A public execution of a blackmailer by a high-powered rifle forces the 87th Precinct to identify a killer among a web of desperate suspects. Detectives Steve Carella and Cotton Hawes lead the investigation, navigating a city filled with political secrets, corporate scandals, and dangerous individuals. The narrative follows a procedural framework, documenting the methodical police work required to connect disparate clues and motives. The detectives face physical danger and logical dead ends as they attempt to track a shooter who remains several steps ahead of the law.

Readers frequently highlight the procedural accuracy and the gritty atmosphere that defines the 87th Precinct series. Discussion often centers on the balance between the detectives' personal lives and the relentless pressure of their professional duties. Critics note the author's ability to construct complex puzzles that rely on logical deduction rather than mere coincidence. The pacing is consistently described as steady and focused, reflecting the day-to-day reality of police work in a large city. Many readers appreciate the lack of melodrama, finding the grounded approach to crime-solving to be the primary appeal of the work.