An ambush at a hamburger stand leaves a 16-year old dead. Lt. Joe Kenda must cut through rumor and innuendo in order to zero in on his prime suspect. But before he can catch the killer, a surprise witness blows the case wide open.

When a mysterious explosion rocks a sleepy suburb, it's up to Kenda to ID a pile of charred remains and find the killer who triggered the blast. Then...a young mother's murder leads the CSPD on a harrowing car chase that ends in a violent showdown.