Key Witness

A corporate lawyer defends a teenager charged with a horrifying crime in a “powerfully absorbing tale of justice” from a New York Times–bestselling author (Kirkus Reviews).

After years at the top of his game, Wyatt Matthews has hit rock bottom. Though his bank account is bursting and his law practice is thriving, Wyatt takes no joy in his work. Seeking meaning, he volunteers for six months as a public defender, where he finds that the legal system is an ugly place for those who can’t afford top-notch help. In one of his first cases, he arranges bail for a would-be gangster arrested for armed robbery. At first, Marvin White is just another file. But soon, his case will become a crusade.

Not long after his release, Marvin is charged with murder. Seven women have been abducted, raped, and murdered by the “Alley Slasher,” and Marvin is found near the scene of the latest atrocity. Though Wyatt got in this business to better his own life, he will stop at nothing to save Marvin’s.