Paul F. Tompkins

A down-and-out silver miner raising a son, self-made oilman Daniel Plainview, whose voracious appetite for oil turns him into a California tycoon in the early years of the 20th century. Getting the oil from the ground is an intensely physical process that later broadens into Plainview's equally indomitable urge to control land and power. Along the way, Plainview deals with a mighty derrick fire, a visit from a long-lost brother, and the ongoing involvement...

In this 1940s noir throwback, private detective Charlie Nickels finds himself handling the toughest case of his career when his client is murdered and her priceless diamond is stolen. The investigation forces him to do the one thing he vowed to never do again- trust a dame.