In 1970, Howard Stamp — a mentally retarded twenty-year-old-was charged with brutally murdering his grandmother. The evidence was controversial, but Stamp was convicted. Three years later, he commited suicide.

After trying to bring Stamp's case to public attention for years, George Gardener teams up with anthropologist Dr. Jonathan Hughes, who has reexamined Stamp's case for a book on injustice. The more George learns about Jonathan, the more similarities she discovers between scientist and subject. And — if a dangerous killer is still at large — she must help Jonathan defeat his own demons.