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.