Eddie London is a quick-witted and slightly-incompetent private eye—he’s also Lacey Matthews’ last hope. The young woman implores him to investigate her boyfriend’s fatal fall from a hotel balcony. While the authorities have ruled out foul play, Lacey refuses to believe them.

As he pursues disparate leads, Eddie finds himself pulled ever deeper into Summerport’s deadly underworld. Horse tracks, illegal bookmakers, and big money boxing matches all await him, and that’s before he gets to the imposter police officers and all-too-real mafioso.

The list of suspects grows to include the enigmatic head of a crime syndicate, an overly-invested reporter, and a recalcitrant Army colonel. Secrets abound, and it's up to Eddie to uncover the truth.