The death of a copy and a bizarre assassination attempt are pulling the Cajun police detective, Robicheaux, into the Sonniers' dangerous web of madness, murder and incest -- and toward shocking secrets that lie in a past as dark and murky as the bayou night.

Robicheaux, a recovering alcoholic, has retired to bayou country when a small plane full of passengers -- and trouble -- drops out of the sky near his boat. But as he rescues the only survivor, a girl he names Alafair, the crash soon plunges him into a netherworld of murder and deception. Trapped by events he cannot control, the usually quiet and gentle Robicheaux protects himself and his loved ones the only way he knows how: with a fist and a gun....