In this fast-paced historical thriller, #1 NY Instances bestselling author David Baldacci introduces Archer, a WWII veteran forced to investigate a small-town murder — or risk time for prison.

It’s 1949. When battle veteran Aloysius Archer is definitely released from Carderock Prison, he is delivered to Poca Town on parole with a brief list of do’s and a much longer set of don’ts: perform report regularly to his parole officer, don’t go to bars, certainly don’t drink alcohol, perform get yourself a job–and don’t ever about One Great Deed associate with loose females.

The small town quickly proves more difficult and dangerous than Archer’s years serving in the war or his time in jail. Within an individual night, his search for gainful employment–and a stiff drink–leads him to an area bar, where he is hired for what seems like a basic job: to collect a personal debt owed to a powerful regional businessman, Hank Pittleman.

Shortly Archer discovers that recovering the debt won’t end up being so easy. The indebted guy has a furious grudge against Hank and refuses to spend; Hank’s clever mistress offers her own designs on Archer; and both Hank and Archer’s stern parole officer, Miss Crabtree, are keeping a sharp attention on him.

When a murder occurs right below Archer’s nose, law enforcement suspicions rise against the ex-convict, and Archer realizes the fact that crime could send him back to prison . if he doesn’t make use of every skill in his arsenal to track down the true killer.