Horace Goes Home is the second Bader trilogy book, and 20th Jim Scott book, though Jim again only gets a mention or so, but Hector Garcia gets a good deal more involved. In this book, Elmer and friends deal with a case involving six murders committed by members of a Los Angeles organized crime organization. The crime boss decides to eliminate Elmer along the way. During the course of the case, a wino is found who witnessed five of the murders, and an old friend from the Janitors and Asps lends a helping hand. Also in the book, Elmer has to deal with an LAPD Chief of Detectives, who is none too pleased with him. However, at every turn, Elmer outflanks him. If nothing else, this book shows that all winos are not created equal.

Throughout the history of police work, strife within the ranks has been known to exist. In the case of Elmer and his antagonist, the outcome of their conflict has a surprising end. Elmer has to deal with this, while he and those working the case with him labor through many false turns, as often happens while working a case to its conclusion.