After another prostitute is slain, Fitz comes to believe that David Harvey's wife Maggie is the killer, in spite of vehement protesting by the police and his brother, Father Michael.

Albie is intent on killing the same number of victims as died in the Hillsborough football tragedy, and targets a freelance female reporter. DS Beck stumbles upon him, but makes a tragic misjudgement, leaving Albie free to stab DCI Bilborough to death. It looks like criminal psychologist Fitz will be needed to resolve the situation before any more deaths occur.

The police catch Floyd but criminal psychologist Fitz is unable to make a breakthrough before he has to be released due to lack of evidence. Floyd's audacity grows as he phones Fitz on his radio show asking how a rapist should cover his tracks.

Fitz is pitched against Grady and Nash, whose relationship is now spinning dangerously out of control.

An identical murder takes place while David Harvey is in custody. Fitz visits his priest brother Michael and accuses him of murder, while Maggie Harvey demands that her husband is released.

The death of Albie Kinsella's father has a disturbing effect on him and soon after, he kills an Asian newsagent. With all the hallmarks of a racist attack, the police fail to make any headway. Meanwhile, criminal psychologist Fitz is trying to put some order into his personal life and, after sorting out his differences with DCI Bilborough, becomes embroiled in the case.

Fitz exposes the savage price of racism as he digs deeper into Floyd's past. As the investigation reaches a climax not one, but two, victims seek revenge.

Fanatical religious group leader Kenneth Trant discovers that his girlfriend Joanna is still alive and turns his attention to Dean, whom he trusted to dispose of her body. With Joanna hospitalised, DS Beck extracts a confession from Dean while criminal psychologist Fitz tries to get at the truth. He persuades DCI Wise to see Dean in his cell, but fears it may be too late.

Problems between criminal psychologist Fitz and his wife Judith continue after Fitz is arrested outside his in-laws' house and taken to the station. There he meets Sean and his partner Tina, car thieves who embark upon a spree of violence.

Schoolgirl Joanna Barnes, a member of a religious cult, is discovered to be having an affair with the married leader of the group, Kenneth Trant. When confronted about it, he and the other leaders abduct her and the police reluctantly call in criminal psychologist Fitz to help find her. When Trant's wife and sister discover that Joanna is pregnant they embark upon a vendetta against her that ends in attempted murder.

Following the break-up of his home life, criminal psychologist Fitz discovers that a young woman he knew has been viciously murdered. Elsewhere, a blood-splattered man is found beside the railway tracks but on recovering consciousness, he claims memory loss.

Whilst on their spree of violence, Tina and Sean murder a police officer. Criminal psychologist Fitz turns down DS Penhaligon's offer of a bed for the night, but is then approached by Tina who asks him to accompany her to her flat.

Criminal psychologist Fitz realises that Cassidy's confession is flawed, but he will not retract his statement. DS Bilborough needs to be seen to make an arrest and when he does, he incurs Fitz's wrath.

The case ends with a final showdown in the group's church, where things reach a destructive conclusion.