The book opens with a young boy waking up to a smoke-filled room. He arouses his father, who quickly vacates the burning house with his wife and two children. The family of five that resided on the other side of the duplex house perishes in the ghastly inferno. The fire is caused by arson, which is covered up by local authorities. The main character in the book, Michel Gianini, works with a special task force, headed up by a famous safety director, to uncover a corrupt police force and notorious crime ring in his town. The mob puts out a contract with a heartless hit man to kill Gianini who escapes through help from his wife. The book follows an undercover sting that reveals the connection between the capo of the local crime ring and a depraved police lieutenant who was instrumental in the arson.