Police Chief Jesse Stone is shocked when Wilson "Crow" Cromartie, an Apache hit man who escaped Stone's grasp ten years ago, arrives in his office warning Jesse to stay out of his way as he searches for a missing woman whose father wants her back and is willing to risk anything to help her escape from the violent gang she's involved with.

Spenser searches for a prostitute who has disappeared while working for the man she loves, and finds himself in the world of high-class prostitutes and their wealthy clients.

Spenser almost gets himself killed trying to help out friends when he agrees to check out the reasons why Robinson Nevins was denied tenure at the university, while also attempting to come to the aid of K. C. Roth, a stalking victim who finds Spenser very much to her liking.

Spenser, a Boston private investigator, agrees to help local lawyer Elizabeth Shaw track down a man who has been blackmailing and murdering the wives of Elizabeth's wealthy clients, but as the case becomes increasingly complicated, Spenser fears he may be in over his head.

Parker once again proves he is a force of nature in this mystery where a hurricane hinders a kidnapping and Spenser goes on a search for the man responsible--the infamous Gray Man, who has both helped and hunted Spenser in the past.