In this sequel to Norah McClintock’s gritty mystery Dooley Takes the Fall, Ryan Dooley continues to struggle against circumstances that would defeat most teenagers, let alone kids who have been in serious trouble with the law. Dooley (as he prefers to be known) was involved in a break and enter a few years ago, served his time, and is now living with his hard-nosed uncle, a former cop determined that the boy will find a way to lead a blameless and useful life from henceforth. But there are threads that still link Dooley to his former life of aimless criminality, and one of them – with the affable Jeffie, a sometime drug dealer and one-time buddy – threatens to bring him down, especially when Jeffie turns up dead, while still owing money to Dooley.