One night a young woman disappears . . .
In broad daylight a retired teacher is stabbed to death . . .
In a small-town beauty parlor two women are butchered . . .

Three baffling cases, linked only by a lack of motive until psychologist Alex Delaware and LAPD Detective Milo Sturgis stumble upon a clue. A stolen luxury car is found undamaged and unblemished - except for a tiny, solitary bloodstain.

Soon they uncover other expensive cars 'borrowed' before a killing. Soon the pair are hunting for a multiple killer, from LA high society to its desperate slums, even to New York and a forgotten cold case.

However the killer proves to be a fleeting shape-shifter, defying identification. To unmask him, Alex and Milo will have to understand his murderous compulsion . . .