Boyleston Police Chief Karol Novak and his team investigate the murder of a real estate agent and former mayor. As they delve into the case, one suspect stands out, but Novak refuses to accept his guilt. As the investigation progresses, tragedy strikes in the form of an officer's death, sending Detective Lydia Barnwell's life into a tailspin.

Novak works the case while preparing to assume leadership of a regional police force, but politics intervene. Meanwhile, Karol's wife Barbara battles the school district over the behavior of a teacher. As the explosive climax of the murder investigation is reached, Karol and Barbara must ask themselves if public service is worth fighting entrenched bureaucracies just to do their jobs.

If you enjoyed the tense police investigations of the Chief Inspector Gamache series, you'll also love the Chief Novak series.