At first, Clayton Deese seems like your run-of-the-mill criminal – a gun for hire that keeps the boss from the cops. But after he skips bail following a job gone wrong, the U.S. Marshals see that he could be the key to the whole operation's undoing.As marshals begin the search of Deese's place, they find something far darker than they ever expected. There are countless graves lining the back of the house, trophies from a score of killings. Deese may have seemed small-time but the evidence says otherwise – they are dealing with a frenzied and prolific serial killer.Now Lucas Davenport must find him – after all, that's what he does best. But Deese is ruthless, has an endless network of allies and – as Davenport will come to find – he is also full of surprises