August is called in when the ghetto seems about to explode because militant leader Jimmy Barlow is accused of murdering the sister of his arch-enemy, a white counselman.

Absorbing murder story with more emphasis on characterization than action makes this an above-average entry. Dan August and his hard-working associates have to probe deeply into the motivation of a former priest (Bradford Dillman) for evading their questions, when they try to crack a series of icepick murders. Since we know who the murderer is from the start, the interest of the tale lies in watching Dan break the priest's resistance.

Dan August investigates the murder of Santa Luisa's most beloved philanthropist, who was the man who helped August get through college. 

Dan August has a story right out of the headlines, and it's worth watching. Ricardo Montalban plays the leader of striking Chicanos in Santa Luisa, a town where the Mexican-American population is about ready to explode. Then, on the first day of school bussing, there is an accident and a little Mexican girl is killed. She is the niece of Sgt. Rivera (Ned Romero), one of August's cops. Police investigation proves the bus was tampered with and if they don't find out who did it soon, even Montalban, planning a peaceful demonstration, says he can't be responsible for his people's anger. The solution is surprising and good.

Dan's first case concerns shooting victim, a man who had earlier had a run-in with Dan. Additionally, the latest woman involved with the victim is an old school chum of Dan's. She insists she heard a police radio in a car outside the beach house where she was having a rendezvous with the soon-to-be dead man. Diana Muldaur plays this lady, with Burr De Benning, Roger Perry and Anne Francis among other suspects.