The discovery of the mutilated body of a young woman seems to echo that of the notorious unsolved 'Black Dahlia' murder of 1940s Los Angeles.

Travis becomes romantically involved with the tabloid journalist covering the murder, and an anonymous phone call leads Langton to aristocratic ex-army surgeon Charles Wickenham as the chief suspect.

The case is drawing to an end as Travis and Langton close in on the copycat killer, their investigation of the main suspect uncovering long-buried secrets of sadistic cruelty and murderous intent.