The 11th adventure in the ground-breaking Hardman seriesThe Man, the Black Godfather of Atlanta, controls most of the crime in the city… but now someone wants to take it all away from him…by putting a bullet in his head and killing his crew. The Man wants Hardman to find out who it is. So do two Atlanta cops who want to stop a bloodbath on the streets. But Hardman wants nothing to with it. Taking sides in a war he doesn’t want to fight could get him killed. The problem is, The Man isn’t taking no for answer. Hardman will be dead man either way… so he decides he might as well earn a buck on his way to the grave.

Dennis may not have made literature of Hardman, but he damn sure touched on it more than a time or two. Joe R. Lansdale, New York Times bestselling author of the Hap & Leonard novels.

Everything one expects from a private eye novel: exceptional characterization, strong and vigorous prose, and a glimpse into a place and time that has long since disappeared. Mystery Scene Magazine One of the best crime novel series ever written. This is straight-up, hardboiled crime fiction, written in a tight, evocative voice with a wicked, dark sense of humor. It’s wonderful! Lee Goldberg, #1 New York Times bestselling author of True Fiction

Ralph Dennis has mastered the genre and supplied top entertainment. The New York Times

This new edition includes an afterword by David H. Everson, a poltical science professor and a two time Shamus Award nominated author