Blue Collar Boston Cool

Lately, the lively, often unruly, and occasionally dangerous Schraft Street in Boston has become Jim Herlihys entire world. As he struggles to eke a meager existence from the small assets he ownsa neighborhood gym, local sports bar, and a renovated old three-decker his challenges are compounded because the love of his life is in love with someone else, and his troubled young tenant, stripper Amy Jordan, for whom he has developed a powerful brotherly affection, is in love with him.

After a few contentious run-ins with notorious local gangster Hoary Harry Annunziowho seriously worries Jim when he drunkenly threatens to rape little Amyhis friend and local cop Carlton Carrollton jokingly suggests Jim consider a preemptive strike against Harry. And then when Harry is unexpectedly found brutally beaten to death, the cops and especially two rival gangsters very seriously want to know who did it. Wild rumors are circulating in this suddenly dangerous, self-contained little world, and Jim finds himself a suspect, despite his reputation as a sane, hardworking, and normally very good-natured businessman. Somethings gotta giveand the inside neighborhood dope does include that Jim Herlihy can be a very tough customer when absolutely necessary.

In this entertaining murder mystery, a gritty Boston neighborhood and its hardcore boss are thrust in the midst of madness as a killer waits to strike again.