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Dick Powell stars as private detective Richard Diamond. On a cold, icy day, Diamond is enjoying a cozy nap in his office when he is interrupted by Abel Gunther. Though the old man cannot afford standard rates, his compelling story lures the hard-boiled detective into the troubles plagueing his farm. Illness and hardship have struck Gunther and neighboring farmers just before offers arrive to buy up their land—raising immediate suspicion of sabotage.
When Gunther suddenly drops dead in the office, the local police handle the homicide investigation while Diamond boards a flight to Haiti. There he encounters Little Chiva, a hulking 300-pound native. The rash of mysterious deaths is far from over, but Chiva appears to be on the Gunthers’ side, pointing Diamond toward the authorities and further voodoo-related fatalities.
Where will the sound of jungle drums lead? Back home, the police uncover the exact cause of death for the Gunthers, giving Diamond the leverage he needs in Haiti to turn up the heat and expose the killer. Can Richard Diamond overcome supernatural forces—and the very real physical threat of Little Chiva? Voodoo secrets unravel, leading to a confrontation with a rival farmer named Cuthwald, who relies on good old-fashioned firepower. Ultimately, voodoo claims its revenge in a subtle, unexpected twist on Richard Diamond’s typical brand of hard-boiled justice.
