After twenty-five years in prison for the murder of a couple of cheerleaders, a quarterback, and the class president, Howard "Hacker" Reinhart gets discharged. His case is assigned to the Schlitz-drinking, Elvis-loving social worker and amateur boxer Duffy Dombrowski. Soon, local high school VIPs start showing up dead and Howard is nowhere to be found.

Although Duffy has a few other things on his mind - like a huge upcoming boxing match, a new hormonal girlfriend, and the ongoing misadventures of Allah-King, his Muslim basset hound - Duffy throws himself into Howard's defense.