Detective Elijah Black's enjoyment of his partner, Alvia Sanchez's, wedding is disrupted by murder. A young woman is found in the shadows of a church, dressed in a costume taken from a children's book. The victim is left unblemished as if the killer held her in some regard. Did he know her or have regrets? As the victims pile up and Sanchez returns from her honeymoon, they race to keep the body count to a minimum. Elijah's relationship with his girlfriend, Dayle, deepens. He has concerns about her violent ex-husband, who, fresh out of prison, has taken to sending her threatening gifts. Between solving a puzzling, unorthodox crime and protecting his girlfriend, Elijah has his hands full. Delivering his friends, family and the citizens of New York from the maniacal clutches of, not one, but two evil men will take every skill in his repertoire.