Webb Sawyer has recently been released from a U. S. Army psychiatric hospital. Out of personal revenge, he'd killed a Serbian death squad leader. When Clara Zemeniewski is arrested for the murder by hanging of her father, Willard Haynes, her friend Amanda Eure tracks down Webb and provides evidence that may exonerate Clara. But Webb's old friend and prosecutor, Randy Fearing, isn't interested. He already has the killer.
Webb and Amanda go on a search for more information to prove Clara is innocent. During their search Clara kills herself. The case appears to be over. Webb and Amanda have a falling out.
However, Webb isn't satisfied and continues the investigation. His search leads him to four other victims who died in a similar manner. All had attended a private boys school. Webb discovers that forty years earlier there was a black man hanged to death by seven white boys, all from the school. The murder was covered up and the boys were never charged.
The trail leads to the original victim's son. But all isn't as it appears. The concept of truth and justice is turned upside down. And when Webb does find out the truth, he is at a loss about what to do.