An eminent scientist is pushed into the path of an oncoming train at King's Cross Station. When asked, few if any of his university colleagues actually liked the man. One of his former university colleagues is attacked while skiing, and subsequently hunted down and brutally murdered at a lodge in woods at Lake Tahoe.

Jack Baron, a private investigator formerly of Scotland Yard, is drawn into investigating these events by a colleague of the victims who becomes concerned that his own life might be in danger. Jack teams up with FBI Special Agent Donna Collins to uncover events from the killer's distant past in order to understand his motive.

During their investigations they uncover the challenges of academic life in privileged ivory towers; of children exposed to state-funded institutional abuse and neglect; and the heinous atrocities inflicted on victims of the holocaust. Those who have experienced these challenges could be forgiven for their deep-rooted anger, but can they be forgiven for murderous intent?

A serial killer is at large. Can Jack and Donna identify the killer in time to stop the slaughter?