Life in sunny Southern California is darker than it first appears—at least that's true for the San Diego District Attorney's Office in this first installment of the Hall of Justice Legal Thriller Series.

Chief Deputy Lynn Peters has her hands full enough, what with her heavy caseload, her complicated romance with investigator Dom Taylor, and the many legal units she's responsible for. So, when criminal defense attorney Vincent Tyson enters the picture to represent Dr. Millie Haukea in a murder trial, Peters calls upon the Major Violators Unit to prosecute the case.

Yes, Millie Haukea has resurfaced, after flying under the radar since the events of "A Hell of a Spring Break." And yes, she's a doctor now, of pharmacy—a professional poisoner and one of many specialized assassins secretly working for Tyson, the aforementioned criminal defender. Yet Dr. Haukea is merely a small fish in a far-reaching conspiracy, with some of the wealthiest people on the planet supporting her defense.

Tyson's team of hired killers wreak havoc at the Hall of Justice, leaving young attorneys Cammie O'Mara and Johnny Roche to face Tyson in court, with a crooked judge presiding. Luckily, Cammie and Roche aren't working alone either. Flanked by veteran lawman DAI Dom Taylor and his gifted assistant, Sean Choi, along with SDPD SWAT led by Lieutenant Ragasa, and a few other surprise guests from past adventures, Cammie and Roche "suit up," so to speak, and charge into battle.

Weill's fourth novel delivers romance, mystery, tense courtroom drama, sharp legal maneuvering, explosive action scenes, a memorable cast on both sides of the chessboard, and even a trip to the tropics. Can Cammie and Roche beat Tyson in court even if the Honorable Andrew Toles doesn't turn out to be so honorable? And in the white-knuckle finale, will Choi solve his rival's puzzle before the last second ticks away? What will Millie Haukea's final verdict be? Is Tyson really going to get away with it all? The answers to all these questions and more can only be found in The Southern Trust Conspiracy.