Jackie Flowers, the intrepid criminal attorney from the previous Stephanie Kane book Blind Spot, returns in yet another intriguing, suspenseful story. This time, she reluctantly takes the case of federal judge Glenn Ballard, the same man whose harsh criticism at law school had almost caused Jackie to quit. Now Ballard is embroiled in a gory sex scandal wherein he has been charged with torturing and murdering beautiful college co-ed Amy Lynch with "extreme indifference." While Ballard is supremely confident of being acquitted on his sterling reputation alone, Jackie’s not so sure, especially when the opposing counsel is her bitter rival, Phyllis Klein, who will go to any lengths to get her revenge.

Aided by her stalwart investigator Pilar, Jackie struggles to rise above the dyslexia that has plagued her all her life and which still makes getting through every day a challenge for her. But her condition also works out in her favor somewhat, as she’s able to see patterns and connect dots that are so not so clear otherwise. Plagued with worries ranging from a former boyfriend to a neighbor’s lonely adopted daughter to her own unsavory working conditions and her latest high-profile case, Jackie’s plate is more than full. As damning evidence mounts up against her client, this maverick lawyer looks headed for her first big defeat in quite some time. Or is she?

This latest Stephanie Kane book starring Jackie Flowers is more refreshing for its unique central protagonist that the intricacies of the case itself. Jackie’s ongoing struggle with dyslexia not only evokes sympathy from readers but also makes them cognizant of the various ways dyslexia manifests itself. In trying to rise above all this and still do her job, Jackie wins over the readers’ admiration as well. The central murder plot is twisted enough to keep readers guessing, while the spicy details of the sex scandal are guaranteed to keep them hooked in fascinated horror. Besides occupying the readers with unexpected red herrings, Kane also shows interesting glimpses of the inner workings of a court. She also touches upon the life, people and places in Colorado, particularly Denver and Boulder. Some absorbing side characters and stories add to the complexity of the story and the book. Overall, this in-depth book, which takes a candid look at people as well as raises some riveting questions about law, ensures that Stephanie Kane is not an author to be missed.