Eddie London might be the worst detective in all of Summerport. Then again, he assures himself, it's a pretty big city. But when Veronica Lawrence hires him to find her missing husband, Eddie sees his chance to transcend the low-stakes (and low-paying) cases that have thus far sustained his fledgling operation.

His unorthodox investigation begins at the authoritarian Manticore Cooperative, where he does his best to outwit its charismatic and temperamental leader. Further clues lead to a violent dive bar and a wilderness compound run by a dangerous cult. If solving the case means conducting a car chase across the California freeway or taking a sucker punch to the back of the head, Eddie's just the man for that too.

Veronica has given him seven days. Failing that, Eddie knows, another chance may not come his way. He has no intention of letting the opportunity pass by.