A fatal car crash takes a California D.A. for a wild ride in this classic hard-boiled mystery by the author of the Perry Mason series.

"The bestselling author of the century . . . a master storyteller." -The New York Times

Sheriff Rex Brandon is sitting down for Thanksgiving dinner with his wife and District Attorney Doug Selby when the phone rings. A drunken car thief named Carleton Grines wants to turn himself in. Selby and the sheriff race to the scene only to discover they're too late. The man dies in a terrible crash before their eyes. But Mr. Grines hasn't finished stirring up trouble . . .

Nothing about the dead driver makes any sense to Selby. He wasn't carrying any ID but he did have a ten-year-old letter in his pocket. His cheap suit doesn't fit, but his hair and nails are well kept. His handmade shoes belong to a Hollywood grocery magnate named Desmond Billmeyer. The car, meanwhile, was registered to Robert C. Hinkle of Oklahoma.

After the man is finally identified, Selby is certain his death was no accident. Someone expected to profit from killing him. Now Selby and the sheriff must figure out who before the guilty party speeds off into the sunset . . .