In 1940s Washington, Pete Karras is betrayed by his friend Joe Recevo and disabled by his former employer Mr. Burke.

The title comes from something Vera Gardner says to Pete Karras in Chapter 30, describing the destructive power of an atomic blast: "...And then there was a flash, and the town was just gone.

Peter Karras, Jimmy Boyle, Joe Recevo, and Perry Angelos are four friends who grew up together in Washington.

Karras and Recevo work as enforcers for a protection and loan sharking racket run by Mr. Burke.

Karras gets into a fight with a group of African-American boys and his opponent, Junior Oliver, earns his grudging respect.

When promiscuous Lola disappears in 1948 after moving to Washington her brother Mike Florek decides to search for her.

Jimmy Boyle, now a beat cop, has become peripherally involved in the investigation of the murder of several prostitutes by a serial killer.

Recevo informs Jimmy Boyle of Gearhart's involvement and tells him to go to his apartment to retrieve the murder weapon.

When Boyle reaches the apartment he is grievously wounded by Gearhart, who had disobeyed Burke's instructions and returned home.

Recevo brings Karras in but the two make a last stand together and kill Burke, Reed and many of their men before being shot.

In particular Karras search for redemption through his involvement in solving the prostitute murders sub-plot was described as evoking Ellroy.

[1] In 1997, The Big Blowdown was the recipient of the International Crime Novel of the Year award in France, Germany and Japan.