When Dr. Tucker James retired from active commercial psychological research, he had planned to spend the majority of his time living in the mountains of north Pennsylvania writing a few research reports, teaching a couple of courses at the local university and telling lies to unattached junior faculty of the female persuasion at the local gin mill. Now three years after he semi retired form his Atlanta-based research company, Tucker's plan has been augmented by a nasty nosey streak he developed, as a direct consequence of an unnatural attraction toward murder. In this installment of the series, Tucker is again enlisted by Police Chief Anderson to help with an investigation of a serial murderer that threatens to scare the sleepy little town of Copeland PA completely out of its wits. But when the case cuts too close to the Chief's own family, Tucker finds himself working with a new ally who proves surprisingly bright, clever, and brave.