In New York in 1939 the World's Fair is in full swing, a Joe Louis title fight is coming up, and there are hot times in Harlem every night. Harlem is home to Daniel Leland, a small-time private detective, retired from the NYPD when he was shot during a gunfight with robbers. When an industrial corporation offers Daniel a temptingly large fee he takes the job and is soon over his head in murder and mayhem - and espionage. With war in Europe looming he tangles with Nazi sympathizers. And on top of all this, everywhere he goes Daniel has to confront racism because he is black while most of those he encounters during his investigation - the good and the bad - are white.