The produce market throughout history remains a carnival of characters and occasional chaos. First, it operates at night from midnight through the dawn hours, winding down midafternoon. The upside-down cycle of activity is out of sync with the rest of life's reality. Under the glare of lights shrouded by darkness, the loud banter and frenetic atmosphere is further embellished by the products and the people. The latter cast of characters are so diverse and sometimes unbelievable, that it defies easy description. The working crew alone is a treasure trove of humanity each with a compelling story of hardship, struggle, heartache, sadness, comical joy and even dark humor. Mingled and mixed among them, in the shadows, are the insidious elements of organized crime, mystery and intrigue. A must read for mystery buffs.