Riverside Homicide Detective Gavin Reece has been called to a gruesome crime scene where the victim, Bethany Borge has been dumped behind a church. Her throat has been cut and her head scalped. He believes the case is cult related until he discovers three more cases, with the same MO, have occurred in the last 7 years.

After lengthy interviews with the family and friends of all the victims, he discovers they all have one thing in common: their grooming habits. Soon Gavin will find himself in a world where beauty means everything and comes with a price.

With a list of unlikely suspects and shady beauty salons that offer everything, Gavin will find his case growing cold very fast. But when two more victims and a missing woman linked to the case sparks the case open with new leads, this detective's skills will be tested by everyone in involved.

In two weeks Gavin will be forced to deal with a failing relationship, examine a risky friendship, deal with a retiring partner and accept a young and naïve partner, all interfering and playing a role in his investigation.

When Gavin discovers in his investigation that someone he knows is the next intended target he will be forced to do the unthinkable and put his career on the line; use an insane man's riddles to unlock the mind of a killer.