A murdered mobster with a big heart and a big mouth. A small gangster with Tourette's syndrome on the trail of crime. Razor-sharp dialogues and brilliant wordplay set against the backdrop of Brooklyn's underworld. St. Vincent's orphanage in Brooklyn, early 1970s. For Lionel Essrog, who suffers from Tourette's syndrome, Frank Minna is something like a savior. The beloved crook from the neighborhood suddenly appears and takes Lionel and three other boys on his mysterious adventures across Brooklyn. The four orphans become the Minna Men, offering everything from detective work to driving services. Their days and nights revolve around Frank, the prince of Brooklyn, who strides through life with a big mouth. Then comes the terrible night when Frank is stabbed, leaving Lionel to fend for himself. In his search for Frank's murderer, he becomes entangled in a web of intrigue.