Forensic scientist Kay Scarpetta goes to the women's prison in Savannah to meet with the one who long ago seduced her former deputy, Jack Fielding. From this connection a girl was born who grew up and became a killer, and she also made an attempt on Kay’s life. In addition, it turned out that several women sentenced to death died in prison one after another. Who is behind this? How are all these crimes connected? And did the killer act alone?