As the story progresses, the protagonist is romantically torn between a famous politician, who helps her rise again, and the Mafia boss who framed her.

Jennifer Parker, a beautiful, inexperienced, newly sworn in Assistant District Attorney for the State of New York, inadvertently participates in a plot by Michael Moretti, the rising star of one of the most powerful organized crime families in America, to escape a trial.

Manhattan District Attorney Robert Di Silva, believing that Jennifer is truly responsible, fires her and vows to destroy her for her part in the fiasco with Moretti.

Meanwhile, Moretti constantly tries to spark friendship with Jennifer, which she rebuffs at every attempt, reminding him of his earlier trick that was devastating to her early career.

[1] The novel was adapted into a miniseries in 1983, directed by Buzz Kulik and starring Jaclyn Smith, Armand Assante and Ken Howard.

[2] This movie was remade in Tamil as Makkal En Pakkam, in Kannada as Athiratha Maharatha, in Telugu as Ahuthi and in Hindi as Kanwarlal.