Wracked with guilt over his failure to prevent the murder of his friend's widow, Mazie Tucker, and convinced it was dangerous for anyone to become close to him, Boone leaves Albany and everyone he knows behind, searching for anonymity and seclusion. He believes he has found such a place in the sparsely settled community of West Harper on the eastern shore of Chautauqua Lake.
But his black dog of depression, stalking him throughout his career in law enforcement and as a licensed private investigator, continues to hound him.
The death of a victim, or a friend, had always affected him deeply, causing Boone to consider himself an abject failure. As he sinks into a deep depression, he becomes convinced that suicide is the only way to end the pain. Eventually, it falls to Tom McAvoy, Boone's friend, and Trooper Alexandra Burton to try to convince Boone to return to Albany, and those who care for him.
At the same time, his partner Marianne tries to keep the office afloat, hoping to give Boone time to come to grips with Mazie's death. She hires a co-worker to assist her. Investigating a case referred by Clive Townsend, Marianne uncovers a smuggling operation that results in tragedy for her co-worker, and puts her own life in jeopardy.
Tom McAvoy tries to keep Marianne in hiding, staying one step ahead of those who mean her harm. As a consequence, she learns more about the sex industry than she ever wanted to know, and the Amish.
The smuggling operation uncovered by Marianne turns out to be something much worse than any of them could have ever predicted.