Part of Dismas Hardy, book 2
First published 2006
Rusty Ingraham practices law in San Francisco when a case pulls him into the violent world of illegal lending. A client's debt to dangerous creditors becomes murder when bodies start appearing around the city. Rusty must navigate between legitimate legal work and the brutal economics of street-level finance. The investigation forces him to confront loan sharks who collect debts through intimidation and violence. As more people die, Rusty realizes the stakes extend far beyond money. He faces threats to his own safety while trying to protect his client and uncover the truth behind the killings. The case tests his skills as both lawyer and survivor in a world where the interest rate can be deadly.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, legal-thriller
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, fish-out-of-water
Setting: San Francisco
384 pages · Berkley
Content warnings: violence