Blaine County Sheriff Walt Fleming receives a call that a skier is missing at Galena Pass, Idaho. He gathers his search-and-rescue team and heads out into a freak October winter storm. Battling the fierce snowstorm, Walt and his good friend, vet Mark Aker, hear a gunshot and find Mark's brother, Randy dead. The next day Mark is missing.

Walt's small police force is stretched to the limit investigating a rape, as well as Randy's murder. Mark's whereabouts goes on the back burner while Walt tries to investigate a mysterious contamination at a bottling water plant resulting in serious radiation illness in the workers.

Hindering his case and compounding his frustration, Walt must work alongside his best deputy, who is sleeping with his wife. Emotions run high as Walt deals with his wife's desertion and betrayal. He juggles his impossible workload while caring for his twin daughters.

When rich government contractors and politicians attempt to manipulate him, it inflames Walt to continue regardless of the consequences. Walt tries to make sense of the conflicting evidence. Due to his poking around, the carefully orchestrated cover up beings to unravel.

The second in the Walt Fleming series has a tightly woven plot with characters that are gritty and realistic. Ridley Pearson has Walt battling personal demons and evil men, and Mark uses his wits as he struggles against a wintery and harsh environment with fierce animals all while eluding his captors. The combination proves to be a riveting read.