When a private investigator is hired to locate the relatives of a murdered woman, he uncovers a web of secrets that forces him to confront his own past. Frank Clemons, a former Atlanta police officer now operating in New York City, accepts the case of Hannah Karlsberg, a victim whose life appears to be a series of carefully constructed deceptions. As he tracks her history, he faces resistance from those who wish to keep the truth buried and struggles with the physical and psychological toll of his own history. The narrative utilizes a gritty, investigative framework that emphasizes the slow accumulation of evidence and the weight of long-held secrets.

This novel is recognized for its somber tone and the meticulous way it constructs a sense of dread around the victim's past. Readers often note the author's ability to balance the procedural aspects of the investigation with the internal struggles of the protagonist. The pacing is deliberate, favoring character development and environmental atmosphere over rapid-fire action sequences. It stands as a representative example of the character-focused mystery genre, where the resolution of the case is inextricably linked to the personal growth of the investigator.