Summary Justice

The last time Tess de Vere saw William Benson she was a law student onwork experience. He was a twenty-one year old, led from the dock of the OldBailey to begin a life sentence for murder. He'd said he was innocent.She'dbelieved him. Sixteen years later Tess overhears a couple of hacks mocking anewcomer to the London Bar, a no-hoper with a murder conviction, running hisown show from an old fishmonger's in Spitalfields. That night she walks backinto Benson's life.The price of his rehabilitation - and access to the Bar -is an admission of guilt to the killing of Paul Harbeton, whose family havevowed revenge. He's an outcast. The government wants to shut him down and nosolicitor will instruct him.But he's subsidised by a mystery benefactor and adesperate woman has turned to him for help: Sarah Collingstone, mother of achild with special needs, accused of slaying her wealthy lover. It's ahopeless case and the murder trial, Benson's first, starts in four days. Theevidence is overwhelming but like Benson long ago, she swears she's innocent.Tess joins the defence team, determined to help Benson survive. But as Bensonfollows the twists and turns in the courtroom, Tess embarks upon a secretinvestigation of her own, determined to uncover the truth behind the death ofPaul Harbeton on a lonely night in Soho.