Sometimes, things aren't what they seem. And sometimes, they are.

Times have changed for gay people, and when prosecutor Toni Barston hears about the death of a local lesbian bartender, she doesn't immediately think, "Hate crime." But it is. Even then, to assume that the murderer is a crazed religious fanatic would be a cliché. Except that's where preliminary evidence leads her. In fact, suspects are depressingly plentiful.

Looking for deeper answers and better clues, Toni draws on her knowledge of mental illness to build a profile of a killer who uses stoning to finish off each victim. Following the delusions of a sick mind has Toni and her police force friends turning in circles. When the trail twists back on them, suddenly nothing is what it seems--and everything is far worse than Toni could have imagined.

A former psychotherapist working with personality disorders, attorney Terri Breneman brings an unparalleled expertise to this fast-paced, gripping series where the biggest mystery is the human mind.