New to both Rosedale, MS, and the Mississippi Bar, Ruby Bozarth is tasked with defending an African American college football star accused of murdering a woman from one of Rosedale's most prominent families. Because she's a newbie, the judge thinks he can ram through a conviction, but Ruby relies on tough attorney Suzanne and diner cook Shorty (who's got secrets) as she faces a jury with secrets of their own.

Alex Cross has never been on the wrong side of the law-until now. Charged with gunning down followers of his nemesis Gary Soneji in cold blood, Cross is being turned into the poster child for trigger-happy cops who think they're above the law. Cross knows it was self-defense. But will a jury see it that way? As Cross fights for his professional life and his freedom, his former partner John Sampson brings him a gruesome, titillating video tied to the...