The demolition began at dawn. Walls knocked over. Twisted pipes uprooted. Window frames smashed. A dead body unearthed.

Murdered. Why?

Dumped. Why there?

Odd tanning lines on his body and scars on his forearms enable DS George Cross to narrow down his search for the man's identity. He unravels the young man's life, delving into the world of amateur cycling, an illicit supply of performance enhancing drugs, jealousy, ambition and a family tearing itself apart.

Cross' relentless pursuit of the truth and eccentric methods earns him few friends. Then just as the police seem to be nearing a conclusion, Cross makes a sudden, abrupt U-turn.

Could it be the biggest mistake of his career?