A chance encounter on a beach involving a dead pelican and a man with six greyhounds sets off a complex chain of events for Artie Wu. Artie Wu and his partner Quincy Durant, two professional fixers, find themselves entangled in a high-stakes scheme involving local politics, land development, and criminal underworld figures. The narrative follows their efforts to navigate shifting loyalties and dangerous adversaries while maintaining their own professional detachment. The story utilizes a sharp, cynical tone to examine the intersection of greed and power within a Southern California setting.

Readers frequently highlight the sharp, witty dialogue that serves as a hallmark of the author's prose style. Discussion often centers on the chemistry between the two leads, noting how their professional competence drives the narrative forward without relying on excessive exposition. Critics often point to the intricate plotting as a primary strength, noting that the author manages to weave disparate threads into a coherent resolution. The atmosphere is consistently described as cynical yet engaging, capturing the specific mood of a noir-inflected crime story set in the late twentieth century.