In a future where telepathy has rendered murder nearly impossible, a wealthy industrialist plots the perfect crime to eliminate his business rival. Ben Reich, the protagonist, seeks to maintain his corporate dominance by committing a premeditated homicide, an act that forces him to evade the relentless pursuit of Lincoln Powell, a high-ranking telepathic detective. The narrative operates within a society where the ESP-enabled police force can scan minds for criminal intent, creating a high-stakes environment of psychological warfare. Bester utilizes a fast-paced, non-linear narrative framework that mirrors the fractured mental state of his characters as they navigate a world of advanced technology and social stratification.

Readers and critics frequently highlight the innovative prose style and the aggressive, kinetic pacing that defines the narrative. Discussion often centers on the technical mastery of the world-building, particularly the depiction of a society where telepathy is a standard, regulated tool. Many observers note the influence of noir tropes on the detective elements, which provides a grounded contrast to the speculative science fiction setting. The work is widely recognized for its experimental use of typography to represent telepathic communication and fragmented consciousness. Overall, the text is regarded as a significant contribution to the development of the cyberpunk subgenre due to its focus on corporate power and technological surveillance.