After the devastating events recounted in THE TIN ROOF BLOWDOWN Dave Robicheaux & his ex-partner in Homicide Clete Purcel head for the mountains & trout streams of Montana for some much-needed healing. However while Montana might seem an unspoilt paradise peopled by men & women from an earlier more innocent time in American history Dave & Clete soon find that there are plenty of serpents in the garden too. The deaths of a couple of hikers suggest a perverted serial killer may be at work while an escaped jailbird & his former tormentor are locked in a savage dance of revenge that is ultimately connected to the fortunes of a wealthy oil family hiding a terrible secret.. .