Los Angeles, 1952

After thirteen-year-old Sandy Duncan shoots his stepfather and carves a symbol from a comic book into the corpse's forehead, district attorney Seymour Markley launches a grand jury investigation into the murder, one that could implicate east-coast crime boss James Manning.

Also in the frame is the comic book's creator, Eugene Dahl. When threatening notes appear nailed to his front door, he is lured to a downtown hotel where one of the men who could bring down James Manning, is being held.

There, Eugene finds the witness murdered, as well as the police officer charged with protecting him, and all fingers point to Eugene.

Forced to go on the run, Eugene devises a plan that involves deeds far worse than anything he's been accused of . . .

'There is no doubt of Jahn's writing talent . . . existential and surreal' The Times