The Crime — John Ellsworth

Thaddeus Murfee is back in this twisted tale of two trials, mother and daughter, each claiming to have shot father...

He couldn't keep his hands off his stepdaughter. The question becomes, who shot him? The mother or the stepdaughter? Or maybe it was even the woman he was seeing? Or the husband of the woman he seduced?

Thaddeus defends the mother on murder charges. The case goes to trial. Midway, the trial takes an unexpected turn and it looks as if the real killer has been exposed. Thaddeus isn't finished with the case, however, and soon he's back in trial yet again. The police and the District Attorney are certain they now have the killer in a death penalty case.

Of all his cases, this one is Thaddeus' most memorable and most difficult. Enjoy a front-row seat as the courtroom whiz takes on the establishment only to find his entire world turned upside down. It's back and forth, cat-and-mouse until the unthinkable happens.

Can Thaddeus win-over a jury of twelve tough Westerners who aren't afraid of handing out the death penalty?