First published 1996
Eleven-year-old Mark Sway sneaks into the Memphis outskirts with his younger brother to smoke a stolen cigarette. Their forbidden adventure turns deadly when they witness a lawyer's suicide attempt. The dying man reveals where America's most wanted corpse lies buried. Mark now holds information that could crack open a major case, but knowing this secret makes him a target. Federal prosecutors demand he testify, threatening him with jail if he stays silent. Meanwhile, mob killers hunt him to prevent their crime from being exposed. Mark finds help from Reggie Love, an inexperienced attorney only four years into her career. She fights to shield her young client from a justice system that treats children as expendable and criminals who see murder as routine business. As pressure mounts from both sides, Reggie must risk everything in a final gamble to save Mark's life and secure his freedom.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, legal-thriller
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: child-in-peril, found-family, reluctant-hero
Setting: Memphis, United States
Period: Contemporary
64 pages · Paperback · Dell Pub Co
Content warnings: child-abuse, violence