Police Chief Ben Orton had a gift for making enemies. He was proud to count among them hippies, homosexuals, and subversives of every race and religion. When his body was found, head smashed in, the people of his California seaside domain were shocked -- less because of the gruesome murder than because someone had finally dared to cross Ben Orton. That someone, the cops immediately claimed, as gay activist Cliff Kerlee. But insurance investigator Dave Brandstetter doesn't buy that easy answer.
Description:
Police Chief Ben Orton had a gift for making enemies. He was proud to count among them hippies, homosexuals, and subversives of every race and religion. When his body was found, head smashed in, the people of his California seaside domain were shocked -- less because of the gruesome murder than because someone had finally dared to cross Ben Orton. That someone, the cops immediately claimed, as gay activist Cliff Kerlee. But insurance investigator Dave Brandstetter doesn't buy that easy answer.