A clearly disturbed young woman possessed of four personalities takes an ax to her abusive father possibly because of trauma suffered seventeen years earlier.

A family celebration of Alexander Reynolds' 60th birthday is dampened when he's found dead from an ax plunged into his chest. Murdoch is called in and soon discovers the victim was universally despised by his kin. Reynolds' family instantly falls under suspicion, but the field of suspects narrows considerably when daughter Charlotte Reynolds appears in a blood-soaked dress and confesses to killing her father. A clearly disturbed young woman possessed of four personalities possibly killed her abusive father due to trauma suffered seventeen years earlier.

When a traveling circus comes to town, a series of murders, starting with the beautiful tiger trainer, take center ring with Murdoch and Brackenreid.