In New York's Chinatown, a neighbourhood where 99% of the cops are white, Detective Jack Yu relies on both modern police methods and, uniquely, his knowledge of Chinese lore and culture to solve crimes. Death Money begins when the body of an unidentified Asian man is found in the Harlem River. In an effort to crack the case, NYPD Detective Jack Yu embarks on a journey into Chinatown's restaurants, strip clubs, and seedy gambling establishments to investigate.