Criminal defense attorney J.B. Duckworth is accustomed to clients ready to aid in their own defense, but Louie Swearingen can recall nothing about the night of the murder for which he stands accused. The eyewitness to the crime is adamant and unwavering. As more killings unfold around them, things look bleak for the defendant.

One night a secret cabal of local elites hands Duckworth a seemingly easy way out. The result, though, would send another innocent man to the gallows. Is his first duty to his client or to the ethical grounding of his profession? It's not an easy question for a man with a history of relying on moral fluidity.

If you like compelling drama and richly human characters, you will love Mike Vance's enveloping story of an underdog's quest for truth in turn of the century Texas.