EddiePlum,whoinsistshe’sbeenunjustifiablycommittedtoaCaliforniapsychiatrichospital,managestofinallyescapeafterfourteenyearsofincarcerationtostarthislifeanew.Ontherun,heholesupinashelteredbarrioonabluffabovethePacificOceanownedbyhiswealthybutunsympatheticfather.HerehemeetsSweets,thetelepathicdog,lamentsthelossofSofia,hismadhouselover,andplaysthehorsesattheDelMarRacetrack.Eventuallyhemeetsupwithanoldfriend,ShellyHubbard,afellowhorseplayer,recordcollector/dealer,andhardcoreloner,whotellshimabouthisbrother,Donny,deadattheageofeighteenfromatragicdiveoffathirty-footLaJollaseacliffknownastheClam.Eddiediscoversafamilysecretandwantstohelp,butbythenhe’salreadyembroiledinthepsychoticincidentwiththeTijuanaprostitutes,themadhouselover,andthepolice,whoarehotonhistail.Mr.Toad’sWildRidehasnothingonWhirlaway,ahilariousnovelofescapedmentalpatients,horseplayers,andrecordcollectors.
