Arthur Neville has been in prison on death row now for eight years for the murder of his wife, daughter and their aunt. Neville claims his confession was extracted by threat of violence from the investigating detective. Emma is determined to find the truth of Dawn's murder and also of Neville's innocence.

She is frustrated by the indifference of Dawn's parents. He is a powerful Senator. She is also threatened by powerful political adversaries who have already covered up their crimes, and by an expensive attorney who is spreading tales of Emma's incompetence.

Emma is distracted by her teenage son with raging hormones who is having sex. She has no help from her ex-husband, a Hollywood producer, who finds the situation laughable. Add to that the son of her boy friend, Detective Laurence Solomon, has developed a hatred for Emma.

This is a fast paced plot with a complicated mystery. There are a multitude of characters who are presented as real people. Emma is to be admired for her ability to cope with the many complications in her life.

The New York setting is realistic, dark and frightening.