When criminal lawyer Jack Irish's wife was murdered by an irate client, Jack swore off his old life. Now he passes his time collecting debts, betting on horse races, and boozing at a dingy pub. Then a man he once represented dies, and Irish decides to delve deeper. With the help of reporter Linda Hillier, Jack uncovers a conspiracy that goes beyond the man's death.

Hoping to gain some insight into his past, Irish accepts a case from one of his dad's old friends. The man's son, Gary, has vanished after scamming thousands of dollars from his father. Jack throws himself headlong into the search, but his relationship with Linda suffers as a result. Worse, Jack soon realizes that Gary may be mixed up with dangerous and powerful people.

When a high profile judge, Justice Loder, commissions him to locate a mysterious red book, Jack is thrown into a world of sexy club owners, dodgy drug dealers, bisexual blackmailers, and unhinged killers.