Summer 1923, Albany, New York. Bootlegging, corruption and gangster activity run rampant during Prohibition. An executive of a beverage company is murdered at the Port of Albany, along the banks of the Hudson River. With no clues, no suspects and no witnesses the police are baffled. The company director, the brother-in-law of the murdered man, hires advertising head Caleb Dean and his associates to promote a champagne imitation drink. At a much publicized and celebratory event for the new beverage, an unexpected death occurs. Caleb's boss elicits the assistance of private investigator Sloan Sheppard. Adding to the perplexities, the nation deals with the sudden demise of President Warren Harding. As the turmoil, fear and humidity continue unabated, Sloan Sheppard realizes a vicious trail of violent death and deceit has only begun, and that the murderer waits, prepared to strike again.