics, their discoveries bring more questions than answers. Meanwhile, Michael’s evolving relationship with Hana Sinclair takes an unexpected turn, challenging his convictions and forcing him to face personal truths as profound as the mysteries he’s working to unravel. Set against the shadowy intrigue of the Vatican, this gripping novel explores the tension between history and faith, power and preservation—where even the holiest of relics can become the battleground for humanity’s greatest struggles.
Other Works
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The Celestial Guardian
2024
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The Jerusalem Scrolls
2023
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The Galileo Gambit
2023
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The Confessions of Pope Joan
2023
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The Opus Dictum
2022
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The Petrus Prophecy
2022
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The Avignon Affair
2022
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The Magdalene Veil
2021
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The Vivaldi Cipher
2021
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The Magdalene Deception
2020
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The Magdalene Reliquary
2020
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And Every Word Is True
2019
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The Clutter Murder Files
2019
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Harvest for Hope: A Guide to Mindful Eating
2005
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Cracking the New Economy
2000
Awards and Recognition
- Gary` was named a semifinalist for the 1995 Pacific Northwest Inc. Magazine/Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award, and in 1998 received the Governor's Award for distinctive leadership in Washington State's software industry.
- "And Every Word Is True" named as a Finalist in the 2020 Next Generation Indie Book Awards
- 1st Place Winner (Religious Fiction) Next Generation Indie Book Awards - June 2022
Press and Media Mentions
- LOS ANGELES TIMES: Judge frees original 'In Cold Blood' files for publication
- SALON.COM: The new “In Cold Blood” revisionism: What if Capote’s classic wasn’t fully true?
- THE GUARDIAN (UK): A new take on In Cold Blood? Judge allows agent's 'jaw-dropping' files to be published
- WALL STREET JOURNAL: In the half-century since Truman Capote published “In Cold Blood,” investigative journalists and scholars have documented countless instances of inaccuracy and fabrication in the so-called true-crime book.
- DEADLINE HOLLYWOOD: After new evidence emerged in the 1959 murders of the Herbert Clutter family, made famous by Truman Capote’s book In Cold Blood, Glass Entertainment Group and Daniel H. Birman Productions have joined to produce a limited series based on what is one of the most famous crime stories in American history.