Book excerpt: Professor Craig Kennedy is a scientist detective at Columbia University. He uses his knowledge of chemistry and psychoanalysis to solve cases, and uses exotic devices in his work such as lie detectors, gyroscopes, and portable seismographs. "The Ear in the Wall" – District Attorney Carton is running for elections and is trying to clean up the corruption that has ruled the city, especially a few major criminals that have bonded together to keep things lucrative for themselves. In order to unravel a tangled web of corruption and criminal activity he will need a help from Professor Kennedy and his sidekick Walter Jameson.