Barclay has her own personal demons. Recently her college age daughter died of a drug overdose. Barclay believes these drugs were supplied to her by Filyp Vasiliev , a member of the Russian mafia. Vasiliev has been released after having successfully beaten charges of dealing drugs. Barclay's response to Vasiliev's acquittal is that had she known he would beat the charges she would have put a bullet in his head, a comment that was heard by numerous individuals.

Although he handles only civil cases, Barclay uses all of her considerable womanly charms to convince Sloane to represent her when she is charged with the murder of the Russian. Sloane feels ill prepared to participate in such a case. He chooses his consultants wisely and listens to their advice.

His best friend and investigator, Charles Jenkins, has some reservations about David taking on the case. He believes David is not thinking rationally and Barclay has taken advantage of his friend's grief stricken state to convince David that they could be an item. Jenkins points out to his friend that there is a great difference between love and need. If the emotion is need, the individual thinks of himself first. If it's love then the other person will put you first.

While there are mountains of evidence in the case and Barclay certainly had reason to kill Vasiliev, the interpretation of the evidence allows several scenarios. David's reputation for never having lost a case could be at risk, but he is a very smart man and even wilier lawyer.

Though the pace of the novel is unquestionably swift, Dugoni does not neglect the details. From tracking dogs to the way that grass bends when people walk on it readers are treated to a tale every bit as exciting as a television crime drama. The logical sequence of thought is much more rational than the television version. It takes a little longer to assemble and interpret the evidence.

Some of the investigative techniques show how clever the investigators are or how attuned to the evidence allowing them to make a credible case. In other situations they are remarkably lucky by being in the right place at the right time or having just the right individual available to interpret the evidence. Sloane is really lucky to have Jenkins and his wife available at a moment's notice even though they have a young child to care for.

The techniques both lawyers use in their questioning of the witnesses is fascinating. Lawyers have to have a wealth of people skills to get a good connection with each witness. I particularly liked Sloane's questions to a teenage boy witness. He used just the right words and manner to achieve rapport with an obviously hostile witness.

Dugoni is adept at describing the evidence collection phase of his protagonist's case. He makes his audience feel that they are accompanying Sloane on his quest. He also shows how important the interpretation of the evidence is.

There are lots of twists and turns in the plot of this novel. The author plays fair with the reader dropping hints which should allow the astute reader to figure out what really happened well before the end of the book. He is subtle enough that one cannot be sure which witnesses are telling the truth and which are lying. Sloane is an engaging protagonist even as he ventures into the unknown territory of a criminal case.

--Andy Plonka