Plot

The case of a man's death (accident or murder?) sends Mannix to another State and in the middle of political turmoil. The presumptive next Governor is being blackmailed, but by whom and for what is the question.

A tennis pro tries to blackmail a candidate for governor, and is found dead in a remote area. His wife hires Mannix to investigate the man's death. Mannix travels to the state where the man died, and becomes embroiled in the political back-and-forth involving the candidate who was the target of the blackmail and his staff, as well as the activities of the candidate's opponents -- while also dealing with an oily woman who owns a chain of newspapers.—aldanoli

Mannix is sent out of state when he is hired by Carrie Newley, the recent widow of Richard Newley, who was the tennis pro at the Caribe Hotel. He died under mysterious circumstances in the nearby desert hills, after telephoning Jim Claman, who is approaching the convention for securing his party's nomination for Governor. Newley told Claman in that telephone call that he had evidence from three days ago when he was at a speaking engagement that, if it got into the wrong hands, could break his candidacy, thus placing Claman at the top of the suspect list in Newley's death. Claman's supporters know that any hint of scandal in and of itself could sink his candidacy, some who could be complicit in Newley's death in wanting to hide that scandal. While Claman's wife, Rita Claman, plays softball with Mannix in shielding her husband, some other supporters play hardball, including Claman's aide Walter Webb, the Caribe Hotel owner "Big" Mike Ray, and Claire Hanley, the owner of a chain of newspapers.—Huggo