In October 1962 dark mushroom clouds loom over the world, but for J. F. Springer things are looking brighter. He has a lucrative job searching for a missing schoolgirl. His client, Ackerman, is one of the biggest businessmen in Westerby-on-Sea; he is also one of the biggest gangsters in Westerby-on-Sea. Doubts arise as to whether the girl even exists, or is in fact someone else entirely. Soon there are problems with Jim Tarbet and his string of foreign prostitutes, a space age religious cult, another (or possibly the only) daughter of his client, and Ackerman's underworld rival. Not to mention his old foe Inspector Willis, and the body under Westerby's historic pier…
Before long J. F. Springer begins to wonder if J. F. Kennedy doesn't have it easy…
