The death of Chanel Gilbert has virtually everyone convinced it"s an accident. But Dr. Kay Scarpetta knows better. Her razor-sharp instinct tells her that the death of this Hollywood mogul"s daughter is anything but. Scarpetta is sidetracked when she is sent a surveillance film of her niece Lucy - from nearly twenty years ago. The clip reveals some disturbing secrets, but before she can show anyone, the FBI raid Lucy"s estate for proof of a crime that could land her in prison for life. Meanwhile, cracks are appearing in the Gilbert case. Blood patterns, time of death - it"s almost as if someone is leaving evidence only Scarpetta would spot. She suspects it"s all connected: the videos, the FBI, and Chanel"s death. But who is pulling the strings? If it"s who Scaroetta thinks it is, they won"t stop until everyone she loves is destroyed.