Part of Dismas Hardy, book 9
First published 2004
Defense attorney Dismas Hardy faces his most dangerous case when his client John Holiday becomes the prime suspect in a homicide investigation. Holiday owns a deteriorating San Francisco bar and has lived a troubled life, unlike Hardy who has built a successful practice and stable family. When Lieutenant Abe Glitsky tries to investigate the case at his father's urging, his superiors order him to back off. The Patrol Special, a private police force that operates under SFPD supervision and traces back to the city's vigilante history, guides the investigation toward Holiday as their main target. Hardy and Glitsky uncover compelling evidence that Holiday may be innocent, but their concerns fall on deaf ears. Holiday flees to avoid arrest, making him look even more guilty. The police now view Hardy as a dishonest lawyer shielding a murderer and Glitsky as a corrupt cop. Both men and their families face direct threats as the situation escalates. With no protection from law enforcement and no help from the justice system, Hardy and Glitsky find themselves completely isolated and must rely on more primitive instincts to survive.
Genres: mystery, crime, detective, legal-thriller
Vibes: dark, emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-allies, isolated-heroes, moral-ambiguity
Setting: San Francisco
Period: Contemporary
430 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Berkley
Content warnings: violence