Dr. Drang, an evil psychiatrist bent on the total mind control of his patients, knows his discovery will be worth millions on the international market. Brilliant, greedy, and sexually voracious, he's a monster armed with chemicals, apparently beyond the reach of the law. The novel opens as a stunning young woman enters a swank Manhattan jewelry store and tries on a diamond necklace. Without warning, she shoots the jeweler, a security guard, and a customer, then blows her brains out. Assigned to the case, Lieutenant Ben Tolliver is shocked to learn the young woman's father is a prominent politician and a personal friend. The anguished parents implore Ben to find out what caused their beautiful, accomplished daughter to commit such a senseless crime, and he promises he will. As he investigates, murders even more bizarre occur, seemingly without motive. Ben's hunt enrages Dr. Drang, who vows to kill him. A deadly game of mutual stalking ensues, with detective and quarry each determined to destroy the other.