Someone's trying to kill PI Jimmy "Soldier" Riley. And he's inclined to let them. But before sleeping the big sleep and journeying to the undiscovered country to discover what dreams may come, there's blood work to be done. Picking up right at the thrilling conclusion of The Big Goodbye, The Big Beyond finds Soldier near death with one hell of a big score to settle and more than a few injustices to square along the way - all while searching wartime Panama City for a dangerous serial killer who combines art and murder.