Harry McGraw, the seedy, abrasive, loud, and messy private detective based in Boston, has just opened shop across the hall from criminal attorney Ellie Maginnis, who hires McGraw to look into a publishing partner's death.

E.J.'s roommate, who was employed as a campaign worker, is murdered. Harry suspects a cover-up involving the rich candidate, who supposedly slept with the roommate.

Based on a tip from Walter Chapman, Special Agent Eckstein launches a raid to recover stolen plutonium that is about to be shipped out of the country.

Maginnis defends a man accused of killing his wife. Harry reluctantly agrees to help even though he doesn't like the man.