Recovering alcoholic Bruce Kohler and his friends, computer genius Jimmy and world-class codependent Barbara, are drawn into a murder investigation when the abusive boyfriend of Barbara's Al-Anon sponsee is found dead in her East Harlem apartment. Bruce has to juggle sleuthing, sobriety, a crush on the bereaved girlfriend, and the lure of his compelling but self-destructive ex-wife.

Bruce and his friends follow the killer's trail from the church basements of AA to a funeral and an Italian bakery in Brooklyn, a SoHo art gallery, an upscale lingerie boutique, an auto chop shop, and a near-fatal traffic jam on Canal Street. Bruce uncovers not only a murderer but his own struggle with love addiction.