Jericho didn't believe that his friend Tommy Nolan had committed suicide. Nolan was an artist, just about to step across the threshold of fame. His paintings were to be used in the TV spectacular starring the glamorous Zelda Rankin. Tommy had spent his last evening alive with Zelda, her husband, and the director of the program. Then he had returned to his apartment, the police said, and taken enough barbiturates to kill a horse.

Because he disagreed with the police and insisted on checking further into the cause of his friend's death, John Jericho found himself caught up in a whirlpool of hatred and revenge. His opponents were ruthless, hiding behind smiling show-business masks but determined to end his investigation by any means.

Somewhere in the power struggles of the television personalities was a vital clue to the murder, but only John Jericho could recognize it. As a result, he faced death himself. And a beautiful young girl who knew she had a terminal illness might have even less time left...