Doo-Wop Polk was one of the first great black disc jockeys. From Chicago radio station WPTN, he captivated black America with his unique patter and his ear for the hippest rhythm and blues. He survived payola and Mob influence, but he didn't survive an apparent heart attack that left him on a slab at Denver General Hospital with bail bondsman C. J. Floyd's business card in his pocket. Convinced that their father was murdered, Polk's adult children hire Floyd to find the killer. As Floyd delves deeper into the case, he not only finds the ghosts of Polk's business past but also a family tree with one whole branch labeled "suspects." Floyd's second appearance portends good things for the series. He's tough, resourceful, and remarkably self-aware but also surprisingly naive in his relationships with women. He's a hard-boiled hero in the mold of Spade and Archer; the only difference is that his milieu comes from the heart of the African American experience. Outstanding mystery fare.

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