When a particularly brutal serial murder is uncovered, investigators turn to criminal psychologist Robert Payne, who is trained in the science of psychological profiling. Using information gathered from hundreds of violent criminal cases, “profilers” are able to assemble a probable psychological portrait of a killer from trademark clues left on the body of the victim or at the scene of a crime. This technique is particularly effective in apprehending murderers who strike again and again over an extended period of time. But when the mysterious and beautiful Nora Conners asks Payne to help catch the psychopath who murdered her adored daughter, Payne finds himself up against what seems like insurmountable odds. He has only the names of three suspects given to Nora by a private investigator who was about to crack the case — until he became the next victim. Payne’s search leads him to a small Iowa town, where he probes beneath the pleasant surface to reveal a horrifyingly evil conspiracy and a dangerous link to a sensational murder case that took place years before and devastated a prominent family.