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WHEN A MAN’S PARTNER IS KILLED
HE’S SUPPOSED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT

Maybe no one liked Del Gilbert a whole lot, not the men he ruthlessly did business with, not the women who discovered they weren’t his only lover, not even his partner in the Gilbert and Blake literary agency—me. But when I found him shot to death on the floor of his office, I had no choice. I had to track down the person responsible. And not just to lay Del to rest, either. Next to his body, the office safe was wide open, and a contract worth millions was missing...

From the pen of MWA Grand Master Ed McBain comes this unforgettable story of warring agents and Hollywood dealmaking, murder and scandal—and passions igniting in the dark of night.

• First publication in nearly 60 years!
• Features a brand new cover painting by legendary illustrator Robert McGinnis
• Also featuring Now Die In It, a bonus McBain novelette from the pulps, starring private eye Matt Cordell from THE GUTTER AND THE GRAVE

"Ed McBain is, by far, the best at what he does. Case closed."

— People

"McBain tells great stories."

— Elmore Leonard

"A master...McBain gets it right."

— Time