Soon after the lifeless body of Charlie Tuttle is discovered behind a locked bedroom door, his death is ruled a suicide; six months later, Lt. Joe Kenda receives an unprompted confession that propels the case in a whole new direction.

A sharp-dressed pedestrian is shot in the back for unknown reasons. Chasing a promising lead, Kenda realizes he's barking up the wrong tree. Then when an impromptu argument turns fatal, a suspect's guilt boils down to his skill with deadly weapons.