Joth Proctor is an under-employed, criminal defense lawyer with a marginal solo practice in Arlington, Virginia, where a mix of southern charm, shady business dealings, and Washington, D.C. intrigue pervade the story. Upon the suspicious death of the wife of a close friend, Proctor enters a web of drug and alcohol abuse, family real estate deceit, and friends of questionable character whose intentions are not to be trusted.

Source: Friends Like These by James V. Irving | Goodreads