Tony Lord, a high-profile defense attorney, is summoned to represent his childhood friend in a murder trial. Reluctant to leave the comforts of home, Tony nonetheless feels compelled to go back to his small hometown in Ohio, where 17 years earlier he had his life turned upside down. Tony and Sam Robb were best friends and teammates in all sports. The night after they won the football championship, Tony was accused of murdering his girlfriend, Alison. Tony's family sought out the best lawyer to defend the accused boy; Saul Ravin, with his expert legal mind, soon became Tony's inspiration to pursue a legal career. Tony gets in touch with Ravin again to help defend Sam, who, ironically, finds himself accused of murdering a young woman. Silent Witness is more than a typical legal thriller; it is a story about the growth of two men and how each one deals with and subsequently changes after experiencing the anguish and the introspection that come from being accused of murder. Given Patterson's remarkable popularity, this fascinating tale of life, love, and loss should be in high library demand. Mary Frances Wilkens