Texas detective Ben Gallagher is facing his most challenging case. A serial murderer is mimicking sensational actual murders and tantalizing the department with cryptic notes that arrive just a tad too late. The killer faithfully copies three cases, but in his fourth, he improvises, injuring Ben and killing four of Ben's colleagues. Meantime, Ben discovers his partner is dirty. And that's not all. Ben's brother, for ten years an inmate in Huntsville Prison, is up for parole. With pressure building from killer, city officials, chief, public, and family, Ben forges ahead despite his injuries-and more or less alone. He needs someone he can trust. He also needs a clue.