"One person's justice is another's revenge," is a maxim trial lawyer Penn Roman has heard throughout his professional life. He experiences the awful truth of this adage as he represents prominent surgeon Larry Brownfell who discovers his beautiful wife's adultery with two men and is drawn into a violent maelstrom which ends in a deadly climax.While investigating criminal charges against his client, Penn uncovers criminal conspiracies among people connected with Brownfell. As he defends his client from the dire consequences of a violent temper and thirst for revenge, a shocking chain of crime, including blackmail, fraud, adultery, perjury, and, ultimately murder, is set in motion. Using all of his legal, investigative, and trial skills, Penn fights both in and out of court to keep Brownfell from being convicted of murder. He is sorely tested by an uncooperative and impulsive client, by Brownfell's wife and her unscrupulous lawyer, and by others who have a lot to gain by the doctor's conviction and who have a different concept of justice.