Before he can quit town, Sam gets a call from Lucy Beretta, the wife of the missing local college president. With a shocking accusation against an acquaintance and a plea for protection, Lucy derails Sam's plans for a quiet escape. But when her alleged attacker turns up dead, Lucy is charged with his murder —and Sam is appointed to represent her. As he struggles to prepare his defense, Sam discovers that Lucy is lying—about a lot of things. The facts are not in her favor, and to make matters worse, Lucy is also a suspect in her husband's disappearance. If Sam is successful, a guilty woman may go free—and if he's not, he will have failed at his job. Facing a client who can't seem to tell the truth, an aggressive prosecutor eager for a conviction, and an ethical dilemma of epic proportions, Sam faces his most challenging case yet.