Matthew Riordan, a character critics have called "part Perry Mason, part Columbo," is a tough, cynical lawyer who has burned out. Until an old girlfriend, Elizabeth Kleinfeldt, breaks into his self-imposed isolation to ask for his help in appealing the death sentence of Robert Polhaus, a convicted serial killer. Despite his detestation of Polhaus, who appears to be a stone-cold killer, Matt agrees to take on the case, and is drawn into a terrifying underworld of prostitution, sadomasochism, blackmail, and murder. Set in Seattle, Methods of Execution" is tough, fast-paced entertainment at its very best.