Toronto, 1960. Mo Gold and Arthur “Birdie” Birdwell are like fish out of water. Mo is Jewish and sardonic; Birdie’s black, thoughtful and gargantuan. They’re both private detectives.
Henry Turner disappeared eight years ago, without a trace. His mother wants him back. Mo and Birdie try to find him; they search high and low.
Mo has family issues. His brother, Eli, is a rotten gambler. He’s in hock to John Fat Gai — the city’s most notorious gangster. Mo and Birdie need to find John’s missing money. If they do, John will free Eli. If not, Eli is toast. They’ve got three days.
Mo’s father, Jake, is in prison on a manslaughter beef. Jake and Mo have an acrimonious relationship. After all, Mo worked as a homicide cop while Jake plied his criminal trade. When Jake escapes from prison, all hell breaks loose.
The city is known as Toronto the Good. But Mo never sees that side.