"With a gritty realism only possible from one thoroughly familiar with such diverse matters as the legal and medical professions, malpractice law, big-city law enforcement, San Francisco's homeless, and Thoroughbred horses, first-time novelist John A. Peak crafts a riveting thriller." "At the center of the drama is Jeff Talbot, an attorney from New Orleans who hits San Francisco in a beat-up car, carrying a few dollars and an unfortunate thirst. A substantial sum of money is due to him, and his ex-partner will send it when it comes through. Until then, he needs a job, he needs a place to stay - and he needs a drink. Or several." "The drinks are easy, and the next step follows smoothly enough; he strikes up an acquaintance with a young woman in Civic Park Plaza, where a large encampment of homeless people serves as a sort of outdoor dormitory. Jeff shares a sleeping bag with the woman, only to wake up the next morning - hung over, of course - and find that she has been killed. He soon learns, too, that someone is trying to kill him." "Although the murder of a street person doesn't usually create a lot of waves, one police officer seems impelled to pursue it. She manages to insert Jeff as a paralegal in the prestigious law firm where the dead woman had worked. There he finds that not all wrongdoers are prowling the city streets; the modern office buildings harbor as many villains as the shadowed back alleys. (So what else is new?) What is new to Jeff is that he sees this while dodging bullets, the Loma Prieta earthquake, the Demon Rum, and assorted other perils."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved