When police discover the lifeless bodies of Sophia Gerardo, four children and a house cat, they suspect ritualistic mass murder.  But Lt. Joe Kenda uncovers a reality far more frightening and deadly than anyone could have imagined.

29-year-old Chris Devoy is shot in cold blood outside a neighborhood bar. Faced with a trio of suspects, Kenda trusts his gut and makes a controversial decision. The case hits a dead end, but Kenda gets an unexpected tip that proves his instincts right.