Is that a criminalist better than Lincoln Rhyme in all New York City? No. And only he may solve all amazing crimes. He is also a quadraplegic, as the result of an accident at a crime scene, three years before; and has decided to kill himself. But then the Police need his help. Someone is committing brutal and seemingly random attacks in the city, and the only person who can solve the clues left behind is Rhyme. However, Rhyme can't walk the crime scenes himself, so he needs somebody to do it for him. Amelia Sachs is working her last shift as a Patrol Officer, before she transfers into Public Affairs. But the scene she stumbles across in the morning, leads her head-first into a new investigation, where she finds herself being the eyes and ears of Lincoln Rhyme...