OctobiaMay has an uneasy feeling about Mr. Davenport, one of her Aunt Shuma's tenants, from the start. While her original hunch that he's a vampire is dashed when he steps into the sun, her suspicions are confirmed when she and her friend Jonah find a succession of murders, stolen jewels and broken promises all link back to Mr. Davenport. Though, all people don't have the same rights in 1953, Aunt Shuma has instilled the idea in her niece that change is on the horizon and she should go after what she believes in; which is exactly what she does. Despite a wealthy banker and and an Irish policeman's attempts to keep OctobiaMay from revealing that she saw Mr. Davenport murder a woman, she pushes to make sure the truth is known.
Flake not only highlights racism, but sexism, as Aunt Shuma is kept from taking out a loan simply because she doesn't have a husband and OctobiaMay is criticized for having short hair and not wearing dresses all of the time. This story is not only an intriguing mystery, but an eye-opener for many kids who can't imagine this level of discrimination.
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