Michael Stanford is living his American dream. A successful businessman in the small town of Hillcrest, he has amassed a small fortune and married his longtime girlfriend. But Michael's idyllic life comes to an abrupt and brutal end when he is murdered in cold blood. Sheriff Charlie Whitman has seen his share of problems since his days as the star quarterback in high school. Three failed marriages have led him back to his hometown. Now Charlie is at the center of a national firestorm thanks to Hillcrest's suddenly soaring murder rate, which commenced with the horrific slaying of Michael Stanford. Michael and Charlie were close friends in high school. In the years since, the two drifted apart, as did the other members of their inner circle. But Michael's death brings all of his former friends back to Hillcrest, and the ensuing funeral and murder investigation cause the group's closely guarded secrets to quickly unravel. Small-town gossip is intertwined with a chilling murder spree, creating a lethal combination. Lives are shattered and friendships are broken in the quest to find the truth in this tale of murder and sin in a small town.