Dr. Morton Handler was brutally murdered in his luxurious Pacific Palisades apartment, and the only possible withness was 7-year-old Melody Quinn. Enter Alex Delaware, child psychologist, whose cop-friend Milo consults him on the case. It seems Dr. Morton's psychological practice included such unusual techniques as fraud, extortion, and sexual manipulation. It becomes Dr. Delaware's job to try to help Melody, and at the same time unlock the terrible secret buried in her memory.

Alex Delaware is an excellent character, well drawn, likeable and realistic.