jim kohlberg

Inspired by the murder of millionaire financier and banker Ted Ammon: A tax investigator races against time to save the love of his life—and the man who stole her from him

Every tax cheat needs a lawyer, and every lawyer needs an investigator like Max Smoller. Max knows the tax code’s intricacies better than Uncle Sam himself, and lawyers pay handsomely for him to dig up their clients’ dirt, ensuring that no nasty surprises come out during trial. After years in the business, Smoller knows that every crook tells the same story—a tale forged by self-pity and unwavering greed. But he never thought he would hear that story from his former business partner Joe Dempsey.

Even at the start of their once-promising partnership, Smoller knew Dempsey’s brilliance would eventually catapult his friend toward success beyond their shabby office on San Francisco’s Telegraph Hill. But Smoller never expected his lover, Christina Lawson, to follow Dempsey out the door. Years after the betrayal, Lawson and Dempsey are separated, and the IRS is nipping at their heels. With prosecution, bankruptcy, and prison on the horizon, it’s up to Smoller to save his former partner and the only woman he ever loved—before it’s too late.

The Golden Gate Is Red is a riveting tale of avarice and betrayal, set against a vivid San Francisco backdrop.