Former pulp writer and current hack Russell Dancer invites Nameless to the first annual Western Pulp Convention in San Francisco. He wants Nameless to help him locate the person who is trying to blackmail Dancer for a purported plagiarism of a story called "Hoodwink." Arriving at the convention, Nameless discovers that a group of former friends (and now uncomfortable colleagues) who wrote for the pulps called the "Pulpeteers" have all received blackmail notes.

Nameless is in seventh heaven as he meets many of his favorite pulp writers, buys pulp novels for his collection and meets a stunning younger woman who is the daughter of two famous pulp writers. For once, Nameless has some luck with the ladies. But is Kerry Wade attracted to him, or to his job as a private eye? Is he really attracted to her, or to her connection to the pulps?

The convention is unexpectedly disrupted when one of the guests is found dead in a locked room while Russell Dancer is holding a gun that's been recently fired. It looks like an obvious case of murder by Dancer, who has been feuding with the man. Dancer denies his guilt, and only Nameless is willing to believe him. As Nameless tracks down the guilty party, he finds himself faced with a second locked room mystery... and a target for a murderer.

Reviews

"Pronzini makes people and events so real that you're living those explosive days of terror."
—Robert Ludlum

"Once in a crocodile's age you come across a writer whose work you instinctively like... I've found one—Bill Pronzini. Buy him, read him, and relax."
—Los Angeles Times

"A skilled writer working at the top of his ability."
—Denver Post

"Pronzini delivers breathtaking suspense"
—San Francisco Examiner

"His novels are packed with adventure, fresh characterization, and minute-by-minute suspense."
—Chicago Tribune

"Pronzini is the master of the shivery, spine-tingling it-could-happen suspense story."
—Publishers Weekly

"Pronzini is a pro."
—The New York Times

About the Reader

Doug Hamilton has a very wide range. Does 'right on' impressions and characters, while being an excellent announcer, too. Doug has done national voice-over and on-camera commercials, has literally thousands of credits of all kinds. In over 30 years of performing, Doug has done voice and on-camera work for commercials, corporate and industrial training. He's fast, accurate, technology and automotive savvy, and always easy to work with.

Doug Hamilton started when he was 12 years old at an NPR station summer program in Flint, Michigan. The voice talent-to-be even started his high school radio station. He went to college and began working on the air in the Flint market. He soon was hired by Detroit area stations. Doug met his wife Da Marie Boyer, a newsperson, started his own studio and has worked full time doing voice and on-camera work for the last 25 years.