After 21 years veteran P.I., Dave Brandstetter is finally going to get some rest - that is after one last case. He investigates a wild tale of kidnapping and murder retold by a bruised and grubby little boy found wandering on the beach alone. The police don't believe the kid - just as they don't believe there is anything to the drug-related shooting of a rock guitarist. Dave is lured out of retirement to confront the street drug barons, powerful politicians, sleazy record executives, child abuse... and to unravel as snarled a tangle of carnage and deception as he has ever faced.