A mild-mannered mystery writer has become so immersed in his material that his character constantly appears to him as a hallucination. Intent on getting rid of him, the writer finds himself embroiled in a mystery all his own.

Mild-mannered mystery writer D. H. Mercer has become so immersed in his material that his creation, hard-boiled private eye Biff Deegan constantly appears to him as a hallucination. Intent on getting rid of Biff, and replacing him with a more civilized detective, Mercer soon finds himself in a genuine mystery involving art fraud, murder, and a beautiful lady in peril.—Mark Limvere-Robinson