A woman's mangled body is found beside a lonely stretch of highway. When the coroner suspects foul play, Kenda is called in to solve the second homicide case of his career. But along the way, the rookie detective will learn a painful lesson.

The murder of a popular teenager at a crowded house party sends Lt. Joe Kenda down a winding road paved with lies, misdirection and innuendo; detectives use blood evidence to solve the shooting death of a firearms enthusiast.