The outside man is society lawyer Adam Shaw. A northerner in a southern town jealous of its secrets, he finds the dead body of his best friend's wealthy wife — and his friend is missing. In a world where wealthy people will stop at nothing to maintain a genteel image, Shaw must gamble his career, his marriage, and his very life in a passionate quest for the real murderer — and learn the shocking truth about his own past and future . . . . "A classic detective story." — The New York Times Book Review "Rich, complex, beautifully written." — The New Republic "Richard North Patterson seems destined for celebrity status, alongside Scott Turow and John Grisham, as an acknowledged master." — Los Angeles Times Book Review