Hollywood homicide detective, Toshiko Tanaka, investigating the sadistic killing of a bit-part player in old-time movies finds similarities with killings at Rialto Pictures a half century ago. Harry Kenning, who retired from making Western movies fifty years ago, returns to Hollywood with his old movie sidekick, Billy Ross, to visit some of the people they knew back then. More murders happen, and Toshiko and Harry team up in an unlikely partnership to try to solve today's murders. Along the way, they encounter Lee Castle, Harry's old rival, now internationally famous, Raoul Hernandez, one-time screen lover, Crusher Maguire, former screen villain, and Jane Carson, now a massively successful concert and recording star. Unexpectedly, Toshiko and Harry learn that the long-ago murder investigation was flawed and as they strive to solve the new murders they also discover the truth about the Rialto killings back in the 1950s.