This noir mystery takes P.I. Frank Murphy into the 1933 Prohibition era offshore gambling ships floating in Santa Monica Bay, to the Hollywood RKO studio investigation of a kidnapped star of the classic movie, King Kong, to the investigation of a murdered physician and to a case of extortion involving a famous thirties movie idol. From the sun drenched cities of Southern California, Murphywill apply his deductive skills while somehow placing his female assistant, the beautiful and smart Monica Stone, in danger at every turn.