Eberhardt's promising first novel is based on his experience as the defense attorney in the longest-running murder trial in U.S. history to result in an acquittal. His story--like most courtroom dramas--provides realistic depictions of ambitious legal eagles racking up more than 90 billable hours a week. But Eberhardt has cranked the action way up with a shoot-'em-up, hack-'em-up (machetes are favored), knock-'em-dead story chock-full of bizarre and unnerving twists. Ex-jock Chad Curtis is accused of killing his sweetie, glamorous would-be actress Robin Penrose, who has mysteriously disappeared. All the prosecution has to do to convict Chad is to prove that Robin is dead--a major problem since her body hasn't turned up, even though two high-school kids swear they saw Chad kill her. Sean Barrett's decision to defend Chad proves to be a risky career move when the young attorney suddenly finds his own life threatened as he scrambles to find the real motives behind the double crosses, deceits, and treacheries. A tense, taut, terrific thriller that might just climb the best-seller lists. Emily Melton