Kim is found slashed to ribbons in a hotel room. Chance hires Scuddder to find the murderer as he is "a person of interest" and wants to prove his innocence. The subsequent investigation nearly costs Scudder his life before he can find the murderer.

This is a reprint of the 1982 novel which won the Shamus Award. The plot is well constructed, exploring several themes: Scudder's alcoholism, the perilous nature of life in New York (8 Million Ways to Die), the investigation of the crime. The characters are all well developed: Chance is a very sympathetic character, Scudder’s struggle with his alcoholism and the exploration of Alcoholic Anonymous is a major element of the story. The glimpses into the lives of call girls is very revealing.

Though this is a classic early detective novel it is as timely today as it was in 1982. Readers who have never read a Matthew Scudder novel will be well rewarded. Those who are renewing their acquaintance with Scudder will enjoy meeting him again.