CALIFORNIA RETRIAL

86,211 wds.

ARC comments:

"Terrific legal thriller…characters alive and real. Felt like I knew each one of them personally."

"Great courtroom story. I was anxious to solve the mystery and get answers, but sad to leave Dr. Rice and his friends and enemies. Exciting from start to finish."

Dr. Michael Rice, a sports medicine surgeon, is convicted of the brutal murder of a teenage girl, the daughter of his clinic partner. After spending ten years in prison in Tehachapi, California, he receives word he's been granted a new trial; and to his astonishment, he's been given bail and temporary freedom as well.

His hometown reacts with hatred and violence at his release, and he realizes he might not survive until his trial date, since local authorities seem more concerned with protecting the community from him than with attempts on his life.

He's desperate to use his time to prove he's not a killer, but he's blocked at every turn by those with hidden motives and agendas.

His wife Karen believes fiercely in his innocence, but she is hospitalized and unable to assist in his effort to uncover new evidence; and since the rest of his family is certain of his guilt, and his lawyer is useless, he has resigned himself to operating alone.

But to his shock, he's joined by two unlikely allies who are as determined as he is to keep him out of prison and to solve the mystery of what really happened ten years ago.

The team comes up with some startling revelations, but Michael is not convinced he can use the new information in court; and as the trial date approaches, he senses his freedom will soon be taken from him and he'll be back behind bars in Tehachapi.

At trial, the drama in the courtroom unveils a variety of surprises, both for the prosecution and the defense; and by the time the jury retires, no one is certain of the outcome.

"Boy, did I like this one. What a fine suspense thriller…learned so much about the California legal system."