In The Tenth Justice, 26-year-old Columbia Law grad BradMeltzer brings his dynamic voice to unexplored legal thriller territory -- the Supreme Court -- in a firecracker debut that will challenge your expectationsof the genre.

Fresh out of Yale Law, Ben Addison is a new clerk for one of theSupreme Court's most respected justices. He's as bright and conscientiousas they come -- and just as green. When Ben inadvertently reveals the confidential outcome of an upcoming Court decision, one of the parties in the case makesmillions. Needless to say, Ben starts to sweat.

Ben confides in his co-clerk and turns to his D.C. housematesfor help. The young Washington professionals offer Ben their coveted insider'saccess -- at the State Department, a senator's office, and a Washington newspaper -- to help outsnake the blackmailer who holds Ben's once-golden future hostagein exchange for more information on upcoming Court decisions. But it'snot long before the inseparable friends discover how dangerous their misuseof insider power can be. When a suspicious leak develops from within theircircle, they find themselves pitted against each other in a battle of shiftingalliances and fierce deceptions that threatens their friendships, theircareers -- and ultimately their lives.

With dialogue as true as it is sharp-witted, characters as likableas they are familiar, and a plot so addictive it will keep you listeninginto the night, The Tenth Justice is the one thriller you and yourfriends will find yourselves talking about this year, from an undeniablyoriginal writer you'll be following for years to come.

Thomas Gibson, best-known as Dr. Daniel Nyland on Chicago Hope,was featured in Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City and has performedmany times with the New York Shakespeare Festival.