When brute force isn't enough to handle the human sludge of the Chicago underworld, private investigator V.I. Warshawski pulls out two of her most lethal weapons -- powerful charm and the skill of a woman who knows all the right moves. A tough-talking, fiercely independent, sexy P.I. with a weakness for pretty shoes, Warshawski is armed with brains and seductive sex appeal. When pushed to the edge, Warshawski can play hardball with the Windy City's most wanted, including a cold-blooded killer who has murdered Boom-Boom Grafalk, an ex-hockey player who has caught her eye. A just cause is reason enough for Warshawski to take on a new case, and when Boom-Boom's 13-year-old daughter, Kat, retains the detective to ferret out her father's killer, V.I. uncovers a startling conspiracy for murder and money.