A beautiful businesswoman is robbedand murdered. With her last breath, she identifies her assailant. Or does she?Damon Tucker, a young kid from Harlem, is quickly charged with the murder. He maintains his innocence from the beginning despite some incredibly damning evidence. Soon the only person standing between Damon and a possible death sentence is his public defender, Arch Gold, a tough courtroom veteran who knows every move in the game of criminal justice in New York City. But in this case Gold quickly discovers that nothing is what it seems and the rules of evidence don't always apply. This may be a case he can't win. Through Gold's eyes, we meet an unforgettable cast of characters on both sides of the law: a judge who smiles at everyone but favors the death penalty; an old bookie who's trying to keep the government from seizing his IRAs; a young stripper with a big mouth; and a stick-up artist who wants a day job. Each has a surprising role to play as Gold faces the biggest challenge of his career, risking his reputation -- and his life -- to find the truth. With more than a decade of experience as a public defender, Robert Heilbrun is intimately familiar with the workings of the criminal justice system, inside and outside the courtroom. In Offer of Proof, Heilbrun puts his legal expertise to use in this stunning and beautifully written thriller with a shocking twist.