Twelve-year-old Aaron Broom is protecting his father’s car from repossession when he witnesses a jewelry store robbery gone wrong. To Aaron’s shock, his father, a struggling salesman in the wrong place at the wrong time, is fingered as the prime suspect in the murder. Aaron --- precocious, plucky, not a little naïve --- must seek out gangsters, diamond dealers, bootleggers and street kids in order to prove his father’s innocence.

In his search for justice, Aaron draws upon the resources of a world-weary paperboy, an aspiring teen journalist and a kindly lawyer. As they dig into the details of the case, these unconventional detectives reveal a cover-up that goes much deeper than a jewelry-store heist gone sour. Through it all, Aaron’s optimism and resourcefulness shine through.

Hotchner’s latest is a rollicking ride through St. Louis at its lowest, as seen through the eyes of his most lovable narrator to date.

Audiobook available, read by Michael Crouch