A veteran detective is lured to a remote location only to discover a corpse, signaling the start of a dangerous and personal investigation. Emile Cinq-mars, a seasoned Montreal investigator, finds his professional boundaries tested when an anonymous invitation leads him to a frozen lake and a gruesome discovery. The narrative follows his methodical efforts to untangle a web of deception while facing an adversary who seems intent on taunting him directly. As the investigation deepens, Cinq-mars must navigate the harsh physical environment and the psychological toll of a case that strikes at his own history. The story unfolds through a tense, third-person perspective that emphasizes the procedural rigors of police work.

This novel is characterized by its gritty, procedural approach to the detective genre, grounding the mystery in the cold reality of a Montreal winter. The narrative structure suggests a focus on the internal discipline of Emile Cinq-mars as he confronts a case that threatens his professional composure. Readers likely find the atmospheric tension of the frozen setting to be a primary driver of the book's overall mood. The work aligns with traditional crime fiction tropes, prioritizing the methodical accumulation of clues over high-octane action sequences.