FBI Special Agent Aloysius Pendergast is on the verge of despair. Having barely found his wife Helen, whom he had believed dead for many years, he loses her again, this time forever. Pendergast is ready to take his own life. He is saved from a rash step by police lieutenant D'Agosta, who urgently needs help in the investigation. A series of brutal and senseless murders have been committed in Manhattan hotels, and each time the killer leaves strange messages. Overcoming himself, Pendergast begins to study the investigation materials and quickly finds out that these messages are addressed to him. Moreover, the killer, apparently, is his blood relative. But who is it? After all, his terrible brother Diogenes is long dead. Having predicted where the next crime will take place, Pendergast races there to catch the killer. He has no idea what incredible meeting fate has prepared for him...