When Lupa Schwartz learns of the murders of several Wiccans and neo-pagans from his friend Melanie, he quickly realizes that the two other murder cases he is working, the deaths by crucifixion (one inverted) of two Catholic clergy, are part of a series of killings by the same murderer - a serial killer who is martyring his or her victims according to the traditions of their disparate religious disciplines. Lupa sets out first to prove his theory, and second to capture the fellow atheist he alone is convinced is responsible for these grisly deaths.