This collection of excerpts details a complex criminal investigation and a simultaneous civil trial. Detective Harry Bosch is the central figure, facing a wrongful death lawsuit related to his killing of a suspected serial killer, the "Dollmaker." Concurrently, a new body is found, seemingly bearing the Dollmaker's signature, raising questions about whether the real killer is still at large. The excerpts follow Bosch's efforts to identify the new victim, track down possible suspects like a former associate and a pornography expert, and ultimately uncover the identity of the "Follower" responsible for the recent killing while also navigating the intense legal battle and the impact it has on his career and personal life.