On a rain-soaked Friday in 1895, a single gunshot pierced the early morning air.

A prominent Atlanta businessman lay writhing on a downtown sidewalk.

He was a proud husband and father. An ambitious man, he worked hard to support his family against what seemed insurmountable odds.

He would die within a few hours. Was it from his own hand? Or was he murdered? And if so, by whom? And why?

A loyal police captain sets out to solve the case. But his efforts are thwarted by corrupt detectives, a complicit commissioner, attempts to lead him astray, and a sting gone bad.

This is a fictionalized accounting of a true story, told in a literary style. Strong, idiosyncratic characters, a compelling sense of place, and a dramatic cliffhanger drive the plot to an unexpected end. These themes are overlaid upon a richness of historical detail.