Shane Scully and his partner are assigned to the case of "the Fingertip Killer"-a serial murderer preying on homeless veterans in Los Angeles. Every two weeks he strikes: he beats his victims, then shoots them in the back of the head. Once they're dead, he cuts off their fingertips, and tosses them in the river. The latest killing, however, does not quite fit the pattern. It appears to be the work of the Fingertip Killer, but Scully suspects an elaborate copycat murder meant to hide a criminal conspiracy. After heavy-handed FBI agents throw him off the Fingertip Killer case, Scully teams up with his wife and boss, Alexa, and a pair of tough cops from the LAPD's anti-terrorism squad. Outside the law and deep undercover, they fight to see justice done.

Edgar and Emmy Award-winning writer Stephen J. Cannell has created over forty TV series. He has also penned the bestsellers The Plan, Final Victim, Riding the Snake, The Devil's Workshop, King Con, The Tin Collectors, The Viking Funeral, Hollywood Tough, and Vertical Coffin, the last two of which are available as Sound Library® audiobooks. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and children.