In "A Trace of Gold" (formerly published as "Bright and Yellow, Hard and Cold"), forensic scientist Sean McKinney embarks on a dangerous mission to catch a serial killer targeting associates of the Barker-Karpis gang from the 1930s. With his determination to exonerate an innocent man, McKinney puts his own life in jeopardy and must navigate a corrupt system to bring the true killer to justice.

The novel takes readers on a journey through two eras of Chicago crime, from the gritty underworld of the 1930s gangsters and gun molls to modern-day Chicago. Blending crime fiction with historical fiction, "A Trace of Gold" offers a vivid portrayal of the city’s criminal past and present, with a thrilling plot full of twists and turns. As the body count rises, McKinney risks becoming the next victim in the killer’s deadly game.