Vedika Dewan is a Past Reader, someone able to 'see' the echoes left behind by the energy of past actions. She's content with her life in the big city of Cheriton, Reading various trinkets for clients, taking the occasional consulting job with the police, dodging her vile downstairs neighbor, and occasionally getting to order takeout.

Luka Bergmann is a new detective in Cheriton with a deeply ingrained suspicion of Readers. He's thrown out of his comfort zone when he learns that his new partner Escobar regularly works with Vedika to solve high-profile murders. And now they have a serial killer on their hands, one who likes joggers and snapping necks. Whether he likes it or not, they must rely on Vedika for information to crack this case.

But then Past Readers start showing up dead. Luka and Vedika will have to find a way to work together to solve this before Vedika ends up in the killer's sights.