Time is running out.

Retired university professor R.I. Penny has always had a knack for finding trouble, and when an old friend is killed - the suspects leaving behind little more than the graffitied word 'grass' - he can't help but get involved in the investigation.

But the gates of hell don't stay closed for long, and as Penny digs deeper into Codger's mysterious death, sinister goings on come to light.

With local thugs, far-right politicians, and even the police on his tail, will Penny survive long enough to uncover the truth?