Recession has visited Boston freelance writer Liz Connors with a vengeance: the magazine that is her main source of income has folded, and her financial future is looking grim. So Liz jumps at the chance when the enormously successful true-crime author Griffin Marcus hires her to research the grisly, ritualistic slayings of seven local women. Although the cops are convinced they've nailed the serial killer, Liz is not so sure.

As Liz's relationship with Griffin begins to turn into something more than she planned, her long-time affair with Lt. Jack Lingemann begins to falter. Caught between these two men, Liz must sort out her own life as she sifts through clues to the real killer of the women.