South Australia, 1874. Searching the lonely south-east coast for signs of a lost ship, reclusive policeman Rem Wayborn ponders the wreckage of his own life. A series of mysterious stock killings is terrorising the people of the area, with enormous tracks suggesting a predator well outside their experience.
Amid increasing hysteria in the far-flung community, Rem finds evidence of human involvement in the killings, and soon murder adds new complications. Rem has his own terrors: the case forces him to confront his own crippling guilt and grief from a horrific robbery ten years before.
When the death of a suspect in custody brings Rem himself under suspicion, he finds he has no choice but to risk everything to clear his name and, perhaps, have a second chance at life.