Woody Thomas is a retired public defender with a personality you gotta love. He has grave doubts about his client's innocence, and he doesn't really trust the system, the cops, or his own ability. He becomes convinced that he should help Jon Clayton who is accused of a rape/murder that he swears he didn't commit. Time is short with appeals all used up, and a governor that wants to use him as an example of his hard-nosed stand against crime. The tension mounts when the governor signs Clayton's death warrant five months early.

Woody begins to realize that more is at stake than a simple appeal when things begin to happen to him; he becomes aware that Federal agents are trailing him, the local police are trying to frame him, and someone is trying to kill him.

I wasn't especially enthusiastic when I began reading this story, but found myself immersed in Woody's life right from the start. Dix writes about compelling characters in a multi-level plot with complicated issues and more than enough fast action to keep you reading into the wee hours. The high tension climax will catch you off guard in an unexpected turn of events that will leave you breathless. I understand that Ray is working on the next Woody Thomas novel, and I am waiting impatiently to read it. What an exciting new author!