Gerald Darnell

Carson's closest friends are enjoying a Caribbean cruise vacation, when one of the cruise guests turns up missing. Missing is one of Humboldt's well known and prominent attorneys, and foul play is suspected. Mary Ellen Maxwell might have unknowingly witnessed the crime and needs Carson's protection. Something is seriously wrong - the Mafia has become the target of an unknown adversary and they are scared. Bad guys are turning up dead and the missing attorney could be a part of it. After all, he was heavily involved in defending the Memphis Mafia. To make matters worse, the Memphis Mafia's kingpin is also seeking Carson's protection from this unknown threat. The bad guys are killing each other, and by protecting a friend, Carson has put himself in the middle of an underworld war.

The year is 1962 and Carson Reno, once again, gets himself into situations that would be better left alone. A Memphis client hires Carson to prove infidelity, but instead he finds corruption and murder going all the way to the top of Memphis politics. A Jack Logan client investigation takes him back to Humboldt looking into automobile fraud, which lands him smack in the middle of a murder. Not just any murder, but the murder of a local beauty queen - one who seemed to have too many enemies for a girl her age.

The year is 1962 and this small west Tennessee town has been turned upside down by a labor strike at its main manufacturing plant. It seems that, as result of the strike, some very serious underworld crime problems have surfaced in Humboldt. A small town sheriff and small town Chief of Police have their hands full dealing with the strike - when the worst happens - one of the principal figures surrounding the labor problems is murdered. Carson Reno is very familiar with Humboldt - after all, he grew up and went to high school there. But Carson has a successful private investigation business in Memphis and no desire or reason to get involved. However, circumstances pull him into the turmoil and a situation that grows more dangerous everyday. By trying to not become involved, he becomes deeply involved and ultimately the prime suspect for the Murder in Humboldt.