'The Third Degree' is a mystery novel by Charles Klein. Howard Jeffries Jr. had squandered a great many opportunities in life. Having been admitted to Yale, he soon turned to hard drinking and gambling, something his father, a wealthy banker utterly disdained. And when he elopes with a woman from a disreputable family, he is completely cut off financially. As he wanders the streets of New York searching for work, he meets an old college mate who has an interesting business proposition. But when he visits another friend to borrow the money he needs, he becomes implicated in his murder. Now Howard must prove his innocence in court…