Stephen Hunter returns, and so does Bob Lee Swagger, who must now track down a missing Marine sniper who has suddenly reappeared on the horizon and continues on his latest mission. Ray Cruz, nicknamed "Cruise Missile" by his fellow soldiers because he never misses, is still hunting the warlord, a current American ally in the Afghan War and an important figure in the larger political game. Is Ray acting on his own, has he gone crazy or gone over to the side of the enemy? Or is someone impersonating Ray in pursuit of much deeper goals? As part of a task force designed to intercept Ray Cruz before he carries out his plan, Bob Lee Swagger must get to the bottom of it, even though somewhere deep down he sides with the fugitive sniper.