When Sharon contacts Rob's agent about the late support payments, he fobs her off by sending tickets to the opening of the Dallas Planet Hollywood restaurant. Among the stars who appear at the opening are Darla and her live-in boyfriend David Spencer. Darla spies Sharon and is insistent that she must talk with her. As Darla and a drunken David are leaving the restaurant, Sharon sees him verbally and physically abuse her and steps in to protect Darla.

Darla talks with Sharon concerning her abusive relationship wtih David. After their meeting, Darla returns to her hotel determined to end the relationship. She is observed leaving the hotel in a battered condition. She immediately flies back to Los Angeles.

David is discovered murdered in his Dallas hotel; he has been stabbed innumerable times as well as shot. Darla is considered a suspect, and she contacts Sharon asking for her help in getting a lawyer. Sharon is adamant that she cannot be Darla's lawyer because she might be called as a witness; nevertheless she flies out to California with Melanie to advise her as a friend. Melanie is eager to get together with her father.

Upon arriving in California, Sharon discovers that everyone involved in Darla's representation, including her agent and her contract lawyer, are more interested in getting money for book deals than in protecting Darla's interests. Inevitably Sharon is forced to undertake Darla's defense (along with her bottom-feeding California co-counsel).

This book is a definite twist on the standard lawyer-cracks-homicide-case formula. It could be subtitled: Tough Texas Lawyer Takes on Hollywood. In addition to the usual elements – dynamite attorney, an array of suspicious characters, courtroom dramatics – this book is loaded with humor. In fact, at one point in a courtroom scene I actually laughed out loud, and that's really rare.

The heroine Sharon Hays (who I suspect first appeared in a previous book I intend to search out) has a delightful wry humor and a common sense approach to life. She's a single working mom doing the same juggling act as most women in her situation. She's a serious, competent lawyer who knows the value of the law library and legal research. (Three cheers!) She's a loyal friend and caring mother.

The contingent of California characters, on the other hand, are so shallow that if you turned them sideways, they'd disappear. Everyone's wheeling and dealing, making empty promises, looking out for number one.

Put these publicity-crazy entertainment types together with a frenzied media (you'll recognize the O.J. trial inspiration), add a plucky, down-to-earth heroine, and the result is a blast. The whodunit is of much less importance than the fun of getting there.

The mystery is well plotted with a number of divergent threads coming together by the end, but it's in the character development that this book shines. Even minor characters are well-drawn. Sharon, in particular, is a most appealing character; I hope the author intends to have her return again and again.

I had a terrific time reading this book. You will, too.

--Lesley Lawrence