The third novel in the Jack Irish series won the 2000 Ned Kelly Award for Best Crime Novel, and has earned its place as a modern Australian crime classic.

Jack Irish-lawyer, gambler and people-finder-is hunting down the villains who hijacked the winnings from his latest betting coup when he is hired by a mystery client to find missing barman Robbie Colburne. But Robbie turns up dead of a drug overdose. The case should be closed, but the dashing young barman was far from what he seemed, and the client wants to know more.

As Jack explores the young man's past, he finds himself drawn into a deadly network of power, politics and money. In this world, nothing can be taken at face value and everything is expendable-including Jack.