“Brad Smith has got the goods—he’s funny, poignant, evocative, and he tells a blistering tale. A writer to watch, a comet on the horizon.” — Dennis Lehane, author of Mystic River Everett Eastman – absent father, terrible husband, and now, dead… As stubborn in life as he was in death, Everett’s will contains a lot of demands for his three children to meet if they want their share of his empire and only a year to meet them. The youngest son, Ethan, who only speaks in Bob Dylan quotes, is now the owner of a failing distillery. Kathleen “Kick” Eastman, Everett’s only daughter, gets an audiobook company and an ultimatum – produce a record with washed up singer Jonah Peck or lose everything. The Eldest and most ruthless son, Ben, gets the thriving auto parts plant he’s been managing for years. But Ben wants more and he’s determined to get the will declared invalid so that he can get his hands on all three businesses. If Ethan and Kick can’t get their act together before the year is up, then Ben will definitely get his way. But Ethan’s girlfriend, Janey, is determined to turn the distillery around. And with a nickname like Kick, you can’t expect Kathleen to give up without a fight. “It’s been a while since I’ve read a novel so packed with vivid, energetic, pulsating characters. Their creator, Brad Smith, is a writer with lots of skill, lots of heart, lots of brains, and, yes, lots of hat.” — Richard Russo, author of Empire Falls “Eminently readable, eminently enjoyable …” — National Post “Few Canadian writers seem to be able to deal with the subject of the criminal and semi-criminal underclass of our big cities with any authority. Brad Smith does have this authority … his plot is a good one, and has the same suspense as a whodunit.” — Toronto Star Brad Smith is the author of Busted Flush, All Hat, and One-Eyed Jacks, which was nominated for the Dashiell Hammett Prize and the Arthur Ellis Award. He lives in a farmhouse near Dunnville, Ontario.