A rising young singer is found dead in the harbour, and Santa Palma is ready with an easy answer.

Frankie Martino, a mechanic with a sharp eye for detail and a deeper understanding of people than he likes to admit, knows better than to trust a simple story. Johnny Vale was talented, reckless, charming, and widely disliked—the kind of man who left behind admirers, enemies, and unpaid debts in equal measure. When Frankie starts asking questions, he uncovers a tangle of stolen songs, hidden ledgers, gambling debts, private grudges, and a music scene built on ambition and lies.

Set in a sun-struck California coastal town humming with jukebox records, marina gossip, and post war noir atmosphere, this mystery follows Frankie through dance halls, back offices, used-car lots, and shadowed docks as he pieces together the truth behind Johnny's final night. What begins as a suspicious drowning becomes something far more deliberate—and far more dangerous.

Moody, elegant, and rich with mid-century detail, this novel blends classic detective fiction with a vivid small-town setting and a cast of complicated, unforgettable characters. Perfect for readers who love atmospheric noir, slow-burning investigations, and mysteries where the secrets run as deep as the tide.