Acting Sheriff Ada Reed comes across an entire family dead in their home in the aftermath of a raging forest fire. It appears they just sat down and let the flames consume them. They weren't drunk, nor were they dead before it overtook them. Their car was gassed up, yet they didn't flee. Another man dies, and although his death was caused by a semi-truck, there are subtle similarities. Each case could have been accidental, but in each case enemies had been made of dangerous men. When a third illogical death is discovered, Ada is left with three probable murders and three stubbornly imperfect suspects. But the State Patrol sergeant thinks he has the killer-a former special-forces soldier with "Asian skills." When Ada discovers the link between the victims and the soldier's time at the Minidoka Japanese internment camp, she fears the state cop might be right.