Somebody is killing the sleazy lawyers of Los Angeles. LAPD Robbery-Homicide Detective Joanna Davis matches wits with a serial killer who tailors each murder to a specific legal abuse. His victim profile: attorneys who use the law to achieve outrageous results. His murders: vehicles for poetic justice: . a lawyer who won big bucks for careless coffeeservers is parboiled in his hot tub . another who got a food-poisoning caterer off dies of botulism.

The clever, efficient murderer, with meticulous preparations and many disguises, is reminiscent of the assassin in The Day of the Jackal. However, Det. Davis is a immensely sympathetic opponent, an experienced professional at the top of her powers.