The Last Trial of T. Boone Pickens

Silver Winner — Best New Nonfiction, IBPA’s Ben Franklin Awards

An Epic Legal Showdown in the Heart of Texas Oil Country
Step into the high-stakes world of oil, ambition, and courtroom drama with The Last Trial of T. Boone Pickens. Written by Chrysta Castañeda and Loren C. Steffy, this riveting true story plunges readers into the dusty heart of West Texas, where legendary oilman T. Boone Pickens—once the corporate raider who shook Wall Street—faces the fight of his life.
When Pickens, a billionaire known for his relentless drive and sharp wit, is cut out of a lucrative oil deal in the Permian Basin, he turns to trial lawyer Chrysta Castañeda to reclaim what’s rightfully his. What begins as a routine contract dispute explodes into a billion-dollar battle, pitting Pickens and his determined legal team against powerful adversaries and the unforgiving machinery of the oil industry.

The Last Trial of T. Boone Pickens is more than a legal thriller—it’s an intimate portrait of a business icon at the twilight of his career, and the woman who dared to challenge the old guard on his behalf. Castañeda and Steffy bring readers behind the scenes, from tense strategy sessions in a Pecos hotel to the charged atmosphere of the courtroom, revealing the grit, exhaustion, and razor-sharp tactics required to win when the stakes are sky-high.

If you loved Barbarians at the Gate, A Civil Action, or The Big Rich, you’ll be captivated by this real-life saga of power, betrayal, and redemption. The Last Trial of T. Boone Pickens is a testament to never giving up—no matter the odds.