When a former soldier shoots two students and then himself in an Edinburgh classroom, Detective Inspector John Rebus gets the case. The investigation, which starts on the gritty streets of Scotland's capitol, soon winds its way into military and governmental alleys with which Rebus is less familiar. Meanwhile, Rebus's partner is being stalked, and Rebus himself has more than his fair share of troubles as his unorthodox methods continue to attract unwarranted attention from his superiors.