Alex Cross was a rising star in the Washington, DC, police department when an unknown shooter gunned down his wife, Maria, in front of him. Alex's need for vengeance was placed on hold as he faced the challenge of raising his children himself. Years later, he has left the FBI and set up practice as a psychologist once again. Then Cross's former partner John Sampson calls in a favor.

When Naomi Jenkins's secret lover vanishes, she knows that he must have come to harm. But the police are not convinced, particularly when Robert's wife insists that he is not missing. In desperation, Naomi realizes that if she can't persuade the police that he's in danger, perhaps she can convince them that he is a danger to others. That way they'll find him - and fast. After all, she knows how to describe the acts of a psychopath in detail. All she...

A Cleveland "Plain Dealer" reporter describes her rape at knife point by a stranger who grew up a few miles from her and her efforts to find closure by investigating her attacker's story when her daughter reached college age.